Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee for the Competitive Acquisition of Durable Medical Equipment and Other Items, 57363-57364 [E8-23159]
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57363
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices
EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED COST BURDEN
Number of
respondents
Form name
Risk manager questionnaire ............................................................
Total ..........................................................................................
Total burden
hours
1,020
1,020
Average hourly
wage rate1
425
425
Total cost burden
$27.10
(2)
$11,518
$11,518
1 Based upon the mean of the average wages, National Compensation Survey: Occupational wages in the United States 2006, ‘‘U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.’’
2 Not applicable.
Estimated Annual Costs to the Federal
Government
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
The Agency is supporting the conduct
of this survey and analysis of survey
data as part of a contract with the RAND
Corporation under which RAND serves
as the Patient Safety Evaluation Center
for AHRQ’s patient safety initiative. The
estimated cost for this work is $240,000,
including $190,000 for data collection
activities and $50,000 to design the
study, analyze the data and report the
findings.
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
Request for Comments
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
In accordance with the above-cited
Paperwork Reduction Act legislation,
comments on AHRQ’s information
collection are requested with regard to
any of the following: (a) Whether the
proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
AHRQ health care research, quality
improvement and information
dissemination functions, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
AHRQ’s estimate of burden (including
hours and costs) of the proposed
collection(s) of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information upon the
respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and
included in the Agency’s subsequent
request for OMB approval of the
proposed information collection. All
comments will become a matter of
public record.
Dated: September 19, 2008.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E8–23370 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160–90–M
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Jkt 217001
Ethics Subcommittee, Advisory
Committee to the Director (ACD),
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)
In accordance with section 10(a)(2) of
the Federal Advisory Committee Act
(Pub. L. 92–463), CDC announces the
following meeting for the
aforementioned subcommittee:
Name: Ethics Subcommittee, Advisory
Committee to the Director (ACD), CDC.
Time and Date: 12–2 p.m., October 9, 2008.
Place: This meeting will be held by
conference call. The call in number is (866)
919–3560 and enter passcode: 4168828.
Status: Open to the public. The public is
welcome to participate during the public
comment period which is tentatively
scheduled from 1:30 p.m.–1:45 p.m.
Purpose: The Ethics Subcommittee will
provide counsel to the ACD, CDC, regarding
a broad range of public health ethics
questions and issues arising from programs,
scientists and practitioners.
Matters to be Discussed: Agenda items will
include review of ethics guidance for public
health emergency preparedness and
response.
Contact Person for More Information: Drue
Barrett, PhD, Designated Federal Official,
Ethics Subcommittee, CDC, 1600 Clifton
Road, NE., M/S D–50, Atlanta, Georgia
30333. Telephone 404–639–4690, e-mail:
dbarrett@cdc.gov.
The Ethics Subcommittee determines that
subcommittee business requires its
consideration of this matter on less than 15
days notice to the public and that no earlier
notice of this meeting was possible. At the
Ethics Subcommittee’s September 25, 2008
meeting, the subcommittee discussed this
matter and determined that additional
consideration is necessary prior to submitting
the report to the ACD, CDC. The ACD, CDC
is scheduled to meet late October.
The Director, Management Analysis and
Services Office, has been delegated the
authority to sign Federal Register notices
pertaining to announcements of meetings and
other committee management activities, for
both the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry.
PO 00000
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Dated: September 26, 2008.
Elaine L. Baker,
Director, Management Analysis and Services
Office, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
[FR Doc. E8–23268 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163–18–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–1419–N]
Medicare Program; Request for
Nominations for the Program Advisory
and Oversight Committee for the
Competitive Acquisition of Durable
Medical Equipment and Other Items
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice solicits
nominations for individuals to serve on
the Program Advisory and Oversight
Committee (PAOC) that will advise the
Secretary of Health and Human Services
on the competitive acquisition of
durable medical equipment and certain
other items and services under the
Medicare program. Section 1847(c) of
the Social Security Act requires the
Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services (Secretary) to
establish the PAOC. In addition, section
1847(c)(4) exempts the PAOC from the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C., appendix 2.
DATES: Nominations will be considered
if we receive all of the required
information no later than 5 p.m.,
November 3, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations
to the following address: Division of
DMEPOS Policy, Mail stop C5–08–17,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore MD, 21244–1850. Attention:
Ralph Goldberg or Gina Longus.
Nominations may also be e-mailed to
ralph.goldberg@cms.hhs.gov or
gina.longus@cms.hhs.gov.
E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM
02OCN1
57364
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ralph Goldberg, (410) 786–4870 or Gina
Longus, (410) 786–1287. Press inquiries
are handled through the CMS Press
Office at (202) 690–6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Payment for durable medical
equipment (DME) is currently based on
fee schedule amounts established using
reasonable charge data from earlier
years. Section 1847 of the Social
Security Act (the Act) requires the
Secretary to replace the current DME
payment methodology for certain items
with a competitive bidding process to
improve the effectiveness of Medicare’s
methodology for setting DME payment
amounts. This bidding process will
establish payment for certain durable
medical equipment, enteral nutrition,
prosthetics, and off-the-shelf orthotics.
