Medicare Program; Second Semi-Annual Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups-August 5-7, 2009, 31964-31966 [E9-15880]
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31964
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 127 / Monday, July 6, 2009 / Notices
Instead, the estimated total annual
burden is 2,492 hours.
Dated: July 1, 2009.
Vivian Horovitch-Kelley,
NCI Project Clearance Liaison, National
Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E9–15955 Filed 7–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–1412–N]
Medicare Program; Second SemiAnnual Meeting of the Advisory Panel
on Ambulatory Payment Classification
Groups—August 5–7, 2009
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, Department of
Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
In accordance with section
10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), this
notice announces the second semiannual meeting of the Advisory Panel
on Ambulatory Payment Classification
(APC) Groups (the Panel) for 2009. The
purpose of the Panel is to review the
APC groups and their associated
weights and to advise the Secretary of
the Department of Health and Human
Services (the Secretary) and the
Administrator of the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
(the Administrator) concerning the
clinical integrity of the APC groups and
their associated weights. We will
consider the Panel’s advice as we
address comments and complete the
final rule that updates the hospital
Outpatient Prospective Payment System
(OPPS) for CY 2010.
DATES: Meeting Dates: We are
scheduling the second semi-annual
meeting in 2009 for the following dates
and times:
• Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 1 p.m.
to 5 p.m. (e.s.t.) 1
• Thursday, August 6, 2009, 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. (e.s.t.) 1
• Friday, August 7, 2009, 8 a.m. to 12
noon (e.s.t.) 2
Deadlines:
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
1 The times listed in this notice are approximate
times; consequently, the meetings may last longer
than listed in this notice—but will not begin before
the posted times.
2 If the business of the Panel concludes on
Thursday, August 6, 2009, there will be no Friday
(August 7, 2009) meeting.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:06 Jul 02, 2009
Jkt 217001
Deadline for Hardcopy Comments/
Suggested Agenda Topics—5 p.m.
(e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 22, 2009.
Deadline for Hardcopy
Presentations—5 p.m. (e.s.t.),
Wednesday, July 22, 2009.
Deadline for Attendance
Registration—5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday,
July 29, 2009.
Deadline for Special
Accommodations—5 p.m. (e.s.t.),
Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
Submission of Materials to the
Designated Federal Officer (DFO):
Because of staffing and resource
limitations, we cannot accept written
comments and presentations by FAX,
nor can we print written comments and
presentations received electronically for
dissemination at the meeting.
Only hardcopy comments and
presentations can be reproduced for
public dissemination. All hardcopy
presentations must be accompanied by
Form CMS–20017 (revised 01/07). The
form is now available through the CMS
Forms Web site. The Uniform Resource
Locator (URL) for linking to this form is
as follows: https://www.cms.hhs.gov/
cmsforms/downloads/cms20017.pdf.
Presenters must use the most recent
copy of CMS–20017 (updated 01/07) at
the above URL. Additionally, presenters
must clearly explain the action(s) that
they are requesting CMS to take in the
appropriate section of the form. They
must also clarify their relationship to
the organization that they represent in
the presentation.
Note: Issues that are vague, or that are
outside the scope of the APC Panel’s
purpose, will not be considered for
presentations and comments. There will be
no exceptions to this rule. We appreciate
your cooperation on this matter.
We are also requiring electronic
versions of the written comments and
presentations, in addition to the
hardcopies.
In summary, presenters and/or
commenters must do the following:
• Send both electronic and hardcopy
versions of their presentations and
written comments by the prescribed
deadlines.
• Send electronic transmissions—
preferably in PowerPoint presentation
format—to the e-mail address below.
• Do not send pictures of patients in
any of the documents unless their faces
have been blocked out.
• Do not send documents
electronically that have been archived.
• Mail (or send by courier) to the DFO
all hardcopies, accompanied by Form
CMS–20017 (revised 01/07), if they are
presenting, as specified in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this notice.
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
• Commenters are not required to
send Form CMS–20017 with their
written comments.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
the Auditorium, CMS Central Office,
7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore,
Maryland 21244–1850.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information, contact: Shirl
Ackerman-Ross, DFO, CMS, CMM,
HAPG, DOC, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Mail Stop C4–05–17, Baltimore, MD
21244–1850. Phone: (410) 786–4474.
Note: We recommend that you advise
couriers of the following information: When
delivering hardcopies of presentations to
CMS, if no one answers at the above phone
number, please call (410) 786–4532 or (410)
786–9316.
