[Federal Register: June 23, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 121)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 36020-36024]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jn06-11]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
42 CFR Part 423
[CMS-0018-IFC]
RIN 0938-A042
Medicare Program; Identification of Backward Compatible Version
of Adopted Standard for E-Prescribing and the Medicare Prescription
Drug Program (Version 8.1)
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Interim final rule with comment period.
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SUMMARY: This interim final rule with comment period identifies the
Prescriber/Pharmacist Interface SCRIPT Standard, Implementation Guide,
Version 8.1 (hereafter referred to as ``Version 8.1 of the National
Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) SCRIPT Standard'') as a
backward compatible update of the adopted Version 5.0. This interim
final rule with comment period also permits the voluntary use of
Version 8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard for conducting certain e-
prescribing transactions for the electronic prescription drug program
under Title I of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and
Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA).
DATES: Effective date: These regulations are effective on June 23,
2006. The incorporation by reference of the publication listed in these
regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of
June 23, 2006.
Comment date: To be assured consideration, comments must be
received at one of the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m.
on August 22, 2006.
ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-0018-IFC.
Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by
facsimile (FAX) transmission.
You may submit comments in one of four ways (no duplicates,
please):
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific
issues in this regulation to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking. Click
on the link ``Submit electronic comments on CMS regulations with an
open comment period.'' (Attachments should be in Microsoft Word,
WordPerfect, or Excel; however, we prefer Microsoft Word.)
2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments (one original and
two copies) to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention:
CMS-0018-IFC, P.O. Box 8015, Baltimore, MD 21244-8015.
Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received
before the close of the comment period.
3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments (one
original and two copies) to the following address only: Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services,
Attention: CMS-0018-IFC, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
4. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver (by hand or
courier) your written comments (one original and two copies) before the
close of the comment period to one of the following addresses. If you
intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address, please call
telephone number (410) 786-7195 in advance to schedule your arrival
with one of our staff members.
Room 445-G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20201; or 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-
1850.
(Because access to the interior of the HHH Building is not readily
available to persons without Federal Government identification,
commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in the CMS drop slots
located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-in clock is
available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing by stamping
in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being filed.)
Comments mailed to the addresses indicated as appropriate for hand
or courier delivery may be delayed and received after the comment
period.
For information on viewing public comments, see the beginning of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gladys Wheeler, (410) 786-0273.
Gladys.Wheeler@cms.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Submitting Comments: We welcome comments from the public on all
issues set forth in this rule to assist us in fully considering issues
and developing policies. You can assist us by referencing the file code
CMS-0018-IFC and the specific ``issue identifier'' that precedes the
section on which you choose to comment.
Inspection of Public Comments: All comments received before the
close of the comment period are available for viewing by the public,
including any personally identifiable or confidential business
information that is included in a comment. We post all comments
received before the close of the comment period on the following Web
site as soon as possible after they have been received: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking.
Click on the link ``Electronic Comments on
CMS Regulations'' on that Web site to view public comments.
Comments received timely will be also available for public
inspection as they are received, generally beginning approximately 3
weeks after publication of a document, at the headquarters of the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21244, Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment to view public comments,
phone 1-800-743-3951.
I. Background
[If you choose to comment on issues in this section, please include
the caption ``BACKGROUND'' at the beginning of your comments.]
A. Statutory Basis
Section 101 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and
Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173) amended title XVIII
of the Social Security Act (the Act) to establish the Voluntary
Prescription Drug Benefit Program. Included in the provisions at
section 1860D-4(e) of the Act is the requirement that any prescriptions
for covered program (Part D) drugs prescribed for Part D eligible
individuals that are transmitted electronically, comply with final
standards adopted by the Secretary under an electronic prescription
drug program.
The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program final rule,
published January 28, 2005 (70 FR 4194), established cost control and
quality improvement requirements for prescription drug benefit plans.
Among those requirements, prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors and
Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations offering Medicare Advantage-
Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plans must have the capacity to support e-
prescribing programs in accordance with the final e-prescribing
standards established by the Secretary.