In addition, section 1847(c) of the Act
requires the Secretary to establish a
Program Advisory and Oversight
Committee (PAOC) to provide advice on
the development and implementation of
the program.
We established a PAOC pursuant to
this statutory mandate, and the PAOC
has provided advice in the development
and implementation of the program to
date. On July 15, 2008, Congress passed
the Medicare Improvements for Patients
and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA).
Section 154 of MIPPA delays
competition for Rounds 1 and 2 of the
competitive bidding program and
requires certain modifications to the
program. Section 154(c)(2)(A) of MIPPA
delays the termination date for the
PAOC from December 31, 2009 to
December 31, 2011.
The PAOC committee continues to
have an important role in the
implementation of the competitive
bidding program. The PAOC members
will need to review the previous
bidding process and consider all of the
MIPPA changes. Due to the length of the
MIPPA delay and these additional
duties, we have decided to end the term
of service for the initial PAOC members
and solicit nominees to serve for the
next phase of the program.
II. Goals, General Responsibilities, and
Composition of the Program Advisory
and Oversight Committee (PAOC)
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
A. Goals and General Responsibilities
Section 1847(c)(3) of the Act requires
the PAOC to provide advice to the
Secretary on the following:
• The implementation of the program.
• The establishment of financial
standards, taking into account the needs
of small providers.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:52 Oct 01, 2008
Jkt 217001
• The establishment of requirements
for collection of data for the efficient
management of the program.
• The development of proposals for
efficient interaction among
manufacturers, providers of services,
suppliers, and individuals.
• The establishment of quality
standards.
Section 1847(c)(3)(B) of the Act
requires the PAOC to perform additional
functions to assist the Secretary in
implementing the program as the
Secretary may specify. In accordance
with section 1847(c)(5) of the Act, as
amended by section 154 of MIPPA, the
Committee will terminate on December
31, 2011. Committee meetings are
expected to occur on an ad hoc basis.
Committee meetings will be held in the
Baltimore/Washington DC area. (We
will reimburse travel expenses, which
will be based on government per diem
rates and travel policy.)
B. Composition of the Program Advisory
and Oversight Committee
We have particular interest in
individuals with expertise in DME,
prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies
(DMEPOS) and competitive bidding, as
well as experience in furnishing
services and items in the rural and the
urban marketplace. The PAOC will be
composed of 10 to 12 members from the
following broad representation:
• Beneficiary/consumer
representatives.
• Physicians and other practitioners.
• Suppliers.
• Professional standards
organizations.
• Financial standards specialists (that
is, economist/CPA).
• Association representatives.
• Other. (If you believe that
representatives of other specialties or
with other skills should be included on
the committee, you may indicate the
category or respective categories and
you may nominate an individual for that
category.)
III. Submission of Nominations
This notice is requesting nominations
for membership on the PAOC. The
Secretary will consider qualified
individuals who are determined to have
the expertise required to meet specific
agency needs and who will ensure an
appropriate balance of membership.
Nominations may be made for one or
more qualified individuals, and selfnominations will also be accepted. Each
nomination must include the following:
1. A letter of nomination that includes
both of the following:
a. Contact information for both the
nominator and nominee (if not the
same).
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
b. The category, as specified in
section II.B. of this notice for which the
nomination is being made (for example,
suppliers or association
representatives).
2. A curriculum vitae or resume of the
nominee that includes a statement of the
nominee’s current professional
responsibilities (not to exceed five
pages).
3. A statement that the nominee is
willing to serve on the committee for its
duration (that is, until December 31,
2011). This statement should also
include a discussion of the nominee’s
relevant experience (not to exceed three
pages). (For self-nominations, this
information may be included in the
nomination letter.)
Authority: Section 1847(c) of the Social
Security Act.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program No. 93.773, Medicare—Hospital
Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774,
Medicare—Supplementary Medical
Insurance Program)
Dated: September 25, 2008.
Kerry Weems,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E8–23159 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services
Administration
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request
Periodically, the Health Resources
and Services Administration (HRSA)
publishes abstracts of information
collection requests under review by the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), in compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of
the clearance requests submitted to
OMB for review, e-mail
paperwork@hrsa.gov or call the HRSA
Reports Clearance Office on 301–443–
1129.
The following request has been
submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget for review under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995:
Proposed Project: The National Health
Service Corps Uniform Data System
(OMB No. 0915–0232) Extension
HRSA’s Bureau of Clinician
Recruitment and Service places
National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
health care professionals at sites that
E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM
02OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 192 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57363-57364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23159]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1419-N]
Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for the Program
Advisory and Oversight Committee for the Competitive Acquisition of
Durable Medical Equipment and Other Items
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice solicits nominations for individuals to serve on
the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee (PAOC) that will advise
the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the competitive
acquisition of durable medical equipment and certain other items and
services under the Medicare program. Section 1847(c) of the Social
Security Act requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and
Human Services (Secretary) to establish the PAOC. In addition, section
1847(c)(4) exempts the PAOC from the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C., appendix 2.
