Medicare Program; Application by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) for Recognition as a National Accreditation Organization for Accrediting Entities To Furnish Outpatient Diabetes Self-Management Training, 63483-63485 [E8-25195]
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jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 207 / Friday, October 24, 2008 / Notices
at § 485.647, including a crosswalk
addressing the Medicare hospital CoPs
at § 482, as part of its application for
renewal of CAH deeming authority.
Given the Joint Commission’s unique
statutory deeming authority for
hospitals as set forth in former section
1865(a) of the Act, the Joint Commission
had previously not been subject to a
comparability review of its hospital
accreditation program in accordance
with the requirements at §§ 488.4 and
488.8. Review of the Joint Commission
revised accreditation standards for
hospitals revealed that significant gaps
remain between the Joint Commission
standards and the Medicare hospital
CoPs.
In accordance with § 488.8(d)(3),
every six years, or sooner as determined
by CMS, an approved accreditation
organization must reapply for continued
approval of deeming authority. CMS
notifies the organization of the materials
the organization must submit as part of
the reapplication procedure. An
accreditation organization that is not
meeting the requirements of this
subpart, as determined through a
comparability review, must furnish
CMS, upon request and at any time,
with the reapplication materials CMS
requests. CMS will establish a deadline
by which the materials are to be
submitted.
In accordance with § 488.8(f)(3)(i), if
we determine that an AO has failed to
adopt requirements comparable to CMS
requirements, we may grant a
conditional approval of the AO’s
deeming authority for a period of up to
180 days to adopt comparable
requirements. Within 60 days after the
end of this period, CMS will make a
final determination as to whether or not
the Joint Commission’s CAH
accreditation requirements are
comparable to CMS requirements and
issue an appropriate notice that
includes reasons for our determination
no later than July 19, 2009. If the Joint
Commission has not made
improvements acceptable to CMS
during this period, CMS may remove
recognition of deemed authority for its
CAH program effective up to 30 days
from the date we provide written notice
to the Joint Commission that its CAH
deeming authority will be removed. In
addition, because of our concern about
DPU standards, once the Joint
Commission has implemented their
revised CAH DPU standards, we will
conduct a survey observation at the next
available opportunity to validate proper
application of the standards.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:48 Oct 23, 2008
Jkt 217001
B. Term of Approval
Based on the review and observations
described in section III of this final
notice, specifically remaining
significant gaps between the Joint
Commission hospital standards for
DPUs and Medicare hospital CoPs. We
have determined that the Joint
Commission’s accreditation standards
for CAH DPUs require further revision
and subsequent review. We are
confident that with additional time, the
Joint Commission will make the
necessary revisions to their DPU
standards and implement these revised
standards to ensure that the Joint
Commission’s accreditation program for
CAH DPUs meets or exceeds the
Medicare requirements as stated at
§ 485. Therefore, we conditionally
approve the Joint Commission as a
national accreditation organization for
CAHs that request participation in the
Medicare program, effective November
21, 2008 through November 21, 2011,
with a 180 day probationary period
through May 20, 2009.
V. Collection of Information
Requirements
This document does not impose
information collection and
recordkeeping requirements.
Consequently, it need not be reviewed
by the Office of Management and
Budget under the authority of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 35).
Authority: Section 1865 of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395bb)
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program No. 93.778, Medical Assistance
Program; No. 93.773, Medicare—Hospital
Insurance Program; and No. 93.774,
Medicare—Supplemental Medical Insurance
Program)
Dated: September 11, 2008.
Kerry Weems,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E8–25193 Filed 10–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
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63483
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–3205–PN]
Medicare Program; Application by the
American Association of Diabetes
Educators (AADE) for Recognition as a
National Accreditation Organization for
Accrediting Entities To Furnish
Outpatient Diabetes Self-Management
Training
Centers for Medicare &
Medicare Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Proposed notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This proposed notice
announces the receipt of an application
from the American Association of
Diabetes Educators (AADE) for
recognition as a national accreditation
program for accrediting entities that
wish to furnish outpatient diabetes selfmanagement training to Medicare
beneficiaries. The statute requires that
the Secretary publish a notice
identifying the national accreditation
body making the request, describing the
nature of the request, and providing at
least a 30-day public comment period.
DATES: To be assured consideration,
comments must be received at one of
the addresses provided below no later
than 5 p.m. on November 24, 2008.
ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer
to file code CMS–3205–PN. Because of
staff and resource limitations, we cannot
accept comments by facsimile (FAX)
transmission.
