[Federal Register: November 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 227)]
[Notices]
[Page 68944-68945]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26no04-82]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-3149-N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Coverage Advisory
Committee--January 25, 2005
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 (MCAC). The 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. This meeting concerns the data
from and the quality of clinical evidence pertaining to the effects of
lifestyle modification such as diet, exercise, stress reduction and
group counseling as it relates to reversal or resolution of diseases
such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. Notice of this meeting is
given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2,
section 10(a)).
DATES: The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 25, 2005,
from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. e.s.t.
Deadline for Presentations and Comments: Written comments and
presentations must be received by December 27, 2005, 5 p.m., e.s.t.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the auditorium at the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd, Baltimore, MD
21244.
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 e-
mail at Matkinson@cms.hhs.gov or by mail to the Executive Secretary for
MCAC, Coverage and Analysis Group, Office of Clinical Standards and
Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Mail Stop C1-09-06, Baltimore, MD 21244.
Web site: You may access up-to-date information on this meeting at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcac/default.asp#meetings.
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.
[[Page 68945]]
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 (MCAC), which provides advice and recommendations to
us about clinical issues. This notice announces a public meeting of the
Committee.
Meeting Topic: The Committee will address the data from and the
quality of clinical evidence pertaining to the effects of lifestyle
modification such as diet, exercise, stress reduction and group
counseling as it relates to reversal or resolution of diseases such as
coronary heart disease and diabetes.
Background information about this topic, including panel materials,
is available on the Internet at http://www.cms.hhs.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 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. Your
presentation must address the questions asked by us to the Committee.
The questions will be available on our Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcac/default.asp#meetings.
If the specific questions
are not addressed, your presentation will not be accepted. 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.
Registration Instructions
The Coverage and Analysis Group is coordinating meeting
registration. While there is no registration fee, individuals must
register to attend. You may register by contacting Maria Ellis at 410-
786-0309, mailing address: Coverage and Analysis Group, OCSQ; Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 7500 Security Blvd, Mailstop: C1-09-
06; Baltimore, MD 21244, or by e-mail at Mellis@cms.hhs.gov. Please
provide your name, address, organization, telephone and fax number, and
e-mail address.
You will receive a registration confirmation with instructions for
your arrival at the CMS complex. You will be notified if the seating
capacity has been reached.
Because the meeting is located on Federal property, for security
reasons, any persons wishing to attend this meeting must register by
close of business on January 17, 2005. In order to gain access to the
building and grounds, participants must show to the Federal Protective
Service or guard service personnel, government-issued photo
identification and a copy of their registration confirmation.
Individuals who have not registered in advance will not be allowed to
enter the building to attend the meeting.
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 3, 2005 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: November 17, 2004.
Sean R. Tunis,
Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 04-26173 Filed 11-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P