DATES: Nominations will be considered if we receive all of the required
information no later than 5 p.m., November 3, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations to the following address:
Division of DMEPOS Policy, Mail stop C5-08-17, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore MD, 21244-1850.
Attention: Ralph Goldberg or Gina Longus. Nominations may also be e-
mailed to ralph.goldberg@cms.hhs.gov or gina.longus@cms.hhs.gov.
[[Page 57364]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralph Goldberg, (410) 786-4870 or Gina
Longus, (410) 786-1287. Press inquiries are handled through the CMS
Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Payment for durable medical equipment (DME) is currently based on
fee schedule amounts established using reasonable charge data from
earlier years. Section 1847 of the Social Security Act (the Act)
requires the Secretary to replace the current DME payment methodology
for certain items with a competitive bidding process to improve the
effectiveness of Medicare's methodology for setting DME payment
amounts. This bidding process will establish payment for certain
durable medical equipment, enteral nutrition, prosthetics, and off-the-
shelf orthotics. In addition, section 1847(c) of the Act requires the
Secretary to establish a Program Advisory and Oversight Committee
(PAOC) to provide advice on the development and implementation of the
program.
We established a PAOC pursuant to this statutory mandate, and the
PAOC has provided advice in the development and implementation of the
program to date. On July 15, 2008, Congress passed the Medicare
Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). Section
154 of MIPPA delays competition for Rounds 1 and 2 of the competitive
bidding program and requires certain modifications to the program.
Section 154(c)(2)(A) of MIPPA delays the termination date for the PAOC
from December 31, 2009 to December 31, 2011.
The PAOC committee continues to have an important role in the
implementation of the competitive bidding program. The PAOC members
will need to review the previous bidding process and consider all of
the MIPPA changes. Due to the length of the MIPPA delay and these
additional duties, we have decided to end the term of service for the
initial PAOC members and solicit nominees to serve for the next phase
of the program.
II. Goals, General Responsibilities, and Composition of the Program
Advisory and Oversight Committee (PAOC)
A. Goals and General Responsibilities
Section 1847(c)(3) of the Act requires the PAOC to provide advice
to the Secretary on the following:
The implementation of the program.
The establishment of financial standards, taking into
account the needs of small providers.
The establishment of requirements for collection of data
for the efficient management of the program.
The development of proposals for efficient interaction
among manufacturers, providers of services, suppliers, and individuals.
The establishment of quality standards.
Section 1847(c)(3)(B) of the Act requires the PAOC to perform
additional functions to assist the Secretary in implementing the
program as the Secretary may specify. In accordance with section
1847(c)(5) of the Act, as amended by section 154 of MIPPA, the
Committee will terminate on December 31, 2011. Committee meetings are
expected to occur on an ad hoc basis. Committee meetings will be held
in the Baltimore/Washington DC area. (We will reimburse travel
expenses, which will be based on government per diem rates and travel
policy.)
B. Composition of the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee
We have particular interest in individuals with expertise in DME,
prosthetics, orthotics, or supplies (DMEPOS) and competitive bidding,
as well as experience in furnishing services and items in the rural and
the urban marketplace. The PAOC will be composed of 10 to 12 members
from the following broad representation:
Beneficiary/consumer representatives.
Physicians and other practitioners.
Suppliers.
Professional standards organizations.
Financial standards specialists (that is, economist/CPA).
Association representatives.
Other. (If you believe that representatives of other
specialties or with other skills should be included on the committee,
you may indicate the category or respective categories and you may
nominate an individual for that category.)
III. Submission of Nominations
This notice is requesting nominations for membership on the PAOC.
The Secretary will consider qualified individuals who are determined to
have the expertise required to meet specific agency needs and who will
ensure an appropriate balance of membership. Nominations may be made
for one or more qualified individuals, and self-nominations will also
be accepted. Each nomination must include the following:
1. A letter of nomination that includes both of the following:
a. Contact information for both the nominator and nominee (if not
the same).
b. The category, as specified in section II.B. of this notice for
which the nomination is being made (for example, suppliers or
association representatives).
2. A curriculum vitae or resume of the nominee that includes a
statement of the nominee's current professional responsibilities (not
to exceed five pages).
3. A statement that the nominee is willing to serve on the
committee for its duration (that is, until December 31, 2011). This
statement should also include a discussion of the nominee's relevant
experience (not to exceed three pages). (For self-nominations, this
information may be included in the nomination letter.)
Authority: Section 1847(c) of the Social Security Act.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: September 25, 2008.
Kerry Weems,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E8-23159 Filed 10-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
