[Federal Register: February 25, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 37)]
[Notices]
[Page 9336-9337]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25fe05-88]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1296-N]
Medicare Program; Request for Nominations to the Advisory Panel
on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice invites nominations of members to the Advisory
Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Groups (the Panel).
Seven vacancies will exist on the Panel as of March 31, 2005.
The purpose of the Panel is to review the APC groups and their
associated weights and to advise the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services (the Secretary) and the Administrator of the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (the Administrator)
concerning the clinical integrity of the APC groups and their
associated weights. The advice provided by the Panel will be considered
as CMS prepares its annual updates of the hospital Outpatient
Prospective Payment System (OPPS) through rulemaking.
The panel was recently rechartered for a 2-year period through
November 21, 2006.
Nominations: Nominations will be considered if received no later
than March 15, 2005 at 5 p.m. e.s.t. Mail or deliver nominations to the
following address: CMS; Attn: Shirl Ackerman-Ross, Designated Federal
Officer (DFO), Advisory Panel on APC Groups; Center for Medicare
Management (CMM), Hospital & Ambulatory Policy Group (HAPG), Division
of Outpatient Care (DOC); 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C4-05-17;
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
Web Site: For additional information on the APC Panel and updates
to the Panel's activities, search our Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca/apc/default.asp
.
Advisory Committees' Information Lines: You may also refer to the
CMS Advisory Committee Information Hotlines at 1-877-449-5659 (toll-
free) or 410-786-9379 (local) for additional information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons wishing to nominate
individuals to serve on the Panel or to obtain further information can
also
[[Page 9337]]
contact Shirl Ackerman-Ross, the DFO, at APCPanel@cms.hhs.gov or call
410-786-4474. News media representatives should contact the CMS Press
Office at 202-690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Secretary is required by section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social
Security Act (the Act), as amended and redesignated by sections 201(h)
and 202(a)(2) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget
Refinement Act of 1999 (BBRA) (Pub. L. 106-113), respectively, to
establish and consult with an expert, outside advisory panel on
Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) groups.
The Panel meets up to three times annually to review the APC groups
and to provide technical advice to the Secretary and the Administrator
concerning the clinical integrity of the groups and their associated
weights. CMS considers the technical advice provided by the Panel as we
prepare the proposed rule that proposes changes to the OPPS for the
next calendar year.
The Panel may consist of up to 15 representatives who are full-time
employees (not consultants) of Medicare providers, which are subject to
the OPPS, and a Chair.
The Administrator selects the Panel membership based upon either
self-nominations or nominations submitted by providers or interested
organizations.
The current Panel members are: (The asterisk [*] indicates a Panel
member whose term expires on March 31, 2005.)
E. L. Hambrick, M.D., J.D., a CMS Medical Officer.
Marilyn K. Bedell, M.S., R.N., O.C.N.*
Albert Brooks Einstein, Jr., M.D.
Lee H. Hilborne, M.D.*
Stephen T. House, M.D.*
Kathleen P. Kinslow, C.R.N.A., Ed.D.*
Mike Metro, R.N.*
Sandra J. Metzler, M.B.A., R.H.I.A.
Gerald V. Naccarelli, M.D.*
Frank G. Opelka, M.D.
Louis Potters, M.D.
Lou Ann Schraffenberger, M.B.A., R.H.I.A.
Judie S. Snipes, R.N., M.B.A., C.H.E.
Lynn R. Tomascik, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.A.A.
Timothy Gene Tyler, Pharm.D.
William A. Van Decker, M.D., J.D.*
Panel members serve without compensation, according to an advance
written agreement; however, travel, meals, lodging, and related
expenses are reimbursed in accordance with standard Government travel
regulations. CMS has a special interest for ensuring that women,
minorities, and the physically challenged are adequately represented on
the Panel. CMS further encourages nominations of qualified candidates
from those groups.
The Secretary, or his designee, appoints new members to the Panel
from among those candidates determined to have the required expertise.
New appointments are made in a manner that ensures a balanced
membership.
II. Criteria for Nominees
All nominees must have technical expertise that enables them to
participate fully in the work of the Panel. Such expertise encompasses
hospital payment systems, hospital medical-care delivery systems,
outpatient payment requirements, Ambulatory Payment Classification
(APC) Groups, Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology Codes (CPTs),
the use and payment of drugs and medical devices in the outpatient
setting, and other forms of relevant expertise.
It is not necessary for a nominee to possess expertise in all of
the areas listed, but each must have a minimum of 5 years experience
and currently be employed full-time in his or her area of expertise.
Members of the Panel serve overlapping 2, 3, and 4-year terms,
contingent upon the rechartering of the Panel.
Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified
individuals. Self-nominations will also be accepted. Each nomination
must include a letter of nomination, the curriculum vita of the
nominee, and a statement from the nominee that the nominee is willing
to serve on the Panel under the conditions described in this notice and
further specified in the Charter.
III. Copies of the Charter
To obtain a copy of the Panel's Charter, submit a written request
to the DFO at the address provided or by e-mail at
APCPanel@cms.hhs.gov, or call her at 410-786-4474. Copies of the
Charter are also available on the Internet at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca
.
Authority: Section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Act (42 U.S.C.
1395l(t)(9)(A). The Panel is governed by the provisions of Pub. L.
92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program.)
Dated: February 18, 2005.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-3752 Filed 2-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P