The requirement that PDP sponsors and MA organizations offering MA-
PD
[[Page 36021]]
plans have the capacity to support e-prescribing programs in accordance
with final standards established by the Secretary does not require that
prescriptions be written or transmitted electronically by physicians or
pharmacies. However, physicians, pharmacies, and others in the health
care industry that are not required to use the standards at the time
they are adopted are encouraged to do so. The MMA directs the Secretary
to promulgate regulations, in consultation with the Attorney General,
which provide for an anti-kickback statute safe harbor and a Federal
physician self-referral prohibition exception for e-prescribing of
covered Part D drugs.
For a more detailed discussion of the proposed physician self-
referral prohibition exceptions and the proposed anti-kickback statute
safe harbors, please refer to our proposed rules, ``Medicare Program;
Physicians' Referrals to Health Care Entities With Which They Have
Financial Relationships; Exceptions for Certain Electronic Prescribing
and Electronic Health Records Arrangements'' (October 11, 2005, 70 FR
59182); and ``Medicare and State Health Care Programs: Fraud and Abuse;
Safe Harbor for Certain Electronic Prescribing Arrangements Under the
Anti-Kickback Statute''(October 11, 2005, 70 FR 59015).
Section 1860D-4(e) of the Act contains the provisions for e-
prescribing programs. The statute specifies when initial standards are
to be developed, adopted, recognized or modified (not later than
September 1, 2005), and when final standards must be promulgated (not
later than April 1, 2008) and then become effective (not later than 1
year after the date of promulgation of the final standards).
The provisions at section 1860D-4(e) of the Act require that
electronic transmissions of prescription and certain other information
for covered Part D drugs prescribed for Part D eligible individuals, be
transmitted in accordance with final standards and that the following
requirements be met:
An electronic prescription drug program will provide for
the electronic transmittal by the prescribing health care professional
and the dispensing pharmacy and pharmacist of the prescription and
information on eligibility and benefits (including the drugs included
in the applicable formulary, any tiered formulary structure, and any
requirements for prior authorization) and of the following information
with respect to the prescribing and dispensing of a covered Part D
drug:
+ Information on the drug being prescribed or dispensed and other
drugs listed on the medication history, including information on drug-
to-drug interactions, warnings or cautions, and, when indicated, dosage
adjustments.
+ Information on the availability of lower cost and therapeutically
appropriate alternatives (if any) for the drug prescribed.
Effective on and after a date that the Secretary specifies
and after the establishment of appropriate standards, the program will
provide for the electronic transmittal of information that relates to
the medical history concerning the individual and related to a covered
Part D drug being prescribed or dispensed, upon request of the
professional or pharmacist involved.
Information will only be disclosed if the disclosure of
this information is permitted under the Federal regulations (concerning
the privacy of individually identifiable health information)
established under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
To the extent feasible, the information exchanged will be
on an interactive, real-time basis.
The statute also requires the National Committee on Vital and
Health Statistics (NCVHS) to develop recommendations for standards, in
consultation with a specific group of constituencies. The Secretary
will take into consideration NCVHS's recommendation, if any, when
developing, adopting, recognizing, or modifying initial uniform
standards.
The statute requires pilot testing of the initial standards before
publishing the final standards in order to facilitate efficient
implementation of the requirements. However, it also permits an
exception to the pilot testing requirement for standards where there
already is adequate industry experience with these standards, as
determined by the Secretary after consultation with affected standard-
setting organizations and industry users. Under this exception,
standards can be proposed and adopted as standards through rulemaking
without pilot testing, and would then become final standards.
B. Provisions of the Final Rule
In the final rule, Medicare Program; E-Prescribing and the
Prescription Drug Program,'' (November 7, 2005, 70 FR 67567), and
codified at 42 CFR 423.160(b), we adopted Version 5.0 of the NCPDP
SCRIPT standard for the communication of a prescription or
prescription-related information between prescribers and dispensers,
for the following:
Get message transaction.
