[Federal Register: April 25, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 80)]
[Notices]
[Page 20394-20395]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ap03-52]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1251-N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Practicing Physicians Advisory
Council--May 19, 2003
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, this notice announces a meeting of the Practicing
Physicians Advisory Council (the Council), and the swearing in of four
new Council members. The Council will be meeting to discuss certain
proposed changes in regulations and carrier manual instructions related
to physicians' services, as identified by the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services. The meeting is open to the
public.
DATES: The meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. until
5 p.m. e.d.t.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 800, 8th floor, at Hubert
H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20201.
Meeting Registration: Persons wishing to attend this meeting must
contact Diana Motsiopoulos, The Council Administrative Coordinator, at
dmotsiopoulos@cms.hhs.gov or (410) 786-3379, at least 72 hours in
advance to register. Persons not registered in advance, will not be
permitted into the Humphrey building and will not be permitted to
attend the meeting. Persons attending the meeting will be required to
show a photographic identification, preferably a valid driver's
license, before entering the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Rudolf, M.D., J.D., Executive
Director, Practicing Physicians Advisory Council, 7500 Security Blvd.,
Mail Stop C5-17-14, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, 410-786-6960. News media
representatives should contact the CMS Press Office, (202) 690-6145.
Please refer to the CMS Advisory Committees Information Line (1-877-
449-5659 toll free)/(410-786-9379 local) or the Internet at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca/ppac/default.asp
for additional information and
updates on committee activities.
Background Information: The Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services (the Secretary) is mandated by section 1868 of the
Social Security Act (the Act) to appoint Practicing Physicians Advisory
Council (the Council) members based on nominations submitted by medical
organizations representing physicians. The Council meets quarterly to
discuss certain proposed changes in regulations and carrier manual
instructions related to physicians' services, as identified by the
Secretary. To the extent feasible and consistent with statutory
deadlines, the consultation must occur before publication of the
proposed changes. The Council submits an annual report on its
recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services not later than December 31 of each
year.
The Council consists of 15 physicians, each of whom must have
submitted at least 250 claims for physicians' services under Title
XVIII in the previous year. Members must include both participating and
nonparticipating physicians, and physicians practicing in rural and
under served urban areas. At least 11 members of the Council must be
physicians as described in section 1861(r)(1) (that is, M.D. or D.O.).
The remaining 4 members may include dentists, podiatrists, optometrists
and chiropractors. Members serve for overlapping 4-year terms; terms of
more than 2 years are contingent upon the renewal of the Council by
appropriate action prior to its termination. Section 1868(a) of the Act
provides that nominations to the Secretary for Council membership must
be made by medical organizations representing physicians.
The Council held its first meeting on May 11, 1992. The current
members are: James Bergeron, M.D.; Ronald Castallanos, M.D.; Rebecca
Gaughan, M.D.; Carlos R. Hamilton, M.D.; Joseph Heyman, M.D.; Dennis K.
Iglar, M.D.; Christopher Leggett, M.D.; Joe Johnson, D.O.; Barbara
McAneny, M.D.; Angelyn L. Moultrie-Lizana, D.O.; Laura B. Powers, M.D.;
Michael T. Rapp, M.D.; Amilu Rothhammer, M.D.; Robert L. Urata, M.D.
and Douglas L. Wood, M.D.
The meeting will commence with a Council update on the status of
prior recommendations, followed by discussion and comment on the
following agenda topics:
[sbull] Physician's Regulatory Issues Team (PRIT)
[sbull] Stark II--CMS-1810-FC
[sbull] Office of the Actuary--Volume Performance
[sbull] Measures/Volume Intensity Adjustments
[sbull] HIPAA Privacy Rule--Cell phone communications
[sbull] Access to physicians services
For additional information and clarification on these topics,
contact the
[[Page 20395]]
Executive Director, listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this notice. Individual physicians or medical organizations
that represent physicians wishing to make a 5-minute oral presentation
on agenda issues should contact the Executive Director by 12 noon, May
5, 2003, to be scheduled. Testimony is limited to agenda topics only.
The number of oral presentations may be limited by the time available.
A written copy of the presenter's oral remarks must be submitted to
Diana Motsiopoulos, Administrative Coordinator no later than 12 noon,
May 5, 2003, for distribution to Council members for review prior to
the meeting.
Physicians and medical organizations not scheduled to speak may
also submit written comments to the Administrative Coordinator for
distribution. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is
limited to the space available. Individuals requiring sign language
interpretation for the hearing impaired or other special accommodation
should contact Diana Motsiopoulos at dmotsiopoulos@cms.hhs.gov or (410)
786-3379 at least 10 days before the meeting.
Authority: Section 1868 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395ee) and section 10(a) of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2,
section 10(a)).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: April 15, 2003.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 03-9942 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P