[Federal Register: January 28, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 18)]
[Notices]
[Page 4133-4134]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28ja05-86]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-3150-N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Coverage Advisory
Committee--March 29, 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 usual care
of chronic wounds. 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, March 29, 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 February 3, 2005, 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 February 3, 2005 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the auditorium at the Centers
for
[[Page 4134]]
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 Kimberly Long, by e-mail
at klong@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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Long, Executive Secretary, by
telephone at 410-786-5702 or by e-mail at klong@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 discuss evidence, hear
presentations and public comment and make recommendations regarding the
standard treatment of chronic wounds. Discussion will address such
usual care treatment as cleansing, debridement, dressings, compression,
off-loading and antibiotics. Members will also review factors necessary
for quality clinical trials that address other wound healing
technologies. The Committee will not discuss other treatments that may
be used when wounds do not heal.
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 CMS 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.
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: January 21, 2005.
Sean R. Tunis,
Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-1503 Filed 1-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P