Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for Members for the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee, 13441-13442 [E9-6772]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 58 / Friday, March 27, 2009 / Notices ‘‘Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Home Care’’ (CAMHC) and its survey process in the ‘‘Surveyor Activity Guide’’ with the Medicare hospice conditions for participation and our State Operations Manual (SOM). Our review and evaluation of the Joint Commission’s deeming application, which were conducted as described in section III of this notice yielded the following: • On June 5, 2008, CMS published a final rule (73 FR 32088) that revised the existing conditions of participation that hospices must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid Program. In accordance with the regulations at § 488.4(a)(3)(iv), the Joint Commission updated and revised their standards and survey procedures to meet the Medicare requirements. • To meet the Medicare requirements at section 2728 of the SOM, the Joint Commission modified its policies for posting the deemed status survey results within 10 days onto its extranet site. • The Joint Commission will conduct all for-cause surveys on an unannounced basis. • The Joint Commission modified its executive summary statement to clearly indicate that providers must meet all accreditation standards in order to be recommended for deemed status. B. Term of Approval Based on the review and observations described in section III of this final notice, we have determined that the Joint Commission’s requirements for hospices meet or exceed our requirements. Therefore, we recognize the Joint Commission as a national accreditation organization for hospices that request participation in the Medicare program, effective June 18, 2009 through June 18, 2015. V. Collection of Information Requirements mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES This final notice does not impose any information collection and record keeping requirements. Consequently, it does not need to be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 35). (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) VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:13 Mar 26, 2009 Jkt 217001 Dated: March 4, 2009. Charlene Frizzera, Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. [FR Doc. E9–6775 Filed 3–26–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4120–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS–3212–N] Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for Members for the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice announces a request for nominations for consideration for membership on the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC). Among other things, the MEDCAC advises the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on whether medical items and services are ‘‘reasonable and necessary’’ and therefore eligible for coverage under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act. 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. DATES: Nominations for membership will be considered if postmarked by April 27, 2009 and mailed to the contact person specified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice to the designated address, as provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. ADDRESSES: You may mail nominations for membership to the following: PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13441 Attention: Maria Ellis, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop: C1–09– 06, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Ellis, Executive Secretary for MEDCAC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services OCSQ—Coverage and Analysis Group, Mailstop: C1–09– 06, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244, or contact Ms. Ellis by phone at 410–786–0309; or via e-mail at 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 establishment of the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee (MCAC). The Secretary signed the initial charter for the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee on November 24, 1998. On January 26, 2007 the Secretary published a notice in the Federal Register (72FR 3853), changing the Committee’s name to the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC). The charter for the committee was renewed by the Secretary and will terminate on November 24, 2010, unless renewed again by the Secretary. The MEDCAC is governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 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 pool of 100 appointed members including: 6 patient advocates, who are standard voting members, and 6 representatives of industry interests, who are nonvoting members. Members are selected from among authorities in clinical medicine of all specialties, administrative medicine, public health, biologic and physical sciences, health care data and information management and analysis, patient advocacy, the economics of health care, medical ethics, and other related professions such as epidemiology and biostatistics, and methodology of trial design. The MEDCAC functions on a committee basis. The Committee 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 E:\FR\FM\27MRN1.SGM 27MRN1 13442 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 58 / Friday, March 27, 2009 / Notices Committee works from an agenda provided by the Designated Federal Official that lists specific issues, and 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. The Committee also advises CMS as part of Medicare’s coverage evidence development activities. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES II. Provisions of the Notice As of May 2009, there will be 20 terms of membership expiring, 2 of which are nonvoting industry representatives and 2 are voting patient advocates. Accordingly, 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. All nominations must be accompanied by curricula vitae. Nomination packages must be sent to the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Nominees for voting membership must meet MEDCAC criteria by having 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 and biostatistics, and methodology of clinical trial design. We are looking for experts in a number of fields. Our most critical needs are for experts in Bayesian statistics; clinical epidemiology; clinical trial methodology; knee, hip, and other joint replacement surgery; ophthalmology; psychopharmacology; registries; rheumatology; screening and diagnostic testing analysis; and stroke. We also need experts in biostatistics in clinical settings, cardiovascular epidemiology, cost effectiveness analysis, dementia, endocrinology, geriatrics, gynecology, minority health, observational research design, stroke epidemiology, and women’s health. VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:13 Mar 26, 2009 Jkt 217001 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 and current position. • Professional affiliation. • Home and business address. • Telephone and fax numbers. • E-mail address. • List of areas of expertise. In the nomination letter, we are requesting that the nominee specify whether they are applying for a voting patient advocate position, for another voting position, or as a non-voting industry representative. Potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed information concerning such matters as financial holdings, consultancies, and research grants or contracts in order to permit evaluation of possible sources of conflict of interest. Members are invited to serve for overlapping 2-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. The current Secretary’s Charter for the MEDCAC is available on the CMS Web site at: https://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/ Downloads/medcaccharter.pdf, or you may obtain a copy of the charter by submitting a request to the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2). (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, Medicare—Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare—Supplementary Medical Insurance Program) Dated: March 18, 2009. Barry M. Straube, Chief Medical Officer, Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. [FR Doc. E9–6772 Filed 3–26–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4120–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS–7013–N] Medicare Program; Announcement of Rechartering and Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education, April 22, 2009 AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: This notice announces the renewal of the charter of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (the Panel). The Panel advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of consumer education strategies concerning the Medicare program. This notice also announces a meeting of the Panel in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This meeting is open to the public. DATES: Meeting Date: April 22, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., eastern daylight time (e.d.t.). Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations and Comments: April 15, 2009, 5 p.m., e.d.t. Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: April 8, 2009, 5 p.m., e.d.t. ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: Hilton Washington Hotel Embassy Row, 2015 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20036, (202) 265–6800. Meeting Registration, Presentations, and Written Comments: Lynne Johnson, Designated Federal Official, Division of Forum and Conference Development, Office of External Affairs, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mailstop S1–05–06, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850 or contact Ms. Johnson via e-mail at Lynne.Johnson@cms.hhs.gov. Registration: The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the space available. Persons wishing to attend this meeting must register by contacting Lynne Johnson at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice or by telephone at (410) 786– 0090, by the date listed in the DATES section of this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Johnson, (410) 786–0090. Please refer to the CMS Advisory Committees’ Information Line (1–877–449–5659 toll free)/(410–786–9379 local) or the E:\FR\FM\27MRN1.SGM 27MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 58 (Friday, March 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13441-13442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6772]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3212-N]


Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for Members for the 
Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces a request for nominations for 
consideration for membership on the Medicare Evidence Development & 
Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC). Among other things, the MEDCAC 
advises the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services 
(the Secretary) and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services on whether medical items and services are 
``reasonable and necessary'' and therefore eligible for coverage under 
Title XVIII of the Social Security Act.
    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.

DATES: Nominations for membership will be considered if postmarked by 
April 27, 2009 and mailed to the contact person specified in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice to the designated 
address, as provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: You may mail nominations for membership to the following: 
Attention: Maria Ellis, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail 
Stop: C1-09-06, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Ellis, Executive Secretary for 
MEDCAC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services OCSQ--Coverage and 
Analysis Group, Mailstop: C1-09-06, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 
MD 21244, or contact Ms. Ellis by phone at 410-786-0309; or via e-mail 
at 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 establishment of the Medicare Coverage 
Advisory Committee (MCAC). The Secretary signed the initial charter for 
the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee on November 24, 1998. On 
January 26, 2007 the Secretary published a notice in the Federal 
Register (72FR 3853), changing the Committee's name to the Medicare 
Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC). The 
charter for the committee was renewed by the Secretary and will 
terminate on November 24, 2010, unless renewed again by the Secretary.
    The MEDCAC is governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, Public Law 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 pool of 100 appointed members including: 6 
patient advocates, who are standard voting members, and 6 
representatives of industry interests, who are nonvoting members. 
Members are selected from among authorities in clinical medicine of all 
specialties, administrative medicine, public health, biologic and 
physical sciences, health care data and information management and 
analysis, patient advocacy, the economics of health care, medical 
ethics, and other related professions such as epidemiology and 
biostatistics, and methodology of trial design.
    The MEDCAC functions on a committee basis. The Committee 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

[[Page 13442]]

Committee works from an agenda provided by the Designated Federal 
Official that lists specific issues, and 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. The Committee also advises CMS as part of 
Medicare's coverage evidence development activities.

II. Provisions of the Notice

    As of May 2009, there will be 20 terms of membership expiring, 2 of 
which are nonvoting industry representatives and 2 are voting patient 
advocates.
    Accordingly, 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.
    All nominations must be accompanied by curricula vitae. Nomination 
packages must be sent to the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of 
this notice. Nominees for voting membership must meet MEDCAC criteria 
by having 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 and 
biostatistics, and methodology of clinical trial design.
    We are looking for experts in a number of fields. Our most critical 
needs are for experts in Bayesian statistics; clinical epidemiology; 
clinical trial methodology; knee, hip, and other joint replacement 
surgery; ophthalmology; psychopharmacology; registries; rheumatology; 
screening and diagnostic testing analysis; and stroke. We also need 
experts in biostatistics in clinical settings, cardiovascular 
epidemiology, cost effectiveness analysis, dementia, endocrinology, 
geriatrics, gynecology, minority health, observational research design, 
stroke epidemiology, 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 and current position.
     Professional affiliation.
     Home and business address.
     Telephone and fax numbers.
     E-mail address.
     List of areas of expertise.
    In the nomination letter, we are requesting that the nominee 
specify whether they are applying for a voting patient advocate 
position, for another voting position, or as a non-voting industry 
representative. Potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed 
information concerning such matters as financial holdings, 
consultancies, and research grants or contracts in order to permit 
evaluation of possible sources of conflict of interest.
    Members are invited to serve for overlapping 2-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.
    The current Secretary's Charter for the MEDCAC is available on the 
CMS Web site at: https://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/Downloads/medcaccharter.pdf, or you may obtain a copy of the charter by 
submitting a request to the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: March 18, 2009.
Barry M. Straube,
Chief Medical Officer, Director, Office of Clinical Standards and 
Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E9-6772 Filed 3-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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