You may submit comments in one of
four ways (please choose only one of the
ways listed):
1. Electronically. You may submit
electronic comments on specific issues
in this regulation to https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions under the more search
options tab.
2. By regular mail. You may mail
written comments to the following
address ONLY: Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, Department of
Health and Human Services, Attention:
CMS–3205–PN, P.O. Box 8016,
Baltimore, MD 21244–8016.
Please allow sufficient time for mailed
comments to be received before the
close of the comment period.
3. By express or overnight mail. You
may send written comments to the
following address ONLY: Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services,
Department of Health and Human
Services, Attention: CMS–3205–PN,
Mail Stop C4–26–05, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.
E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM
24OCN1
63484
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 207 / Friday, October 24, 2008 / Notices
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
4. By hand or courier. If you prefer,
you may deliver (by hand or courier)
your written comments (one original)
before the close of the comment period
to one of the following addresses:
a. Room 445–G, Hubert H. Humphrey
Building, 200 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20201.
(Because access to the interior of the
Hubert H. Humphrey Building is not
readily available to persons without
Federal Government identification,
commenters are encouraged to leave
their comments in the CMS drop slots
located in the main lobby of the
building. A stamp-in clock is available
for persons wishing to retain a proof of
filing by stamping in and retaining an
extra copy of the comments being filed.)
b. 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.
If you intend to deliver your
comments to the Baltimore address,
please call telephone number (410) 786–
9994 in advance to schedule your
arrival with one of our staff members.
Comments mailed to the addresses
indicated as appropriate for hand or
courier delivery may be delayed and
received after the comment period.
For information on viewing public
comments, see the beginning of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan
A. Moliki, (410) 786–5526.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Inspection of Public Comments: All
comments received before the close of
the comment period are available for
viewing by the public, including any
personally identifiable or confidential
business information that is included in
a comment. We post all comments
received before the close of the
comment period on the following Web
site as soon as possible after they have
been received: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the search
instructions on that Web site to view
public comments.
Comments received timely will also
be available for public inspection as
they are received, generally beginning
approximately 3 weeks after publication
of a document, at the headquarters of
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21244, Monday
through Friday of each week from 8:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an
appointment to view public comments,
phone 1–800–743–3951.
I. Background
Under the Medicare program, eligible
beneficiaries may receive outpatient
diabetes self-management training when
ordered by the physician (or qualified
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:48 Oct 23, 2008
Jkt 217001
non-physician practitioner) treating the
beneficiary’s diabetes, provided certain
requirements are met. We sometimes
use national accrediting organizations to
determine whether an entity meets some
or all of the Medicare requirements
when providing services for which
Medicare payment is made.
Under section 1865(a)(1) of the Social
Security Act (the Act), a national
accreditation organization must have an
agreement in effect with the Secretary
and meet the standards and
requirements specified by the Secretary
in 42 CFR 410, subpart H to qualify for
deeming authority. The regulations
pertaining to application procedures for
national accreditation organizations for
diabetes self-management training are
specified at § 410.142 (CMS process for
approving national accreditation
organizations). One of the regulations
requires national accreditation
organizations applying for deeming
authority to provide us with reasonable
assurance that the accrediting
organization requires accredited entities
to meet requirements that are at least as
stringent as our requirements.
We may approve and recognize a
nonprofit or not-for-profit organization
with demonstrated experience in
representing the interests of individuals
with diabetes to accredit entities to
furnish training. The accreditation
organization, after being approved and
recognized by us, may accredit an entity
to meet one of the sets of quality
standards in § 410.144 (Quality
standards for deemed entities).
Section 1865(a)(2) of the Act further
requires that we review the applying
accreditation organization as follows:
• The organization’s requirements for
accreditation,
• Survey procedures,
• Ability to provide adequate
resources for conducting required
surveys,
• Ability to supply information for
use in enforcement activities,
• Monitoring procedures for
providers found out of compliance with
the conditions or requirements, and
• Ability to provide us with necessary
data for validation.
We then examine the national
accreditation organization’s
accreditation requirements to determine
if they meet or exceed the Medicare
conditions as we would have applied
them. Section 1865(a)(3)(A) of the Act
requires that we publish a notice
identifying the national accreditation
body making the request within 30 days
of receipt of a completed application.
The notice must describe the nature of
the request and provide at least a 30-day
public comment period. We have 210
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
days from receipt of the request to
publish a finding of approval or denial
of the application. If we recognize an
accreditation organization in this
manner, any entity accredited by the
national accreditation body’s CMSapproved program for that service will
be ‘‘deemed’’ to meet the Medicare
conditions for coverage.