Status response transaction.
Error response transaction.
New prescription transaction.
Prescription change request transaction.
Prescription change response transaction.
Refill prescription request transaction.
Refill prescription response transaction.
Verification transaction.
Password change transaction.
Cancel prescription request transaction.
Cancel prescription response transaction.
In the preamble of the November 7, 2005 final rule, we discussed
version updating and maintenance of implementation specifications for
the adopted standards (70 FR 67579). We stated that when updating a
standard, we would look at a variety of factors to consider how an
update should occur, including the significance of the corrections or
revisions and whether the newer version is backward compatible with the
previously adopted version.
As explained in the preamble of the November 7, 2005 final rule,
many commenters supported this proposed method of permitting voluntary
implementation of later versions of adopted standards that are backward
compatible. They also expressed concern that the version updating and
maintenance process should not be hindered by extensive rulemaking,
particularly when voluntary adoption of newer versions of standards
would be precluded. These commenters explained that progress and
innovation would be stifled if the voluntary adoption of backward
compatible versions were to be prohibited. We agreed with the majority
of commenters and intend to identify backward compatible version
updates of adopted standards, which the industry may voluntarily
implement.
As discussed in section II. below, ``backward compatible'' means
that the newer version of a data transmission standard would retain, at
a minimum, the full functionality of the version(s) previously adopted
in regulation, and would permit the successful completion of the
applicable transaction(s) with entities that continue to use the older
version(s).
After a review of Version 8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard, and
taking into account input from the NCVHS and industry stakeholders, we
have determined that Version 8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard maintains
full functionality of version 5.0, and would permit the successful
completion of the
[[Page 36022]]
applicable transaction with entities that continue to use 5.0.
Therefore, Version 8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard is backward
compatible with Version 5.0 and we will permit its use to carry out the
transactions described above. Furthermore, as explained in section III
of this notice (``Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking''), we have found good
cause to waive notice and comment rulemaking.
In the November 7, 2005 final rule, we adopted specific versions of
the foundation standards. We noted in the preamble of that rule that we
anticipate, as appropriate, updating these foundation standards and
other adopted standards through the incorporation by reference update
process. When updating a standard, we stated that we would look at a
variety of factors to consider how the update should occur. If the
update or new version of the standard would impose new requirements on
the public, we noted that we would initiate notice and comment
rulemaking. If, on the other hand, changes to an updated version were
not substantive and imposed no new requirements on the public, we
stated that the Secretary would consider waiving notice and comment
under an Administrative Procedure Act exception to the requirement for
notice and comment rulemaking. This, we noted, would mean that
compliance with either version for a covered transaction would be
viewed as compliance with the transaction standard. However, we intend
to permit use of an alternative version of a standard and must make a
conforming change to the Code of Federal Regulations which reflects
this alternative. Therefore, we are making this change in this interim
final rule with comment period. If we anticipate mandating adoption of
a new version of a standard or a new standard in the future, we will,
through notice and comment rulemaking, provide ample opportunity for
public comment.
Based upon numerous testimonies presented to the NCVHS during their
2005 hearings regarding e-prescribing, comments from the NCPDP, and CMS
consultation with industry stakeholders that currently are conducting
e-prescribing transactions, we concluded that Version 8.1 of the NCPDP
SCRIPT Standard retains the full functionality of Version 5.0 and would
permit the successful completion of the applicable transactions with
entities that continue to use version 5.0, without imposing any new
regulatory burdens or costs on participating entities.
II. Provisions of the Interim Final Rule
[If you choose to comment on issues in this section, please include
the caption ``PROVISIONS'' at the beginning of your comments.]
Use of either Version 5.0 or Version 8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT
Standard for the covered transactions listed below will be permitted
under 42 CFR 423.160(b), effective June 23, 2006. Version 8.1 of the
NCPDP SCRIPT Standard is an update to Version 5.0, and we have
determined that it is backward compatible with the adopted NCPDP SCRIPT
Standard Version 5.0. (Although Version 8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT
Standard has additional e-prescribing functionalities, we are not
adopting any of these additional functionalities at this time.) Use of
Version 8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard for the communication of a
prescription or prescription-related information between prescribers
and dispensers, for the following functions, constitutes compliance
with the adopted e-prescribing standard:
Get message transaction.