E-mail addresses for comments,
presentations, and registration requests
are CMS APCPanel@cms.hhs.gov, or
SAckermanross@cms.hhs.gov.
Note: There is NO underscore in the APC
Panel e-mail address; there is a SPACE
between CMS and APCPanel.
News media representatives must
contact our Public Affairs Office at (202)
690–6145.
Advisory Committees’ Information
Lines: The phone numbers for the CMS
Federal Advisory Committee Hotline are
1–877–449–5659 (toll free) and (410)
786–9379 (local).
Web Sites: The following information
is available on the CMS Web site at
https://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/05_
AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPayment
ClassificationGroups.asp#TopOfPage in
order to obtain the following
information:
Note: There is an UNDERSCORE after
FACA/05(like this_); there is no space.
• Additional information on the APC
meeting agenda topics,
• Updates to the Panel’s activities,
• Copies of the current Charter, and
• Membership requirements.
You may also search information
about the APC Panel and its
membership in the FACA database at
the following URL: https://
www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Secretary is required by section
1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social Security Act
(the Act) to consult with an expert,
outside advisory panel on the clinical
integrity of the Ambulatory Payment
Classification (APC) groups and weights
established under the Medicare hospital
Outpatient Prospective Payment System
(OPPS).
The APC Panel meets up to three
times annually. The Charter requires
E:\FR\FM\06JYN1.SGM
06JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 127 / Monday, July 6, 2009 / Notices
that the Panel must be fairly balanced in
its membership in terms of the points of
view represented and the functions to
be performed. The Panel consists of up
to 15 members who are representatives
of providers and a Chair.
Each Panel member must be
employed full-time by a hospital,
hospital system, or other Medicare
provider subject to payment under the
OPPS. The Secretary or Administrator
selects the Panel membership based
upon either self-nominations or
nominations submitted by Medicare
providers and other interested
organizations.
All members must have technical
expertise to enable them to participate
fully in the Panel’s work. The expertise
encompasses hospital payment systems;
hospital medical care delivery systems;
provider billing systems; APC groups;
Current Procedural Terminology codes;
and alpha-numeric Health Care
Common Procedure Coding System
codes; and the use of, and payment for,
drugs, medical devices, and other
services in the outpatient setting, as
well as other forms of relevant expertise.
Details regarding membership
requirements for the APC Panel are
found on the CMS and FACA Web sites
as listed above.
The Panel presently consists of the
following members:
• E. L. Hambrick, M.D., J.D., Chair, a
CMS Medical Officer.
• Gloryanne Bryant, B.S., RHIA,
RHIT, CCS.
• Patrick A. Grusenmeyer, Sc.D.,
FACHE.
• Kathleen Graham, R.N., MSHA,
CPHQ, ACM.
• Judith T. Kelly, B.S.H.A., RHIT,
RHIA, CCS.
• Michael D. Mills, Ph.D.
• Thomas M. Munger, M.D., FACC.
• Agatha L. Nolen, D.Ph., M.S.
• Randall A. Oyer, M.D.
• Beverly Khnie Philip, M.D.
• Russ Ranallo, M.S., B.S.
• James V. Rawson, M.D.
• Michael A. Ross, M.D., FACEP.
• Patricia Spencer-Cisek, M.S.,
APRN–BC, AOCN®.
• Kim Allen Williams, M.D., FACC,
FABC.
• Robert M. Zwolak, M.D., Ph.D.,
FACS.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
II. Agenda
The agenda for the August 2009
meeting will provide for discussion and
comment on the following topics as
designated in the Panel’s Charter:
• Addressing whether procedures
within an APC group are similar both
clinically and in terms of resource use.
• Evaluating APC group weights.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:06 Jul 02, 2009
Jkt 217001
• Reviewing the packaging of OPPS
services and costs, including the
methodology and the impact on APC
groups and payment.
• Removing procedures from the
inpatient list for payment under the
OPPS.
• Using single and multiple
procedure claims data for CMS’
determination of APC group weights.
• Addressing other technical issues
concerning APC group structure.
Note: The subject matter before the Panel
will be limited to these and related topics.
Issues related to calculation of the OPPS
conversion factor, charge compression, passthrough payments, or wage adjustments are
not within the scope of the Panel’s purpose.
Therefore, these issues will not be considered
for presentations and/or comments. There
will be no exceptions to this rule. We
appreciate your cooperation on this matter.
The Panel may use data collected or
developed by entities and organizations,
other than DHHS and CMS, in
conducting its review. We recommend
that organizations submit data for the
Panel’s and CMS staff’s review.