II. Provisions of the Proposed Notice
The purpose of this notice is to notify
the public of the American Association
of Diabetes Educators (AADE’s) request
for the Secretary’s approval of its
accreditation program for outpatient
diabetes self-management training
services. This notice also solicits public
comments on the ability of the AADE to
develop standards that meet or exceed
the Medicare conditions for coverage,
and apply them to entities furnishing
outpatient diabetes self-management
training.
Conditions for Coverage and
Requirements for Outpatient Diabetes
Self-Management Training Services
The regulations specifying the
Medicare conditions for coverage for
outpatient diabetes self-management
training services are located in 42 CFR
parts 410, subpart H. These conditions
implement section 1861(qq) of the Act,
which provides for Medicare Part B
coverage of outpatient diabetes selfmanagement training services specified
by the Secretary.
Under section 1865(a)(2) of the Act
and our regulations at § 410.142 (CMS
process for approving national
accreditation organizations) and
§ 410.143 (Requirements for approved
accreditation organizations), we review
and evaluate a national accreditation
organization based on (but not
necessarily limited to) the criteria set
forth in § 410.142(b).
We may conduct on-site inspections
of a national accreditation
organization’s operations and office to
verify information in the organization’s
application and assess the
organization’s compliance with its own
policies and procedures. The onsite
inspection may include, but is not
limited to, reviewing documents,
auditing documentation of meetings
concerning the accreditation process,
evaluating accreditation results or the
accreditation status decisionmaking
process, and interviewing the
organization’s staff.
Notice Upon Completion of Evaluation
Upon completion of our evaluation,
including evaluation of comments
received as a result of this notice, we
will publish a notice in the Federal
E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM
24OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 207 / Friday, October 24, 2008 / Notices
Register announcing the result of our
evaluation.
III. Collection of Information
Requirements
This document does not impose
information collection and
recordkeeping requirements.
Consequently, it need not be reviewed
by the Office of Management and
Budget under the authority of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35)
IV. Response to Comments
Because of the large number of public
comments we normally receive on
Federal Register documents, we are not
able to acknowledge or respond to them
individually. We will consider all
comments we receive by the date and
time specified in the DATES section of
this preamble, and, when we proceed
with a subsequent document, we will
respond to the comments in the
preamble to that document.
In accordance with the provisions of
Executive Order 12866, this regulation
was not reviewed by the Office of
Management and Budget.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program No. 93.773, Medicare-Hospital
Insurance Program; and No. 93.774,
Medicare-Supplementary Medical Insurance
Program)
Dated: October 9, 2008.
Kerry Weems,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E8–25195 Filed 10–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–1421–N]
Medicare Program; Plan To Transition
to a Medicare Value-Based Purchasing
Program for Physician and Other
Professional Services: Listening
Session, December 9, 2008
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces a
listening session being conducted as
part of the development of a plan for the
transition to a value-based purchasing
program for physician and other
professional services as required by
section 131(d) of the Medicare
Improvements for Patients and
Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). The
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:48 Oct 23, 2008
Jkt 217001
purpose of the listening session is to
solicit comments on an issues paper that
will present the range of issues being
considered for plan development.
Physicians, physician associations, and
all others interested in the pursuit of
new payment approaches to enhance
the quality and efficiency of physician
and other professional services are
invited to participate, in person or by
calling in to the teleconference. The
issues paper will be posted on the CMS
Web site Physician Center Spotlights at
https://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/
physician.asp no later than November
28, 2008. The issues identified and
discussed during this meeting will assist
us in developing options for the plan.
The meeting is open to the public, but
attendance is limited to space and
teleconference lines available.
DATES: Meeting Date: The listening
session will be held on Tuesday,
December 9, 2008 from 10 a.m. until 4
p.m. e.s.t.
Deadline for Meeting Registration and
Request for Special Accommodations:
Registration opens on Monday, October
27, 2008. Registration must be
completed by 5 p.m. e.s.t. Tuesday,
December 2, 2008. Requests for special
accommodations must be received by 5
p.m. e.s.t. on Tuesday, December 2,
2008.
Deadline for Submission of Written
Comments or Statements: Written
comments or statements on the issues
paper may be sent via mail, fax, or
electronically to the address specified in
the ADDRESSES section of this notice and
must be received by 5 p.m. e.s.t. on
Tuesday, December 16, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The
listening session will be held in the
main auditorium of the Central Building
of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21244–1850.