Status response transaction.
Error response transaction.
New prescription transaction.
Prescription change request transaction.
Prescription change response transaction.
Refill prescription request transaction.
Refill prescription response transaction.
Verification transaction.
Password change transaction.
Cancel prescription request transaction.
Cancel prescription response transaction.
According to the November 7, 2005 final rule (70 FR 67580),
entities that voluntarily adopt later versions of standards that are
backward compatible must still accommodate the earlier adopted version
without modification. Since both versions of the standard would be
compliant, trading partners who wish to conduct standard e-prescribing
transactions may voluntarily adopt Version 8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT
Standard, but must continue to accept the earlier Version 5.0
transactions without alteration until Version 5.0 is officially
retired. In this interim final rule with comment period, we will revise
Sec. 423.160(b)(1) and (c) to reflect the voluntary use of Version 8.1
of the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard. We seek comment on permitting the
voluntary use of the backward compatible Version 8.1 of the NCPDP
SCRIPT Standard as satisfying the requirements of the adopted standard
Version 5.0. We also seek comment on whether and when to retire Version
5.0.
III. Response to Comments
Because of the large number of public comments we normally receive
on Federal Register documents, we are not able to acknowledge or
respond to them individually. We will consider all comments we receive
by the date and time specified in the DATES section of this preamble,
and, when we proceed with a subsequent document, we will respond to the
comments in the preamble to that document.
IV. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking and Delay in Effective Date
The adoption of a standard ordinarily requires notice and comment
rulemaking and a 30 day delay in effective date. A notice of proposed
rulemaking is published in the Federal Register to invite public
comment on the proposed rule and generally includes a reference to the
legal authority under which the rule is proposed, the provisions of the
proposed rule and a description of the subjects and issues addressed by
the proposed rule. Notice and comment rulemaking procedure can be
waived, however, if an agency finds good cause that a notice-and-
comment procedure is impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the
public interest, and incorporates a statement of a finding and its
reasons in the final notice or rule that is issued.
In this case, we find that notice and comment are unnecessary
because this interim final rule with comment period imposes no
additional or different legal requirements upon entities participating
in the e-prescribing program, but merely provides an additional method
by which they may carry out the transactions described in regulations.
Moreover, we ordinarily provide a 30-day delay in the effective
date of the provisions of a rule in accordance with the Administrative
Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(d), which requires a 30-day delayed
effective date, and the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801(a)(3),
which requires a 30-day delayed effective date for non-major rules.
However, we can waive the delay in effective date if the Secretary
finds, for good cause, that such delay is impracticable, unnecessary,
or contrary to the public interest, and incorporates a statement of the
finding and the reasons in the rule issued. (5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3); 5
U.S.C. 808(2)).
As noted above, this interim final rule with comment period imposes
no new requirements on the public. It merely serves to permit the
voluntary use of the
[[Page 36023]]
backward compatible Version 8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard in lieu of
Version 5.0, recognizing that the use of Version 8.1 constitutes
compliance with the adopted standard for the specified e-prescribing
transactions. Entities that elect to use Version 8.1 must support and
continue to accept NCPDP SCRIPT Standard Version 5.0 transactions.
For all these reasons, we believe that a notice and comment period
and 30-day delay in the effective date would be unnecessary and
contrary to the public interest. We therefore find good cause for
waiving the notice and comment period 30-day delay in the effective
date for the voluntary use of the backward compatible Version 8.1 of
the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard in lieu of Version 5.0.
V. Collection of Information Requirements
This document does not impose information collection and
recordkeeping requirements. Consequently, it need not be reviewed by
the Office of Management and Budget under the authority of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 35).