III. Written Comments and Suggested
Agenda Topics
Send hardcopy and electronic written
comments and suggested agenda topics
to the DFO at the address indicated
above. The DFO must receive these
items by 5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July
22, 2009. There will be no exceptions.
We appreciate your cooperation on this
matter.
The written comments and suggested
agenda topics submitted for the August
2009 APC Panel meeting must fall
within the subject categories outlined in
the Panel’s Charter and as listed in the
Agenda section of this notice.
IV. Oral Presentations
Individuals or organizations wishing
to make 5-minute oral presentations
must submit hardcopy and electronic
versions of their presentations to the
DFO by 5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July
22, 2009, for consideration.
Concise PowerPoint presentations,
not lengthy written statements, are
easier for the Panel and audience to
follow.
The number of oral presentations may
be limited by the time available. Oral
presentations should not exceed 5
minutes in length for an individual or
an organization.
The Chair may further limit time
allowed for presentations due to the
number of oral presentations, if
necessary.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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31965
V. Presenter and Presentation
Information
All presenters must submit Form
CMS–20017 (revised 01/07). Hardcopies
are required for oral presentations;
however, electronic submissions of
Form CMS–20017 are optional. The
DFO must receive the following
information from those wishing to make
oral presentations:
• Form CMS–20017 completed with
all pertinent information identified on
the first page of the presentation,
• One hardcopy of presentation,
• Electronic copy of presentation, and
• Personal registration information as
described in the Meeting Attendance
section below.
(Those persons wishing to submit
comments only must send hardcopy and
electronic versions of their comments,
but they are not required to submit
Form CMS–20017.)
VI. Oral Comments
In addition to formal oral
presentations, there will be opportunity
during the meeting for public oral
comments, which will be limited to 1
minute for each individual and a total
of 3 minutes per organization.
VII. Meeting Attendance
The meeting is open to the public;
however, attendance is limited to space
available. Attendance will be
determined on a first-come, first-served
basis.
Persons wishing to attend this
meeting, which is located on Federal
property, must e-mail the DFO to
register in advance no later than 5 p.m.
(e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 29, 2009. A
confirmation will be sent to the
requester(s) via return e-mail.
The following personal information
must be e-mailed to the DFO by the date
and time above:
• Name(s) of attendee(s),
• Title(s),
• Organization,
• E-mail addresses of all attendees,
and
• Telephone number(s).
VIII. Security, Building, and Parking
Guidelines
The following are the security,
building, and parking guidelines:
• Persons attending the meeting
including presenters must be registered
and on the attendance list by the
prescribed date.
• Individuals who are not registered
in advance will not be permitted to
enter the building and will be unable to
attend the meeting.
• Attendees must present U.S.
Federal Government or State
E:\FR\FM\06JYN1.SGM
06JYN1
31966
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 127 / Monday, July 6, 2009 / Notices
photographic identification (preferably a
valid driver’s license or passport) to the
Federal Protective Service or Guard
Service personnel before entering the
building.
• CMS is a tobacco-free campus;
violators are subject to legal action.
• Security measures include
inspection of vehicles, inside and out, at
the entrance to the grounds.
• In addition, all persons entering the
building must pass through a metal
detector.
• All items brought into CMS
including personal items, for example
laptops, cell phones, and palm pilots,
are subject to physical inspection.
• The public may enter the building
30 to 45 minutes before the meeting
convenes each day.
• All visitors must be escorted in
areas other than the lower and first-floor
levels in the Central Building.
• The main-entrance guards will
issue parking permits and instructions
upon arrival at the building.
• At CMS, security is a primary
concern and is taken very seriously.
These security issues are for your and
our protection.
IX. Special Accommodations
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National
Institute of Child Health and Human
Development Special Emphasis Panel;
Hormonal signals that regulate ovarian
differentiation.
Date: July 30, 2009.
Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health,
6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 5B01,
Rockville, MD 20852, (Telephone
Conference Call).
Contact Person: Dennis E.
Leszczynski, PhD., Scientific Review
Administrator, Division of Scientific
Review, National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development, NIH,
6100 Executive Blvd., Rm. 5b01,
Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 435–6884,
leszczyd@mail.nih.gov.
Individuals requiring sign-language
interpretation or other special
accommodations must send a request
for these services to the DFO by 5 p.m.
