[Federal Register: August 26, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 50374-50375]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26au05-101]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1330-N]
Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on the Medicare Provider
Feedback Group (MPFG)--September 12, 2005
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a Town Hall meeting on the Medicare
Provider Feedback Group (MPFG). The purpose of the meeting is to
solicit facts and opinions from individual Medicare providers and
suppliers on a variety of Medicare policy and operational issues. All
Medicare providers and suppliers that participate in the Medicare
program, including physicians, hospitals, home health agencies, and
other third-party billers, are invited to attend this meeting. We will
consider facts and opinions obtained from individual Medicare providers
and suppliers. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is
limited to space available.
DATES: Meeting Date: The Town Hall meeting announced in this notice
will be held on September 12, 2005 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
ADDRESSES: The Town Hall meeting will be held in the Auditorium in the
central building of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eva Tetteyfio, (410) 786-3136. You may
also send e-mail inquiries about this meeting to MFG@cms.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On November 16, 2004, we held the first Medicare Provider Feedback
Town Hall meeting to solicit the facts and opinions of individual
Medicare providers and suppliers. Topics discussed during the November
16, 2004 meeting included Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Chronic Care
Improvement Programs, CMS electronic medical records, CMS Provider
Outreach, and consolidated billing. After the meeting, we conducted
follow-up meetings to clarify information received and solicited
additional comments.
At the September 12, 2005 meeting, we will explain our design for
gathering individual provider and supplier information and present
topics for provider and supplier input. We will also solicit facts and
opinions on how we can better serve the Medicare provider and supplier
community.
II. Meeting Format
This meeting will begin with an overview of the goals and
objectives of the meeting that includes a discussion of our efforts to
gather feedback from individual Medicare providers and suppliers. We
will introduce the meeting moderator. We will also introduce members of
the Provider Communications Group, Center for Medicare Management, who
will provide background information on the Medicare Provider Feedback
Group initiative. Topics to be discussed during the meeting include:
The important information for individual providers and
suppliers on our implementation of the National Provider Identifier
(NPI).
The elimination of the Standard Paper Remittance (SPR)
advice notices and their effect on individual provider and supplier
practices.
The impact of the implementation and procurement of
Medicare Contracting Reform on individual providers and suppliers.
A discussion and summary of the proposed rule for the 2006
physician fee-schedule.
The effect of a revised payment system for Ambulatory
Surgical Center (ASC) facility services.
Individual perspectives from hospitals on how Medicare
pays for new technologies.
We will hold a question and answer session that offers meeting
attendees an opportunity to provide feedback on the topics discussed.
We will also solicit suggestions on how this process can be improved.
III. Registration Instructions
The Provider Communications Group, Center for Medicare Management,
Division of Provider Relations and Evaluations is the coordinator for
this meeting. On-line Registration: An on-line registration tool is
available for interested individuals who wish to participate in the
meeting in person, by teleconference, or listen to a digital recording
of the meeting. The on-line registration system will capture contact
information and practice characteristics such as names, e-mail
addresses, and provider and supplier types.
Registration will begin on August 19, 2005. Persons interested in
attending the meeting and providing feedback must complete the on-line
registration located at http://registration.mshow.com/cms2/. The on-
line registration system will generate a confirmation page to indicate
the completion of your registration. Interested parties, who will
attend the meeting in person, must print the confirmation page and
bring it with them to the meeting. We encourage all interested parties
to complete the registration as soon as possible. Registration after 12
p.m. on September 9, 2005 will delay confirmation, and individuals may
not be permitted entrance to the building. However, registrations
received after September 12 will enable individuals to listen to a
digital recording of the meeting that will be available beginning 2
hours after the meeting through midnight on September 14, 2005. The
online registration will close on September 16, 2005.
Teleconference Participation: Individuals may participate in the
public meeting by teleconference. The dial-in number is 877-357-7851
and the conference identification number is 7970566. Physicians and
other interested parties may speak or ask questions during the question
and answer period facilitated by the moderator. Parties may also submit
written comments to Eva Tetteyfio at MFG@cms.hhs.gov.
IV. Security Information
Since this meeting will be held in a Federal government building,
Federal security measures are applicable. In planning your arrival
time, we recommend allowing additional time to clear security. In order
to gain access to the building and grounds, participants
[[Page 50375]]
must bring a government-issued photo identification and a copy of their
confirmation of registration for the meeting. Access may be denied to
persons without proper identification.
Security measures also include inspection of vehicles, inside and
out, at the entrance to the grounds. In addition, all persons entering
the building must pass through a metal detector. All items brought to
CMS, whether personal, for the purpose of demonstration, or to support
a presentation are subject to inspection. Laptops and other computer
equipment must be registered with the security desk upon entry. We
cannot assume responsibility for coordination of the receipt, transfer,
transport, storage, set-up, safety, or timely arrival of any personal
belongings or items used for a demonstration or to support a
presentation. Participants should e-mail presentations to us before the
meeting to ensure that we have a back-up copy in the event of computer
problems or lack of software or memory card compatibility. Please note
that CMS headquarters is a smoke-free facility.
Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring sign language
interpretation or other special accommodations must contact Eva
Tetteyfio by e-mail at MFG@cms.hhs.gov by September 6, 2005.
Authority: Section 1811 and 1831 of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395c and 1395j).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: August 9, 2005.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-16797 Filed 8-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P