[Federal Register: March 28, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 60)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 15139-15140]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28mr03-26]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
42 CFR Chapter IV
[CMS-6012-N5]
RIN 0938-AM40
Medicare Program; Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Special
Payment Provisions and Requirements for Prosthetics and Certain Custom-
Fabricated Orthotics; Meeting Announcement
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meetings.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, this notice announces additional public meetings of the
Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Special Payment Provisions and
Requirements for Prosthetics and Certain Custom-Fabricated Orthotics.
The Committee was mandated by section 427 of the Medicare, Medicaid,
and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA).
DATES: The next two negotiated rulemaking committee meetings will be
held May 19 and 20, 2003 and June 2 and 3, 2003. On May 19 and June 2,
the negotiated rulemaking committee will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On
May 20 and June 3, the negotiated rulemaking committee will meet from 8
a.m. to 4 p.m.
These meetings are open to the public, and subsequent meetings will
be announced in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: The Committee meetings will be held at the Hilton Pikesville
at 1726 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21208 (Telephone 410-653-
1100). Any subsequent meetings will be held at locations to be
announced.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theresa Linkowich, (410) 786-9249
(General inquiries concerning prosthetics and custom-fabricated
orthotics), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), 7500
Security Blvd, Baltimore MD 21244; or Lynn Sylvester, 202-606-9140,
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services, 2100 K Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20427; or Ira Lobel, 518-431-0130, Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Services, 1 Clinton Square, Room 952, Albany, NY 12207.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We published a notice in the Federal
Register on July 26, 2002 (FR pages 48839-48840) announcing the
establishment of the negotiated rulemaking committee to advise us on
developing a proposed rule that would establish special payment
provisions and requirements for suppliers of prosthetics and certain
custom-fabricated orthotics under the Medicare program. The notice also
announced dates for the Committee's first two meetings that were held
on October 1-3, 2002 and October 29-31, 2002. On November 22, 2002 (FR
page 70358), a notice of meetings was published in the Federal Register
announcing the third meeting that was held January 6 and 7, 2003, and
the fourth meeting that was held February 10 and 11, 2003. On January
24, 2003, (FR Page 3482) a notice of meetings was published in the
Federal Register announcing the fifth meeting that was held March 10
and 11, 2003 and the sixth meeting held April 7 and 8, 2003.
Through face-to-face negotiations, these meetings will help the
Committee to reach consensus on the substance of the proposed rule. If
consensus is reached, the Committee will transmit to us a report
containing required information for developing a proposed rule and we
will use the report as the basis for the proposed rule. The Committee
is responsible for identifying the key issues, gauging their
importance, analyzing the information necessary to resolve the issues,
arriving at a consensus, and recommending the text and content of the
proposed regulation. Detailed information is available on the CMS
Internet Home Page: http://cms.hhs.gov/faca/prosthetic/ or by calling
the Federal Advisory Committee Hotline at (410) 786-9379.
The Agendas for the May 19 and 20 meeting and the June 2 and 3 will
cover the following:
1. Review of the April 7 and 8 minutes (May 19 and 20) and review
of the May 19 and 20 minutes (June 2 and 3).
2. Continuing discussion of statutory terms to be further defined
by regulation.
3. Continuing discussion on L codes.
4. Continuing discussion on qualifications as defined in the
statute.
5. Presentation by Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists
on delivery of care.
6. Public comments.
Public Participation
All interested parties are invited to attend these public meetings,
but attendance is limited to the space available. No advance
registration is
[[Page 15140]]
required. Seating will be available on a first-come first'served basis.
Individuals requiring sign language interpretation for the hearing
impaired or other special accommodations should contact Theresa
Linkowich, tlinkowich@cms.hhs.gov or call (410) 786-9249 at least 10
days before the meeting. The Committee has the authority to decide to
what extent oral presentations by members of the public may be
permitted at the meeting. Oral presentations will be limited to
statements of fact and views, and shall not include any questioning of
the Committee members or other participants unless the facilitators
have specifically approved these questions. The number of oral
presentations may be limited by the time available.
Interested parties can file statements with the Committee. Mail
written statements to the following address: Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Services, 2100 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20427,
Attention: Lynn Sylvester, or call Lynn Sylvester at (202) 606-9140.
Additional Meetings
Meetings will be held as necessary. We will publish notices of
future meetings in the Federal Register. All future meetings will be
open to the public without advance registration.
Authority: Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2)
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: March 21, 2003.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 03-7494 Filed 3-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P