[Federal Register: August 25, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 50432-50433]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au06-76]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1528-N]
Medicare Program; Medicare Provider Feedback Group (MPFG) Town
Hall Meeting September 20, 2006
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 the opinions of individual Medicare physicians, providers, and
suppliers on selected policies and operational issues that affect
providers that participate in the Medicare program. In addition, we
will be soliciting input on how we can better serve the Medicare
providers and suppliers. 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 physicians, providers, and suppliers. We will use
the information obtained during the meeting as feedback on selected
policy issues and on CMS provider and supplier communication activities
and related topics.
The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to
space available. Registered participants from the meeting may be
contacted for follow-up meetings to solicit additional opinions and
clarify any issues that may arise from the September 20, 2006 meeting.
DATES: The meeting is scheduled for September 20, 2006 from 2 p.m.
until 4 p.m. e.d.t.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the auditorium at the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore,
Maryland 21244.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Shatto, 410-786-6932. 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 opinions of individual Medicare
physicians, providers, and suppliers. Topics discussed during the
November 16 meeting included Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Chronic
Care Improvement Programs, CMS electronic medical records, CMS Provider
Outreach, and consolidated billing. Subsequent to the meeting, we
conducted follow-up meetings to clarify information received and
solicited additional opinions. The information gathered from the town
hall and subsequent meetings was used as feedback on our provider and
supplier communication activities and related topics.
On September 12, 2005, we convened the second town hall meeting to
solicit the opinions of individual Medicare physicians, providers, and
suppliers on how we could better serve Medicare physicians, providers,
and suppliers through communications, educational material, and other
means. This meeting also focused on our design for gathering individual
physician, provider, and supplier information, presented topics for
provider and supplier input, and then solicited opinions on how we can
better serve the Medicare physician, provider, and supplier community.
II. Meeting Format
The meeting will begin with an overview of the goals and objectives
of the initiative, including a discussion of our efforts to gather
feedback from individual Medicare physicians, providers, and suppliers.
The meeting moderator will be introduced, and, along with members of
the Provider Communications Group, the Center for Medicare Management
of CMS, will provide background information on the initiative. Topics
to be discussed during the meeting include, but are not limited to the
implementation of the National Provider Identifier (NPI), the Pay for
Performance initiative, Part D Compliance, Durable Medical Equipment
(DME) Accreditation and Medicare Contracting. This meeting will provide
the Agency with an open and public venue to interact with individual
Medicare physicians, providers and suppliers and obtain their feedback
on Medicare policy and operational issues. We will then hold a question
and answer session that offers meeting attendees an opportunity to
provide feedback on how CMS serves physicians, providers, and
suppliers, as well as make suggestions on how this process can be
improved.
Attending the Meeting: The Provider Communications Group, Center
for Medicare Management, Division of Provider Relations and
Evaluations, is the coordinator for this meeting. This meeting will be
held in a Federal Government building, and persons attending the
meeting will be required to show a photographic identification,
preferably a valid driver's license, and be listed on an approved
security list before entering. Persons interested in attending the
meeting and providing feedback must complete the on-line registration
located at http://registration.mshow.com/cms2/.
III. Registration Instructions
Registration will open on August 25, 2006 and close on September
18, 2006. The on-line registration system will generate a confirmation
page to indicate the completion of your registration. Please print this
page as your registration receipt. Registration after 5 p.m. on
September 18, 2006 will delay confirmation and individuals may not be
permitted entrance to the building.
Individuals may participate in the public meeting by
teleconference. The dial-in number is 877-357-7851 and the conference
identification number is 2323964. 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 Colette Shatto at MFG@cms.hhs.gov.
An on-line registration tool is available for interested
individuals who wish to participate in the meeting in person or by
teleconference. The on-line registration system will capture contact
information and practice characteristics, such as names, e-mail
addresses, and provider and supplier types.
Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring sign language
interpretation or other special accommodations must contact Colette
Shatto by e-mail at MFG@cms.hhs.gov.
[[Page 50433]]
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 3, 2006.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E6-13379 Filed 8-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P