[Federal Register: May 18, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 95)]
[Notices]
[Page 28541-28542]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18my05-74]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1269-N4]
Medicare Program; Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
(EMTALA) Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting--June 15, 2005 Through
June 17, 2005
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), this notice announces the
second meeting of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
(EMTALA) Technical Advisory Group (TAG). The purpose of the EMTALA TAG
is to review regulations affecting hospital and physician
responsibilities under EMTALA to individuals who come to a hospital
seeking examination or treatment for medical conditions. The primary
purpose of the second meeting is to enable the EMTALA TAG to hear
testimony and consider written responses from medical societies and
other organizations on specific issues considered by the TAG at its
initial meeting. However, the public is permitted to attend this
meeting and, to the extent that time permits and at the discretion of
the Chairperson, the EMTALA TAG may hear comments from the floor.
DATES: Meeting Dates: The meetings of the EMTALA TAG announced in this
notice are as follows:
Wednesday, June 15, 2005, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, June 16, 2005 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, June 17, 2005 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Registration and Deadline: You may register by sending an e-mail to
EMTALATAG@cms.hhs.gov, sending a fax to the attention of Ronda Allen at
fax number (410) 786-0681 or (410) 786-0169, or calling (410) 786-4548.
To attend this meeting, all individuals must register by June 8, 2005.
Comment Deadline: Comments to be distributed to the EMTALA TAG may
be submitted in writing up to three business days following the
meeting. If anyone wishes to submit written comments, Beverly J. Parker
must receive the comments by 5 p.m., June 22, 2005 at the address
listed below.
Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring sign-language
interpretation or other special accommodations should send a request
for these services to Beverley J. Parker by 5 p.m., June 1, 2005 at the
address listed below.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Address: The EMTALA TAG meeting will be held in Room
705A at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20201.
Mailing and Email Addresses for Inquiries or Comments: Inquiries or
comments regarding this meeting may be sent to--Beverly J. Parker,
Division of Acute Care, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mail
Stop C4-08-06, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
Inquiries or comments may also be emailed to EMTALATAG@cms.hhs.gov.
Web Site Address for Additional Information: For additional
information on the EMTALA TAG meeting agenda topics, updated
activities, and to obtain Charter copies, please search our Internet
Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca/emtalatag/emtalatagpage.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly J. Parker at (410) 786-5320 or
George Morey at (410) 786-4653. Press inquiries are handled through the
CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Sections 1866(a)(1)(I), 1866(a)(1)(N), and 1867 of the Social
Security Act (the Act) impose specific obligations on Medicare-
participating hospitals that offer emergency services. These
obligations concern individuals who come to a hospital emergency
department and request or have a request made on their behalf for
examination or treatment for a medical condition. EMTALA applies to all
these individuals, regardless of whether or not they are beneficiaries
of any program under the Act. Section 1867 of the Act sets forth
requirements for medical screening examinations for emergency medical
conditions, as well as necessary stabilizing treatment or appropriate
transfer.
Regulations implementing the EMTALA legislation are set forth at 42
CFR 489.20(l), (m), (q) and (r)(1), (r)(2), (r)(3), and 489.24. Section
945 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization
Act of 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173), requires that the Secretary
establish a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for advice concerning issues
related to EMTALA regulations and implementation.
Section 945 of the MMA specifies that the EMTALA TAG--
Review the EMTALA regulations;
Provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary
concerning these regulations and their application to hospitals and
physicians;
Solicit comments and recommendations from hospitals,
physicians, and the public regarding implementation of these
regulations; and
Disseminate information concerning the application of
these regulations to hospitals, physicians, and the public.
The EMTALA TAG, as chartered under the legal authority of section
945 of the MMA, is also governed by the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2) for the selection
of members and the conduct of all meetings.
In the May 28, 2004 Federal Register (69 FR 30654), we specified
the statutory requirements regarding the charter, general
responsibilities, and structure of the EMTALA TAG. That notice also
solicited nominations for members based on the statutory requirements
for the EMTALA TAG. We received no nominations. In the August 27, 2004
Federal Register (69 FR 52699), we again solicited nominations for
members in two categories (patient representatives and a State survey
agency representative.) In the March 15, 2005 Federal Register (70 FR
12691), we announced the inaugural meeting of the EMTALA TAG and the
membership selection.
II. Meeting Format, Agenda, and Suggested Presentation Topics
A. Meeting Format
The initial portion of the meeting (convening at 11 a.m. on June
15) will involve opening remarks and presentations by CMS staff, as
requested by the TAG, followed by testimony from representatives of
organizations invited to present information on specific topics. TAG
members will have the opportunity to ask questions, prioritize the
topics presented, and to conduct other necessary business. At the
conclusion of each day's meeting, to the extent that time is available
and at the discretion of the Chairperson, the public will be permitted
a reasonable time to comment on issues being considered by the TAG.
[[Page 28542]]
B. Tentative Meeting Agenda
The tentative agenda for the EMTALA TAG meetings is as follows:
Day 1
Convenes at 11 a.m.
Welcome, call to order, and opening remarks
Administrative and housekeeping issues
CMS staff presentations on EMTALA
Presentations by invited organizations concerning:
On-call/transfer issues
Nurse-midwife responsibilities under EMTALA
Public comment
Adjourns at 5 p.m.
Day 2
Convenes at 9 a.m.
Presentations by invited organizations (cont'd)
Subcommittee reports
Discussion of current business
Public comment
Adjourns at 5 p.m.
Day 3
Convenes at 9 a.m.
Discussion of current business (cont'd)
Adjourns at 12 noon
III. Registration Instructions
While there is no registration fee, individuals must register to
attend. As specified in the DATES section of this notice, individuals
who wish to attend the meeting must register by June 8, 2005. You may
register by sending an e-mail to EMTALATAG@cms.hhs.gov, sending a fax
to the attention of Ronda Allen at fax number (410) 786-0681 or (410)
786-0169, or calling (410) 786-4548. All registration requests must
include your name, name of the organization (if applicable), address,
telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address (if available). You will
receive a registration confirmation with instructions for your arrival
at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building. If seating capacity has been
reached, you will be notified that the meeting has reached capacity.
All registrants are asked to arrive at the Humphrey Building no later
than 20 minutes before the scheduled starting time of each meeting
session they wish to attend.
IV. Security Information
Since this meeting will be held in a Federal government building,
Federal security measures are applicable. As noted above, in planning
your arrival time, we recommend allowing additional time to clear
security. In order to gain access to the building, participants must
bring a government-issued photo identification (for instance, a
driver's license or passport) and a copy of your confirmation of
registration for the meeting. Access may be denied to persons without
proper identification.
All persons entering the building must pass through a metal
detector. In addition, all items brought to the building, whether
personal, or for the purpose of demonstration, or to support a
presentation are subject to inspection. We cannot assume responsibility
for coordinating the receipt, transfer, transport, storage, set-up,
safety, or timely arrival of any personal belongings or items used for
demonstration or to support a presentation.
Authority: Section 945 of the Medicare Prescription Drug,
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: May 10, 2005.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-9852 Filed 5-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P