(e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.864, Population Research;
93.865, Research for Mothers and Children;
93.929, Center for Medical Rehabilitation
Research; 93.209, Contraception and
Infertility Loan Repayment Program, National
Institutes of Health, HHS)
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program No. 93.773, Medicare—Hospital
Insurance; and Program No. 93.774,
Medicare—Supplementary Medical
Insurance Program.)
Dated: June 29, 2009.
Jennifer Spaeth,
Director, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. E9–15789 Filed 7–2–09; 8:45 am]
Dated: June 11, 2009.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E9–15880 Filed 7–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings
National Institutes of Health
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National
Institute of Child Health and Human
Development; Notice of Closed
Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is
hereby given of the following meeting.
The meeting will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
18:28 Jul 02, 2009
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
VerDate Nov<24>2008
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
Jkt 217001
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is
hereby given of the following meetings.
The meetings will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications and
the discussions could disclose
confidential trade secrets or commercial
property such as patentable material,
and personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute Special Emphasis Panel.
Ancillary Studies in Clinical Trials.
Date: July 22, 2009.
Time: 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: Hyatt Regency Bethesda, One
Bethesda Metro Center, 7400 Wisconsin
Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Contact Person: Chang Sook Kim, PhD,
Scientific Review Officer, Review Branch,
DERA, National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7190,
Bethesda, MD 20892. 301–435–0287.
carolko@mail.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute Special Emphasis Panel.
Short-Term Research Training (T35’s).
Date: July 23, 2009.
Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health, 6701
Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892.
(Telephone Conference Call).
Contact Person: Chang Sook Kim, PhD,
Scientific Review Officer, Review Branch,
DERA, National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 7190,
Bethesda, MD 20892. 301–435–0287.
carolko@mail.nih.gov.
Name of Committee: National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute Special Emphasis Panel.
Institutional National Research Service
Award (T32).
Date: July 27, 2009.
Time: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institutes of Health, 6701
Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892.
(Telephone Conference Call).
Contact Person: Roy L White, PhD,
Scientific Review Administrator, Review
Branch/DERA, National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room
7176, Bethesda, MD 20892–7924. 301–435–
0310. whiterl@nhlbi.nih.gov.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.233, National Center for
Sleep Disorders Research; 93.837, Heart and
Vascular Diseases Research; 93.838, Lung
Diseases Research; 93.839, Blood Diseases
and Resources Research, National Institutes
of Health, HHS)
Dated: June 29, 2009.
Jennifer Spaeth,
Director, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. E9–15793 Filed 7–2–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
E:\FR\FM\06JYN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 127 (Monday, July 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31964-31966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-15880]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1412-N]
Medicare Program; Second Semi-Annual Meeting of the Advisory
Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups--August 5-7, 2009
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health
and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), this notice announces the
second semi-annual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment
Classification (APC) Groups (the Panel) for 2009. The purpose of the
Panel is to review the APC groups and their associated weights and to
advise the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
(the Secretary) and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) (the Administrator) concerning the clinical
integrity of the APC groups and their associated weights. We will
consider the Panel's advice as we address comments and complete the
final rule that updates the hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment
System (OPPS) for CY 2010.
DATES: Meeting Dates: We are scheduling the second semi-annual meeting
in 2009 for the following dates and times:
Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (e.s.t.) \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The times listed in this notice are approximate times;
consequently, the meetings may last longer than listed in this
notice--but will not begin before the posted times.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, August 6, 2009, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (e.s.t.) \1\
Friday, August 7, 2009, 8 a.m. to 12 noon (e.s.t.) \2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ If the business of the Panel concludes on Thursday, August
6, 2009, there will be no Friday (August 7, 2009) meeting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deadlines:
Deadline for Hardcopy Comments/Suggested Agenda Topics--5 p.m.
(e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 22, 2009.
Deadline for Hardcopy Presentations--5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday,
July 22, 2009.
Deadline for Attendance Registration--5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday,
July 29, 2009.
Deadline for Special Accommodations--5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday,
July 29, 2009.
Submission of Materials to the Designated Federal Officer (DFO):
Because of staffing and resource limitations, we cannot accept
written comments and presentations by FAX, nor can we print written
comments and presentations received electronically for dissemination at
the meeting.
Only hardcopy comments and presentations can be reproduced for
public dissemination. All hardcopy presentations must be accompanied by
Form CMS-20017 (revised 01/07). The form is now available through the
CMS Forms Web site. The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for linking to
this form is as follows: https://www.cms.hhs.gov/cmsforms/downloads/cms20017.pdf.