Registration and Special
Accommodations: Persons interested in
attending the meeting or participating
by teleconference must register by
completing the on-line registration via
the CMS Web site at https://
registration.intercall.com/go/cms2.
Individuals who require special
accommodations should send an e-mail
request to mpf@cms.hhs.gov or via
regular mail to Robin Phillips at the
address specified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION section of this notice.
Written Comments or Statements:
Written comments or statements may be
sent via e-mail to
PhysicianVBP@cms.hhs.gov, faxed to
410–786–8005; or sent via regular mail
to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard,
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
63485
Baltimore, MD 21244–1850, Mail Stop
C5–15–02, Attn: Physician VBP
comments.
All persons planning to make a
statement in person at the listening
session are urged to submit statements
in writing during the listening session
and should subsequently submit the
information electronically by the
timeframe specified in the DATES section
of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information regarding the
December 9, 2008 listening session
contact Robin Phillips, 410–786–3010 in
the Provider Communications Group.
You may also send inquiries about this
listening session via e-mail to
mpf@cms.hhs.gov or via regular mail at
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, Mail Stop C4–13–07, 7500
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD
21244–1850.
I. Background
Section 131(d) of the Medicare
Improvements for Patients and
Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), enacted
on July 15, 2008, requires the Secretary
of the Department of Health and Human
Services to develop a plan to transition
to a value-based purchasing (VBP)
program for Medicare payment for
covered professional services. It also
requires the Secretary to submit a
Report to Congress no later than May 1,
2010, containing the plan with
recommendations for legislation and
administrative action that the Secretary
deems appropriate.
We have created an internal Physician
VBP Workgroup that is charged with
developing the plan. The workgroup is
organized into four subgroups to
address the major components of the
plan: (1) Measures; (2) data
infrastructure and reporting; (3)
incentive methodology; and (4) public
reporting. The CMS workgroup will
identify key issues in each component
to create the issues paper, prepare a set
of design options that take into
consideration the findings from the
listening session and comments on the
issues paper, narrow the set of design
options to prepare a draft plan, and
develop the final plan that will be
submitted in a Report to Congress. The
process of plan development began in
September 2008 and is intended to be
completed in time for submission of the
Report to Congress (which is due no
later than May 1, 2010). The December
listening session and perhaps other
sessions will be hosted to solicit
comments from physicians and other
health professionals on outstanding
design questions associated with
development of the plan.
E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 207 (Friday, October 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63483-63485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25195]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-3205-PN]
Medicare Program; Application by the American Association of
Diabetes Educators (AADE) for Recognition as a National Accreditation
Organization for Accrediting Entities To Furnish Outpatient Diabetes
Self-Management Training
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Proposed notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This proposed notice announces the receipt of an application
from the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) for
recognition as a national accreditation program for accrediting
entities that wish to furnish outpatient diabetes self-management
training to Medicare beneficiaries. The statute requires that the
Secretary publish a notice identifying the national accreditation body
making the request, describing the nature of the request, and providing
at least a 30-day public comment period.
DATES: To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of
the addresses provided below no later than 5 p.m. on November 24, 2008.
ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-3205-PN.
Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
You may submit comments in one of four ways (please choose only one
of the ways listed):
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific
issues in this regulation to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions under the more search options tab.
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments to the following
address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of
Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-3205-PN, P.O. Box 8016,
Baltimore, MD 21244-8016.
Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received
before the close of the comment period.
3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments to
the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-3205-PN, Mail
Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
[[Page 63484]]
4. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver (by hand or
courier) your written comments (one original) before the close of the
comment period to one of the following addresses:
a. Room 445-G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201.
(Because access to the interior of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building
is not readily available to persons without Federal Government
identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in
the CMS drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-
in clock is available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing
by stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being
filed.)
b. 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address,
please call telephone number (410) 786-9994 in advance to schedule your
arrival with one of our staff members.
Comments mailed to the addresses indicated as appropriate for hand
or courier delivery may be delayed and received after the comment
period.
For information on viewing public comments, see the beginning of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan A. Moliki, (410) 786-5526.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Inspection of Public Comments: All comments received before the
close of the comment period are available for viewing by the public,
including any personally identifiable or confidential business
information that is included in a comment. We post all comments
received before the close of the comment period on the following Web
site as soon as possible after they have been received: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the search instructions on that Web site to
view public comments.
Comments received timely will also be available for public
inspection as they are received, generally beginning approximately 3
weeks after publication of a document, at the headquarters of the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21244, Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment to view public comments,
phone 1-800-743-3951.
