[Federal Register: January 27, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 18)]
[Notices]
[Page 4589-4590]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27ja06-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-3162-N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Coverage Advisory
Committee--March 30, 2006
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the Medicare
Coverage Advisory Committee (MCAC). The Committee generally provides
advice and recommendations about whether scientific evidence is
adequate to determine whether certain medical items and services are
reasonable and necessary under the Medicare statute. The charter also
permits the MCAC to develop recommendations about other specific issues
of Medicare coverage. This meeting concerns authoritative drug
compendia that may be used in determining the medically accepted
indications of drugs and biologicals used in an anti-cancer
chemotherapeutic regimen under Part B of the Medicare program. Notice
of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)).
DATES: The public meeting will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2006 from
7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. e.s.t.
Deadlines: Deadline for Presentations and Comments: Written
comments and presentations must be received by February 27, 2006, 5
p.m., e.s.t.
Deadline for Registration To Attend Meeting: For security reasons,
individuals wishing to attend this meeting must register by close of
business on March 23, 2006.
Special Accommodations: Persons attending the meeting who are
hearing or visually impaired, or have a condition that requires special
assistance or accommodations, are asked to notify the Executive
Secretary by March 23, 2006 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the main auditorium of the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd,
Baltimore, MD 21244.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Atkinson, Executive
Secretary, by telephone at 410-786-2881 or by e-mail at
Michelle.Atkinson@cms.hhs.gov.
Web site: You may access up-to-date information on this meeting at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/02_MCAC.asp#TopOfPage.
Presentations and Comments: Interested persons may present data,
information, or views orally or in writing on issues pending before the
Committee. Please submit written comments to Michelle Atkinson, by e-
mail at Michelle.Atkinson@cms.hhs.gov or by mail to the Executive
Secretary for MCAC, Coverage and Analysis Group, Office of Clinical
Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500
Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C1-09-06, Baltimore, MD 21244.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On December 14, 1998, we published a notice in the Federal Register
(63 FR 68780) to describe the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee
(MCAC), which provides advice and recommendations to us about clinical
issues. This notice announces a public meeting of the Committee.
Meeting Topic: The Committee will discuss evidence and hear
presentations and public comments regarding the desired characteristics
of published authoritative compendia that may be used by CMS to
determine the medically accepted indications of drugs and biologicals
employed in an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic regimen under Part B of the
Medicare program, section 1861(t)(2) of the Social Security Act.
Background information about this topic, including panel materials,
is available on the Internet at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/coverage/.
II. Procedure
This meeting is open to the public. The Committee will hear oral
presentations from the public for approximately 45 minutes. The
Committee may limit the number and duration of oral presentations to
the time available. If you wish to make formal presentations, you must
notify the Executive Secretary named in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section and submit the following by the Deadline for
Presentations and Comments date listed in the DATES section of this
notice: a brief statement of the general nature of the evidence or
arguments you wish to present, the names and addresses of proposed
participants, and a written copy of your presentation. Your
presentation should consider the questions we have posed to the
Committee and focus on the issues specific to the topic. The questions
will be available on our Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/02_MCAC.asp#TopOfPage.
We require that you declare at the meeting whether
or not you have any financial involvement with manufacturers of any
items or services being discussed (or with their competitors).
After the public and CMS presentations, the Committee will
deliberate openly on the topic. Interested persons may observe the
deliberations, but the Committee will not hear further comments during
this time except at the request of the chairperson. The Committee will
also allow a 15 minute unscheduled open public session for any attendee
to address issues specific to the topic. At the conclusion of the day,
the members will vote, and the Committee will make its recommendation.
III. Registration Instructions
The Coverage and Analysis Group is coordinating meeting
registration. While there is no registration fee, individuals must
register to attend. You may register by contacting Maria Ellis at 410-
786-0309, mailing address: Coverage and Analysis Group, OCSQ; Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 7500 Security Blvd, Mailstop: C1-09-
06; Baltimore, MD 21244, or by e-mail at Maria.Ellis@cms.hhs.gov.
Please provide your name, address, organization, telephone and fax
number, and e-mail address.
You will receive a registration confirmation with instructions for
your arrival at the CMS complex. You will be notified if the seating
capacity has been reached.
This meeting is located on Federal property; therefore, for
security reasons, any individuals wishing to attend this meeting must
register by close of business on March 23, 2006.
IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines
This meeting will be held in a Federal Government building;
therefore, Federal security measures are applicable. In planning your
arrival time, we
[[Page 4590]]
recommend allowing additional time to clear security.
In order to gain access to the building and grounds, individuals
must present photographic identification to the Federal Protective
Service or Guard Service personnel before being allowed entrance.
Security measures also include inspection of vehicles, inside and
out, at the entrance to the grounds. In addition, all individuals
entering the building must pass through a metal detector. All items
brought to CMS, whether personal or for the purpose of demonstration or
to support a demonstration, 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 demonstration.
Parking permits and instructions will be issued upon arrival.
Note: Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be
permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the
meeting.
The public may not enter the building earlier than 30 to 45 minutes
prior to the convening of the meeting.
All visitors must be escorted in areas other than the lower and
first floor levels in the Central Building.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: December 12, 2005.
Barry M. Straube,
Acting Chief Medical Officer and Acting Director, Office of Clinical
Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E6-704 Filed 1-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P