[Federal Register: May 28, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 104)]
[Notices]
[Page 30660-30661]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28my04-61]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CM-3130-N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Coverage Advisory
Committee--July 14, 2004
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the Medicare
Coverage Advisory Committee (MCAC). This Committee provides advice and
recommendations about whether scientific evidence is adequate to
determine whether certain medical items and services are reasonable and
necessary under the Medicare statute. The Committee will discuss and
make
[[Page 30661]]
recommendations regarding using transmyocardial revascularization (TMR)
and percutaneous myocardial revascularization (PMR) to treat severe
angina.
Notice 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 will be held on Wednesday, July
14, 2004 from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. e.d.t., at the Holiday Inn
Inner Harbor, 301 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Special Accommodations: For anyone attending the meeting who is
hearing or visually impaired, or who requires special assistance or
accommodations, please notify the Executive Secretary by June 25, 2004
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Presentations and Comments: Interested persons may present data,
information, or views orally or in writing on issues pending before the
Committee. Please submit written comments to Michelle Atkinson, by
email at matkinson@cms.hhs.gov or by mail to the Executive Secretary,
Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C1-09-06,
Baltimore, MD 21244.
Deadline for Presentations and Comments: Written comments must be
received by June 25, 2004, 5 p.m., e.d.t.
Web site: You may access up-to-date information on this meeting at
http://www.cms.gov/coverage.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Atkinson, Executive
Secretary, by telephone at 410-786-2881 or by e-mail at
matkinson@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, which provides advice and recommendations to us
about clinical issues. This notice announces a 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 transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) and percutaneous
myocardial revascularization (PMR) for treatment of severe angina. TMR
is a surgical technique that uses a laser to bore holes through the
myocardium of the heart in an attempt to restore perfusion to areas of
the heart not being reached due to diseased or clogged arteries; PMR is
a subset of this technique which is less invasive and is used as a late
or last resort to relieve symptoms of severe angina in patients
suffering ischemic heart disease who are not amenable to direct
coronary revascularization interventions such as angioplasty, stenting,
or open coronary bypass. Background information about this topic,
including panel materials, is available on the Internet at http://www.cms.gov/coverage
.
Procedure: 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 of this notice, and submit the following by
June 25, 2004, 5 p.m., e.d.t.: 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. Your presentation must address the questions asked by CMS to
the Committee. If the specific questions are not addressed your
presentation will not be accepted. The questions will be available on
the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.gov/coverage/mcac. We 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: May 6, 2004.
Sean R. Tunis,
Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Chief Medical
Officer, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 04-12049 Filed 5-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P