VI. Regulatory Impact Statement
[If you choose to comment on issues in this section, please include
the caption ``IMPACT'' at the beginning of your comments.]
We have examined the impact of this interim final rule with comment
period as required by Executive Order 12866 (September 1993, Regulatory
Planning and Review), the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (September
19, 1980, Pub. L. 96-354), section 1102(b) of the Social Security Act,
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4), and Executive
Order 13132.
Executive Order 12866 directs agencies to assess all costs and
benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is
necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety
effects, distributive impacts, and equity). A regulatory impact
analysis (RIA) must be prepared for major rules with economically
significant effects ($100 million or more in any 1 year). This interim
final rule with comment period does not reach the economic threshold
and, thus, is not considered a major rule. Therefore, an RIA has, not
been prepared.
The RFA requires agencies to analyze options for regulatory relief
of small businesses. For purposes of the RFA, small entities include
small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and small governmental
jurisdictions. Most hospitals and most other providers and suppliers
are small entities, either by nonprofit status or by having revenues of
$6 million to $29 million in any 1 year. Individuals and States are not
included in the definition of a small entity. We are not preparing an
analysis for the RFA because we have determined that this interim final
rule with comment period imposes no new requirements on small entities
because use of Version 8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard is voluntary
and it will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.
In addition, section 1102(b) of the Act requires us to prepare a
regulatory impact analysis if a rule may have a significant impact on
the operations of a substantial number of small rural hospitals. This
analysis must conform to the provisions of section 604 for final rules
of the RFA. For purposes of section 1102(b) of the Act, we define a
small rural hospital as a hospital that is located outside of a
Metropolitan Statistical Area and has fewer than 100 beds. We are not
preparing an analysis for section 1102(b) of the Act because we have
determined that this interim final rule with comment period imposes no
new requirements on small rural hospitals because use of Version 8.1 of
the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard is voluntary and it will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small rural
hospitals.
Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 also
requires that agencies assess anticipated costs and benefits before
issuing any rule whose mandates require spending in any 1 year of $100
million in 1995 dollars, updated annually for inflation. That threshold
level is currently approximately $120 million. This notice will have no
consequential effect on State, local, or tribal governments or on the
private sector because we have determined that this interim final rule
with comment period imposes no new requirements on State, local, or
tribal governments or on the private sector because the use of Version
8.1 of the NCPDP SCRIPT Standard is voluntary and it will not have a
significant economic impact on State, local, or tribal governments or
on the private sector.
Executive Order 13132 establishes certain requirements that an
agency must meet when it promulgates a proposed rule (and subsequent
final rule) that imposes substantial direct requirement costs on State
and local governments, preempts State law, or otherwise has Federalism
implications. Since this interim final rule with comment period does
not impose any costs on State or local governments, the requirements of
E.O. 13132 are not applicable.
In accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 12866, this
interim final rule with comment period was reviewed by the Office of
Management and Budget.
List of Subjects in 42 CFR Part 423
Administrative practice and procedure, Emergency medical services,
Health facilities, Health maintenance organizations, (HMO), Health
professions, Incorporation by Reference, Medicare, Penalties, Privacy,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services amends 42 CFR part 423 as follows:
PART 423--VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT
0
1. The authority citation for part 423 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Secs 1102, 1860D-1 through 1860D-42, and 1871 of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1302, 1395w-101 through 1395w-152,
and 1395hh).
0
2. Section 423.160 is amended by revising paragraphs (b)(1) and (c) to
read as follows:
Sec. 423.160 Standards for electronic prescribing.
* * * * *
(b) Standards. (1) Prescription. The National Council for
Prescription Drug Programs SCRIPT Standard, Implementation Guide,
Version 5, Release 0, May 12, 2004, or Prescriber/Pharmacist Interface
SCRIPT Standard, Implementation Guide, Version 8, Release 1, October
2005, to provide for the communication of a prescription or
prescription-related information between prescribers and dispensers,
for the following:
(i) Get message transaction.
(ii) Status response transaction.
