[Federal Register: December 27, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 249)]
[Notices]
[Page 79124-79125]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27de02-112]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-3105-N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Coverage Advisory
Committee--February 12, 2003
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the Medicare
Coverage Advisory Committee (the Committee). The Committee provides
advice and recommendations to us about clinical issues. Among other
things, the Committee advises us on whether adequate evidence exists to
determine whether specific medical items and services are reasonable
and necessary under Medicare law. The Committee will discuss and make
recommendations concerning the quality of the evidence and related
issues for the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).
We received a request from Guidant Corporation to cover ICDs for
patients with a prior myocardial infarction and a left ventricular
ejection fraction of <=.30. We are taking the opportunity to review all
indications for ICDs. Notice of this action is given under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2)).
DATES: The Meeting: The public meeting announced will be held on
Wednesday, February 12, 2003 from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., E.S.T.
Deadline for Presentations and Comments: Interested persons may
present data, information, or views orally or in writing, on issues
pending before the committee. Written presentations and comments must
be submitted to the Executive Secretary by January 29, 2003, 5 p.m.,
E.S.T.
Special Accommodations: Persons attending the meeting who are
hearing or visually impaired, or have a condition that requires special
assistance or accommodations, are asked to notify the Executive
Secretary by January 29, 2003 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
[[Page 79125]]
ADDRESSES: The Meeting: The meeting will be held at the Baltimore
Convention Center, Room 338-339, One West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD
21201.
Presentations and Comments: Submit formal presentations and written
comments to Janet Anderson 410-786-2700, janderson@cms.hhs.gov,
Executive Secretary; Office of Clinical Standards and Quality; Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 7500 Security Boulevard; Mail Stop
C1-09-06; Baltimore, MD 21244.
Website: You may access up-to-date information on this meeting at
www.cms.gov/coverage.
Hotline: You may access up-to-date information on this meeting on
the CMS Advisory Committee Information Hotline, 1-877-449-5659 (toll
free) or in the Baltimore area (410) 786-9379.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Anderson, Executive Secretary,
410-786-2700, janderson@cms.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 14, 1998, we published a notice
in the Federal Register (63 FR 68780) to describe the Medicare Coverage
Advisory Committee (the Committee), which provides advice and
recommendations to us about clinical issues. A revised charter was
signed by the Secretary on November 22, 2002. This notice announces the
following public meeting of the Committee.
Meeting Topic
The Committee will discuss the evidence, hear presentations and
public comment, and make recommendations regarding the use of
implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Background information about
this topic, including committee materials, is available on the Internet
at http://www.cms.gov/coverage.
Procedure and Agenda
This meeting is open to the public. The Committee will hear oral
presentations from the public for approximately 45 minutes. The
Committee may limit the number and duration of oral presentations to
the time available. If you wish to make formal presentations, you must
notify the Executive Secretary named in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section, and submit the following by the Deadline for
Presentations and Comments date listed in the DATES section of this
notice: a brief statement of the general nature of the evidence or
arguments you wish to present, and the names and addresses of proposed
participants. A written copy of your presentation must be provided to
each Committee member before offering your public comments. We will
request that you declare at the meeting whether or not you have any
financial involvement with manufacturers of any items or services being
discussed (or with their competitors).
After the public and CMS presentations, the Committee will
deliberate openly on the topic. Interested persons may observe the
deliberations, but the Committee will not hear further comments during
this time except at the request of the chairperson. The Committee will
also allow a 15-minute unscheduled open public session for any attendee
to address issues specific to the topic. At the conclusion of the day,
the members will vote and the Committee will make its recommendation.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: December 17, 2002.
Robert A. Streimer,
Acting Director, Office of Clinical Standards and , Quality, Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 02-32652 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P