Presenters must use the most recent copy of CMS-20017 (updated 01/
07) at the above URL. Additionally, presenters must clearly explain the
action(s) that they are requesting CMS to take in the appropriate
section of the form. They must also clarify their relationship to the
organization that they represent in the presentation.
Note: Issues that are vague, or that are outside the scope of
the APC Panel's purpose, will not be considered for presentations
and comments. There will be no exceptions to this rule. We
appreciate your cooperation on this matter.
We are also requiring electronic versions of the written comments
and presentations, in addition to the hardcopies.
In summary, presenters and/or commenters must do the following:
Send both electronic and hardcopy versions of their
presentations and written comments by the prescribed deadlines.
Send electronic transmissions--preferably in PowerPoint
presentation format--to the e-mail address below.
Do not send pictures of patients in any of the documents
unless their faces have been blocked out.
Do not send documents electronically that have been
archived.
Mail (or send by courier) to the DFO all hardcopies,
accompanied by Form CMS-20017 (revised 01/07), if they are presenting,
as specified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice.
Commenters are not required to send Form CMS-20017 with
their written comments.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Auditorium, CMS Central
Office, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact:
Shirl Ackerman-Ross, DFO, CMS, CMM, HAPG, DOC, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Mail Stop C4-05-17, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Phone: (410) 786-4474.
Note: We recommend that you advise couriers of the following
information: When delivering hardcopies of presentations to CMS, if
no one answers at the above phone number, please call (410) 786-4532
or (410) 786-9316.
E-mail addresses for comments, presentations, and registration
requests are CMS APCPanel@cms.hhs.gov, or SAckermanross@cms.hhs.gov.
Note: There is NO underscore in the APC Panel e-mail address;
there is a SPACE between CMS and APCPanel.
News media representatives must contact our Public Affairs Office
at (202) 690-6145.
Advisory Committees' Information Lines: The phone numbers for the
CMS Federal Advisory Committee Hotline are 1-877-449-5659 (toll free)
and (410) 786-9379 (local).
Web Sites: The following information is available on the CMS Web
site at https://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/05_AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPaymentClassificationGroups.asp#TopOfPage in
order to obtain the following information:
Note: There is an UNDERSCORE after FACA/05(like this--); there
is no space.
Additional information on the APC meeting agenda topics,
Updates to the Panel's activities,
Copies of the current Charter, and
Membership requirements.
You may also search information about the APC Panel and its
membership in the FACA database at the following URL: https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Secretary is required by section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social
Security Act (the Act) to consult with an expert, outside advisory
panel on the clinical integrity of the Ambulatory Payment
Classification (APC) groups and weights established under the Medicare
hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS).
The APC Panel meets up to three times annually. The Charter
requires
[[Page 31965]]
that the Panel must be fairly balanced in its membership in terms of
the points of view represented and the functions to be performed. The
Panel consists of up to 15 members who are representatives of providers
and a Chair.
Each Panel member must be employed full-time by a hospital,
hospital system, or other Medicare provider subject to payment under
the OPPS. The Secretary or Administrator selects the Panel membership
based upon either self-nominations or nominations submitted by Medicare
providers and other interested organizations.
All members must have technical expertise to enable them to
participate fully in the Panel's work. The expertise encompasses
hospital payment systems; hospital medical care delivery systems;
provider billing systems; APC groups; Current Procedural Terminology
codes; and alpha-numeric Health Care Common Procedure Coding System
codes; and the use of, and payment for, drugs, medical devices, and
other services in the outpatient setting, as well as other forms of
relevant expertise. Details regarding membership requirements for the
APC Panel are found on the CMS and FACA Web sites as listed above.
The Panel presently consists of the following members:
E. L. Hambrick, M.D., J.D., Chair, a CMS Medical Officer.
Gloryanne Bryant, B.S., RHIA, RHIT, CCS.
Patrick A. Grusenmeyer, Sc.D., FACHE.
Kathleen Graham, R.N., MSHA, CPHQ, ACM.
Judith T. Kelly, B.S.H.A., RHIT, RHIA, CCS.
Michael D. Mills, Ph.D.
Thomas M. Munger, M.D., FACC.
Agatha L. Nolen, D.Ph., M.S.
Randall A. Oyer, M.D.
Beverly Khnie Philip, M.D.
Russ Ranallo, M.S., B.S.
James V. Rawson, M.D.
Michael A. Ross, M.D., FACEP.
Patricia Spencer-Cisek, M.S., APRN-BC,
AOCN[reg].
Kim Allen Williams, M.D., FACC, FABC.
Robert M. Zwolak, M.D., Ph.D., FACS.