I. Background
Under the Medicare program, eligible beneficiaries may receive
outpatient diabetes self-management training when ordered by the
physician (or qualified non-physician practitioner) treating the
beneficiary's diabetes, provided certain requirements are met. We
sometimes use national accrediting organizations to determine whether
an entity meets some or all of the Medicare requirements when providing
services for which Medicare payment is made.
Under section 1865(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (the Act), a
national accreditation organization must have an agreement in effect
with the Secretary and meet the standards and requirements specified by
the Secretary in 42 CFR 410, subpart H to qualify for deeming
authority. The regulations pertaining to application procedures for
national accreditation organizations for diabetes self-management
training are specified at Sec. 410.142 (CMS process for approving
national accreditation organizations). One of the regulations requires
national accreditation organizations applying for deeming authority to
provide us with reasonable assurance that the accrediting organization
requires accredited entities to meet requirements that are at least as
stringent as our requirements.
We may approve and recognize a nonprofit or not-for-profit
organization with demonstrated experience in representing the interests
of individuals with diabetes to accredit entities to furnish training.
The accreditation organization, after being approved and recognized by
us, may accredit an entity to meet one of the sets of quality standards
in Sec. 410.144 (Quality standards for deemed entities).
Section 1865(a)(2) of the Act further requires that we review the
applying accreditation organization as follows:
The organization's requirements for accreditation,
Survey procedures,
Ability to provide adequate resources for conducting
required surveys,
Ability to supply information for use in enforcement
activities,
Monitoring procedures for providers found out of
compliance with the conditions or requirements, and
Ability to provide us with necessary data for validation.
We then examine the national accreditation organization's
accreditation requirements to determine if they meet or exceed the
Medicare conditions as we would have applied them. Section
1865(a)(3)(A) of the Act requires that we publish a notice identifying
the national accreditation body making the request within 30 days of
receipt of a completed application. The notice must describe the nature
of the request and provide at least a 30-day public comment period. We
have 210 days from receipt of the request to publish a finding of
approval or denial of the application. If we recognize an accreditation
organization in this manner, any entity accredited by the national
accreditation body's CMS-approved program for that service will be
``deemed'' to meet the Medicare conditions for coverage.
II. Provisions of the Proposed Notice
The purpose of this notice is to notify the public of the American
Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE's) request for the Secretary's
approval of its accreditation program for outpatient diabetes self-
management training services. This notice also solicits public comments
on the ability of the AADE to develop standards that meet or exceed the
Medicare conditions for coverage, and apply them to entities furnishing
outpatient diabetes self-management training.
Conditions for Coverage and Requirements for Outpatient Diabetes Self-
Management Training Services
The regulations specifying the Medicare conditions for coverage for
outpatient diabetes self-management training services are located in 42
CFR parts 410, subpart H. These conditions implement section 1861(qq)
of the Act, which provides for Medicare Part B coverage of outpatient
diabetes self-management training services specified by the Secretary.
Under section 1865(a)(2) of the Act and our regulations at Sec.
410.142 (CMS process for approving national accreditation
organizations) and Sec. 410.143 (Requirements for approved
accreditation organizations), we review and evaluate a national
accreditation organization based on (but not necessarily limited to)
the criteria set forth in Sec. 410.142(b).
We may conduct on-site inspections of a national accreditation
organization's operations and office to verify information in the
organization's application and assess the organization's compliance
with its own policies and procedures. The onsite inspection may
include, but is not limited to, reviewing documents, auditing
documentation of meetings concerning the accreditation process,
evaluating accreditation results or the accreditation status
decisionmaking process, and interviewing the organization's staff.
Notice Upon Completion of Evaluation
Upon completion of our evaluation, including evaluation of comments
received as a result of this notice, we will publish a notice in the
Federal
[[Page 63485]]
Register announcing the result of our evaluation.
III. Collection of Information Requirements
This document does not impose information collection and
recordkeeping requirements. Consequently, it need not be reviewed by
the Office of Management and Budget under the authority of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35)
IV. Response to Comments
Because of the large number of public comments we normally receive
on Federal Register documents, we are not able to acknowledge or
respond to them individually. We will consider all comments we receive
by the date and time specified in the DATES section of this preamble,
and, when we proceed with a subsequent document, we will respond to the
comments in the preamble to that document.
In accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 12866, this
regulation was not reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare-Hospital Insurance Program; and No. 93.774, Medicare-
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: October 9, 2008.
Kerry Weems,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E8-25195 Filed 10-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
