[Federal Register: November 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 226)]
[Notices]
[Page 67876-67877]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24no06-71]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1383-N]
Medicare Program; Listening Session on a Plan for Medicare
Hospital Value-Based Purchasing--January 17, 2007
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a listening session being conducted as
part of the development of a plan for Medicare hospital value-based
purchasing, as authorized by the section 5001(b) of the Deficit
Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005. The purpose of the listening session is to
solicit comments on the range of design issues being considered for
plan development. Hospitals, hospital associations, and all interested
parties are invited to attend and make comments in person. It will also
be possible to participate by teleconference, although due to time
constraints, telephone participants will not be able to make verbal
comments. Written comments are welcomed. The perspectives expressed
during this session and in writing will assist us in drafting the plan.
An issues paper outlining the design questions to be discussed and
further information about the January listening session will be posted
no later than January 3, 2007 on the CMS Web site, Hospital Center,
under Spotlights at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/hospital.asp.
DATES: Meeting Date: The listening session will be held on Wednesday,
January 17, 2007 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., e.s.t.
Registration and Request for Special Accommodations Deadline:
Registration must be completed no later than 5 p.m., e.s.t. on
Wednesday, January 10, 2007. Requests for special accommodations must
be received by 5 p.m., e.s.t. Wednesday, January 10, 2007.
Deadline for Submission of Written Comments or Statements: Written
comments on the design questions posed in the issues paper may be sent
by mail, fax, or electronically and must be received by 5 p.m., e.s.t.
on January 24, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The listening session will be held in the
main auditorium of the central building of the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
Registration and Special Accommodations: Individuals wishing to
participate or who need special accommodations or both must register
by--completing the on-line registration located at http://registration.mshow.com/cms2/
; contacting Robin Phillips at (410) 786-3010; e-mailing robin.phillips@cms.hhs.gov; or regular mail to Robin
Phillips, Medicare Feedback Group, Center for Medicare Management,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mail stop C4-13-07, 7500
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
Written Comments or Statements: Written comments on design
questions posed in the issues paper may be sent by mail, fax, or
electronically and must be received by 5 p.m. January 24, 2007. Please
send mail to Robin Phillips, Medicare Feedback Group, Center for
Medicare Management, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mail
stop C4-13-07, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850; e-
mail to cmshospitalVBP@cms.hhs.gov; or fax to 410-786-0330.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Phillips, 410-786-3010 or via e-
mail to robin.phillips@cms.hhs.gov. Press inquiries are handled through
the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 5001(b) of The Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005,
specifies that we develop a plan to implement a
[[Page 67877]]
Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program for payments under the Medicare
program for subsection (d) hospitals (as defined in section
1886(d)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (the Act)) beginning with
fiscal year (FY) 2009. Congress specified that the ``plan'' include
consideration of the following issues:
The ongoing development, selection, and modification
process for measures of quality and efficiency in hospital inpatient
settings.
The reporting, collection, and validation of quality data.
The structure of value-based payment adjustments,
including the determination of thresholds or improvements in quality
that would substantiate a payment adjustment, the size of such
payments, and the sources of funding for the value-based payments.
The disclosure of information on hospital performance.
In developing the plan, we must consult with relevant affected
parties and consider experience with demonstrations that are relevant
to the value-based purchasing program. CMS has created a workgroup that
is charged with developing the VBP Plan for Medicare hospital services
provided by subsection (d) hospitals. The Workgroup is organized into
four subgroups to address each of the required planning issues: (1)
Measures; (2) data collection and validation; (3) incentive structure;
and (4) public reporting. The CMS Workgroup is charged with preparing a
set of design options, narrowing the set of design options to prepare a
draft plan, and preparing a report on the plan for implementing VBP for
Medicare hospital services which will be provided to Congress as
required under section 5001(b)(3) of the DRA. We are hosting two public
listening sessions in early 2007 to solicit comments from relevant
affected parties on outstanding design questions associated with
development of the plan. The first is the listening session scheduled
for January 17, 2007 to consider design questions posed in the issues
paper. The second listening session is April 12, 2007 to consider the
draft plan.
II. Listening Session Format and Agenda
The January 17, 2007 listening session will begin at 10 a.m. with
an overview of the objectives for the session and a presentation on the
background on the Medicare Reporting Hospital Quality Data for Annual
Payment Update (RHQDAPU) program and the Value-Based Purchasing plan
development. A brief review of the current state-of-the-art in hospital
pay for performance will then be presented by consultants from RAND who
are assisting the CMS Workgroup in plan development. Beginning at
approximately 11 a.m., the remainder of the meeting will be devoted to
addressing each of the following issue areas: measures; program and
data infrastructure; incentives; and public reporting. Each area will
be considered in turn, with the CMS Subgroup Leads first providing a
brief presentation on key issues, followed by comments and questions
from on-site session attendees. A lunch break will occur from
approximately 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The meeting will conclude by 5 p.m.
with brief comments on ``next steps.''
III. Registration Instructions
Persons interested in attending the meeting or listening by
teleconference must register by the date specified in the DATES section
of this notice in one of the following ways:
Completing 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. Please print this page as your registration confirmation.
Contacting Robin Phillips via regular mail, e-mail or
phone at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
You will receive a registration confirmation with instructions for your
arrival at the CMS complex. Persons will be notified if the seating
capacity has been reached.
Individuals attending the meeting who are hearing or visually
impaired, or have a condition that requires special assistance or
accommodations, must submit their request with their registration
information or to Robin Phillips at the address specified in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date specified in the DATES
section of this notice.
Persons wishing to make comments at the meeting must indicate which
section(s) of the issues paper they wish to address as part of their
registration. Remarks will be limited to 2 minutes per person per
section to assure that as many attendees as possible will have the
opportunity to speak. The registration process will enable CMS to gauge
relative interest in the four issue areas and to allocate comment time
accordingly. This feedback on the issues paper will provide important
input to development of the draft Medicare Hospital Value-based
Purchasing Plan.
Individuals may also listen to the session by teleconference.
Registration is required so that we may provide further communications
as the plan is developed. The call-in number will be provided upon
confirmation of registration. Persons participating by phone will not
be able to make verbal comments due to time constraints. However,
written comments are welcome.
An audio download of the listening session will be available
through the CMS Hospital Center Web site within 72 hours after
completion of the listening session.
IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines
Because this meeting will be located on Federal property, for
security reasons, any persons wishing to attend this meeting must
register by close of business on January 10, 2007. Individuals who have
not registered in advance will not be allowed to enter the building to
attend the meeting. Seating capacity is limited to the first 550
registrants.
The on-site check in for visitors will begin at 9 a.m. Please allow
sufficient time to go through the security checkpoints. It is suggested
that you arrive at central building by 9 a.m. so that you will have
enough time to check in before the session begins. Security measures
will include inspection of vehicles, inside and out, at the entrance to
the grounds. In addition, all persons entering the building must check
in by name, provide a government-issued identification, and pass
through a metal detector. All items brought to CMS, whether personal or
for the purpose of demonstration or to support a presentation,
including items such as laptops, cell phones, and palm pilots, are
subject to physical inspection.
Authority: Section 5001(b) the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.733,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: November 16, 2006.
Leslie V. Norwalk,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E6-19804 Filed 11-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P