II. Agenda
The agenda for the August 2009 meeting will provide for discussion
and comment on the following topics as designated in the Panel's
Charter:
Addressing whether procedures within an APC group are
similar both clinically and in terms of resource use.
Evaluating APC group weights.
Reviewing the packaging of OPPS services and costs,
including the methodology and the impact on APC groups and payment.
Removing procedures from the inpatient list for payment
under the OPPS.
Using single and multiple procedure claims data for CMS'
determination of APC group weights.
Addressing other technical issues concerning APC group
structure.
Note: The subject matter before the Panel will be limited to
these and related topics. Issues related to calculation of the OPPS
conversion factor, charge compression, pass-through payments, or
wage adjustments are not within the scope of the Panel's purpose.
Therefore, these issues will not be considered for presentations
and/or comments. There will be no exceptions to this rule. We
appreciate your cooperation on this matter.
The Panel may use data collected or developed by entities and
organizations, other than DHHS and CMS, in conducting its review. We
recommend that organizations submit data for the Panel's and CMS
staff's review.
III. Written Comments and Suggested Agenda Topics
Send hardcopy and electronic written comments and suggested agenda
topics to the DFO at the address indicated above. The DFO must receive
these items by 5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 22, 2009. There will be
no exceptions. We appreciate your cooperation on this matter.
The written comments and suggested agenda topics submitted for the
August 2009 APC Panel meeting must fall within the subject categories
outlined in the Panel's Charter and as listed in the Agenda section of
this notice.
IV. Oral Presentations
Individuals or organizations wishing to make 5-minute oral
presentations must submit hardcopy and electronic versions of their
presentations to the DFO by 5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 22, 2009,
for consideration.
Concise PowerPoint presentations, not lengthy written statements,
are easier for the Panel and audience to follow.
The number of oral presentations may be limited by the time
available. Oral presentations should not exceed 5 minutes in length for
an individual or an organization.
The Chair may further limit time allowed for presentations due to
the number of oral presentations, if necessary.
V. Presenter and Presentation Information
All presenters must submit Form CMS-20017 (revised 01/07).
Hardcopies are required for oral presentations; however, electronic
submissions of Form CMS-20017 are optional. The DFO must receive the
following information from those wishing to make oral presentations:
Form CMS-20017 completed with all pertinent information
identified on the first page of the presentation,
One hardcopy of presentation,
Electronic copy of presentation, and
Personal registration information as described in the
Meeting Attendance section below.
(Those persons wishing to submit comments only must send hardcopy
and electronic versions of their comments, but they are not required to
submit Form CMS-20017.)
VI. Oral Comments
In addition to formal oral presentations, there will be opportunity
during the meeting for public oral comments, which will be limited to 1
minute for each individual and a total of 3 minutes per organization.
VII. Meeting Attendance
The meeting is open to the public; however, attendance is limited
to space available. Attendance will be determined on a first-come,
first-served basis.
Persons wishing to attend this meeting, which is located on Federal
property, must e-mail the DFO to register in advance no later than 5
p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 29, 2009. A confirmation will be sent to
the requester(s) via return e-mail.
The following personal information must be e-mailed to the DFO by
the date and time above:
Name(s) of attendee(s),
Title(s),
Organization,
E-mail addresses of all attendees, and
Telephone number(s).
VIII. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines
The following are the security, building, and parking guidelines:
Persons attending the meeting including presenters must be
registered and on the attendance list by the prescribed date.
Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be
permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the
meeting.
Attendees must present U.S. Federal Government or State
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photographic identification (preferably a valid driver's license or
passport) to the Federal Protective Service or Guard Service personnel
before entering the building.
CMS is a tobacco-free campus; violators are subject to
legal action.
Security measures include inspection of vehicles, inside
and out, at the entrance to the grounds.
In addition, all persons entering the building must pass
through a metal detector.
All items brought into CMS including personal items, for
example laptops, cell phones, and palm pilots, are subject to physical
inspection.
The public may enter the building 30 to 45 minutes before
the meeting convenes each day.
All visitors must be escorted in areas other than the
lower and first-floor levels in the Central Building.
The main-entrance guards will issue parking permits and
instructions upon arrival at the building.
At CMS, security is a primary concern and is taken very
seriously. These security issues are for your and our protection.
IX. Special Accommodations
Individuals requiring sign-language interpretation or other special
accommodations must send a request for these services to the DFO by 5
p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program.)
Dated: June 11, 2009.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E9-15880 Filed 7-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P