Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for Members of the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC), 4870-4871 [E8-1345]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 18 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4870-4871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1345]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[CMS-3195-N]


Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for Members of the 
Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC)

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the request for nominations for 
consideration for membership on the Medicare Evidence Development and 
Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC).
    We are requesting nominations for both voting and nonvoting members 
to serve on the MedCAC. Nominees are selected based upon their 
individual qualifications and not as representatives of professional 
associations or societies. We have a special interest in ensuring that 
women, minority groups, and physically challenged individuals are 
adequately represented on the MedCAC. Therefore, we encourage 
nominations of qualified candidates from these groups.
    The MedCAC reviews and evaluates medical literature, reviews 
technology assessments, and examines data and information on the 
effectiveness and appropriateness of medical items and services that 
are covered or eligible for coverage under Medicare. The MedCAC advises 
the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the 
Secretary) and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services (CMS), as requested by the Secretary, whether medical 
items and services are reasonable and necessary under Title XVIII of 
the Social Security Act.

DATES: Nominations will be considered if postmarked by 5 p.m., d.s.t. 
on March 10, 2008 and sent to the designated address provided in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: You may mail nominations for membership to: Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office of Clinical Standards and 
Quality, Attention: Maria A. Ellis, 7500 Security Blvd., Mail Stop: 1-
09-06, Baltimore, MD 21244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Ellis, Executive Secretary for 
MedCAC, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services OCSQ-Coverage and 
Analysis Group, C1-09-06, 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21244. 
410-786-0309; Maria.Ellis@cms.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On December 14, 1998, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
(63 FR 68780) announcing the establishment of the Medicare Coverage 
Advisory Committee (MCAC). The Secretary signed the initial charter for 
the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee on November 24, 1998. In 
January 2007, CMS redesignated the MCAC to the Medicare Evidence 
Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC). The charter was 
renewed by the Secretary and will terminate on November 23, 2008, 
unless renewed again by the Secretary.
    The MedCAC is governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, (Pub. L. 92-463), as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), which 
sets forth standards for the formulation and use of advisory 
committees, and is authorized by section 222 of the Public Health 
Service Act as amended (42 U.S.C. 217a).
    The MedCAC consists of a maximum of 100 appointed members. Of 
these, a maximum of 88 members are at-large standing voting members. 
Six of the 88 at-large voting member positions are reserved for patient 
advocates. The remaining 12 are nonvoting members (6

[[Page 4871]]

that represent consumer interests and 6 that represent industry 
interests).
    Members are selected by the Secretary or designee from among the 
following areas: Clinical and administrative medicine; biologic and 
physical sciences; public health administration; patient advocacy; 
health care data and information management and analysis; health care 
economics; medical ethics; and other related professions. Members are 
invited to serve a 2-year term with the option of a 2-year extension. A 
Chair and Vice-Chair are appointed from the pool of at-large members. 
The Chair and Vice-Chair serve 1-year terms and may not serve more than 
2 consecutive years in their respective capacities.
    The Committee works from an agenda provided by the Designated 
Federal Official that lists specific issues, develops technical advice 
to assist us in determining reasonable and necessary applications of 
medical services and technology when we make national coverage 
decisions for Medicare, and advises CMS as part of the Medicare 
coverage evidence development activities.

II. Provisions of the Notice

    The terms of 38 MedCAC members have expired. Of these 3 are 
nonvoting consumer representatives, 1 is a nonvoting industry 
representative, and 4 are voting patient advocates. Therefore, we are 
soliciting nominations to fill these positions. All nominations must be 
accompanied by curricula vitae. Nomination packages must be sent to the 
contact listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Nominees for 
voting membership must have expertise and experience in one or more of 
the following fields:
     Clinical medicine of all specialties.
     Administrative medicine.
     Public health.
     Patient advocacy.
     Biologic and physical sciences.
     Health care data and information management and analysis.
     The economics of health care.
     Medical ethics.
     Other related professions such as epidemiology, 
biostatistics, and methodology of clinical trial design.
    Our most critical need is for experts in ophthalmology and 
orthopedic surgery including treatment of fractures and knee, hip and 
other joint replacements.
    We also need experts in psychopharmacology, Bayesian clinical trial 
methodology, clinical epidemiology, registries, rheumatology, screening 
and diagnostic testing analysis, stroke and stroke epidemiology, 
biostatistics in clinical settings, cardiovascular epidemiology, cost 
effectiveness analysis, dementia, endocrinology, geriatrics, 
gynecology, minority health, observational research design, and women's 
health.
    The nomination letter must include a statement that the nominee is 
willing to serve as a member of the MedCAC and appears to have no 
conflict of interest that would preclude membership.
    We are requesting that all curricula vitae include the following:
     Date of birth.
     Place of birth.
     Social security number.
     Title.
     Current position.
     Professional affiliation.
     Home and business address.
     Telephone and fax numbers.
     E-mail address.
     List of areas of expertise.
    We are requesting that the nomination letter specify whether the 
individual is being nominated for a voting membership (that is, an at-
large member or patient advocate position) or nonvoting membership 
(that is, consumer representative or industry representative).
    In order to permit us to evaluate potential sources of conflict of 
interest potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed 
information regarding financial holdings, consultancies, and research 
grants or contracts.
    Members are invited to serve for overlapping 4-year terms. A member 
may serve after the expiration of the member's term until a successor 
takes office. Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified 
persons. Self-nominations are also accepted.
    You may obtain a copy of the Secretary's Charter for the MedCAC by 
submitting a request to the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. You may also review the 
charter online at: https://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/Downloads/
medcaccharter.pdf.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2 Section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2). (Catalog 
of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.778, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: January 18, 2008.
Barry M. Straube,
Chief Medical Officer and Director, Office of Clinical Standards and 
Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E8-1345 Filed 1-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P