(iii) Error response transaction.
(iv) New prescription transaction.
(v) Prescription change request transaction.
(vi) Prescription change response transaction.
(vii) Refill prescription request transaction.
(viii) Refill prescription response transaction.
(ix) Verification transaction.
(x) Password change transaction.
(xi) Cancel prescription request transaction.
(xii) Cancel prescription response transaction.
* * * * *
[[Page 36024]]
(c) Incorporation by reference. The Director of the Federal
Register approves, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part
51, the incorporation by reference of the National Council for
Prescription Drug Programs SCRIPT Standard, Implementation Guide,
Version 5, Release 0, May 12, 2004, excluding the Prescription Fill
Status Notification Transaction (and its three business cases;
Prescription Fill Status Notification Transaction--Filled, Prescription
Fill Status Notification Transaction--Not Filled, and Prescription Fill
Status Notification Transaction--Partial Fill), Prescriber/Pharmacist
Interface SCRIPT Standard, Implementation Guide, Version 8, Release 1,
October 2005, excluding the Prescription Fill Status Notification
Transaction (and its three business cases; Prescription Fill Status
Notification Transaction--Filled, Prescription Fill Status Notification
Transaction--Not Filled, and Prescription Fill Status Notification
Transaction--Partial Fill); the Accredited Standards Committee X12N
270/271--Health Care Eligibility Benefit Inquiry and Response, Version
4010, May 2000, 004010X092 and Addenda to Health Care Eligibility
Benefit Inquiry and Response, Version 4010, October 2002, Washington
Publishing Company, 004010X092A1, and the National Council for
Prescription Drug Programs Telecommunication Standard Specification,
Version 5, Release 1 (Version 5.1), September 1999, and equivalent
NCPDP Batch Standard Batch Implementation Guide, Version 1, Release 1
(Version 1.1), January 2000 supporting Telecommunications Standard
Implementation Guide, Version 5, Release 1 (Version 5.1), September
1999, for the NCPDP Data Record in the Detail Data Record. You may
inspect copies of these materials at the headquarters of the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21244, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4
p.m. or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at CMS, call 410-786-
0273. For information on the availability of this material at NARA,
call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
You may obtain a
copy of the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs SCRIPT
Standard, Version 5, Release 0, May 12, 2004 or the Prescriber/
Pharmacist Interface SCRIPT Standard, Implementation Guide, Version 8,
Release 1, October 2005, from the National Council for Prescription
Drug Programs, Incorporated, 9240 E. Raintree Drive, Scottsdale, AZ
85260-7518; Telephone (480) 477-1000; and fax (480) 767-1042 or http://www.ncpdp.org.
You may obtain a copy of the Accredited Standards
Committee X12N 270/271--Health Care Eligibility Benefit Inquiry and
Response, Version 4010, May 2000, Washington Publishing Company,
004010X092 and Addenda to Health Care Eligibility Benefit Inquiry and
Response, Version 4010, 004010X092A1, October 2002, from the Washington
Publishing Company,301 West North Bend Way, Suite 107, P.O. Box 15388,
North Bend, WA 98045; Telephone (425) 831-4999; and fax (425) 831-3233
or http://www.wpc-edi.com/. You may obtain a copy of the National
Council for Prescription Drug Programs Telecommunication Standard
Guide, Version 5, Release 1 (Version 5.1), September 1999, and
equivalent NCPDP Batch Standard Batch Implementation Guide, Version 1,
Release 1 (Version 1.1), January 2000 supporting Telecommunications
Standard Implementation Guide, Version 5, Release 1 (Version 5.1),
September 1999, for the NCPDP Data Record in the Detail Data Record,
from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, Incorporated,
9240 E. Raintree Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260-7518; Telephone (480) 477-
1000; and FAX (480) 767-1042 or http://www.ncpdp.org.
Authority: Section 1860D-4(e) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395w-104(e))
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: March 30, 2006.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Approved: May 22, 2006.
Michael O. Leavitt,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-9521 Filed 6-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P