[Federal Register: July 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 127)]
[Notices]
[Page 31964-31966]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06jy09-64]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1412-N]
Medicare Program; Second Semi-Annual Meeting of the Advisory
Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups--August 5-7, 2009
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health
and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 semi-annual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment
Classification (APC) Groups (the Panel) for 2009. The purpose of the
Panel is to review the APC groups and their associated weights and to
advise the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
(the Secretary) and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) (the Administrator) concerning the clinical
integrity of the APC groups and their associated weights. We will
consider the Panel's advice as we address comments and complete the
final rule that updates the hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment
System (OPPS) for CY 2010.
DATES: Meeting Dates: We are scheduling the second semi-annual meeting
in 2009 for the following dates and times:
Wednesday, August 5, 2009, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (e.s.t.) \1\
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\1\ The times listed in this notice are approximate times;
consequently, the meetings may last longer than listed in this
notice--but will not begin before the posted times.
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Thursday, August 6, 2009, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (e.s.t.) \1\
Friday, August 7, 2009, 8 a.m. to 12 noon (e.s.t.) \2\
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\2\ If the business of the Panel concludes on Thursday, August
6, 2009, there will be no Friday (August 7, 2009) meeting.
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Deadlines:
Deadline for Hardcopy Comments/Suggested Agenda Topics--5 p.m.
(e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 22, 2009.
Deadline for Hardcopy Presentations--5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday,
July 22, 2009.
Deadline for Attendance Registration--5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday,
July 29, 2009.
Deadline for Special Accommodations--5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday,
July 29, 2009.
Submission of Materials to the Designated Federal Officer (DFO):
Because of staffing and resource limitations, we cannot accept
written comments and presentations by FAX, nor can we print written
comments and presentations received electronically for dissemination at
the meeting.
Only hardcopy comments and presentations can be reproduced for
public dissemination. All hardcopy presentations must be accompanied by
Form CMS-20017 (revised 01/07). The form is now available through the
CMS Forms Web site. The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for linking to
this form is as follows: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/cmsforms/downloads/
cms20017.pdf.
Presenters must use the most recent copy of CMS-20017 (updated 01/
07) at the above URL. Additionally, presenters must clearly explain the
action(s) that they are requesting CMS to take in the appropriate
section of the form. They must also clarify their relationship to the
organization that they represent in the presentation.
Note: Issues that are vague, or that are outside the scope of
the APC Panel's purpose, will not be considered for presentations
and comments. There will be no exceptions to this rule. We
appreciate your cooperation on this matter.
We are also requiring electronic versions of the written comments
and presentations, in addition to the hardcopies.
In summary, presenters and/or commenters must do the following:
Send both electronic and hardcopy versions of their
presentations and written comments by the prescribed deadlines.
Send electronic transmissions--preferably in PowerPoint
presentation format--to the e-mail address below.
Do not send pictures of patients in any of the documents
unless their faces have been blocked out.
Do not send documents electronically that have been
archived.
Mail (or send by courier) to the DFO all hardcopies,
accompanied by Form CMS-20017 (revised 01/07), if they are presenting,
as specified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice.
Commenters are not required to send Form CMS-20017 with
their written comments.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Auditorium, CMS Central
Office, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact:
Shirl Ackerman-Ross, DFO, CMS, CMM, HAPG, DOC, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Mail Stop C4-05-17, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Phone: (410) 786-4474.
Note: We recommend that you advise couriers of the following
information: When delivering hardcopies of presentations to CMS, if
no one answers at the above phone number, please call (410) 786-4532
or (410) 786-9316.
E-mail addresses for comments, presentations, and registration
requests are CMS APCPanel@cms.hhs.gov, or SAckermanross@cms.hhs.gov.
Note: There is NO underscore in the APC Panel e-mail address;
there is a SPACE between CMS and APCPanel.
News media representatives must contact our Public Affairs Office
at (202) 690-6145.
Advisory Committees' Information Lines: The phone numbers for the
CMS Federal Advisory Committee Hotline are 1-877-449-5659 (toll free)
and (410) 786-9379 (local).
Web Sites: The following information is available on the CMS Web
site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/05_
AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPaymentClassificationGroups.asp#TopOfPage in
order to obtain the following information:
Note: There is an UNDERSCORE after FACA/05(like this--); there
is no space.
Additional information on the APC meeting agenda topics,
Updates to the Panel's activities,
Copies of the current Charter, and
Membership requirements.
You may also search information about the APC Panel and its
membership in the FACA database at the following URL: https://
www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Secretary is required by section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social
Security Act (the Act) to consult with an expert, outside advisory
panel on the clinical integrity of the Ambulatory Payment
Classification (APC) groups and weights established under the Medicare
hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS).
The APC Panel meets up to three times annually. The Charter
requires
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that the Panel must be fairly balanced in its membership in terms of
the points of view represented and the functions to be performed. The
Panel consists of up to 15 members who are representatives of providers
and a Chair.
Each Panel member must be employed full-time by a hospital,
hospital system, or other Medicare provider subject to payment under
the OPPS. The Secretary or Administrator selects the Panel membership
based upon either self-nominations or nominations submitted by Medicare
providers and other interested organizations.
All members must have technical expertise to enable them to
participate fully in the Panel's work. The expertise encompasses
hospital payment systems; hospital medical care delivery systems;
provider billing systems; APC groups; Current Procedural Terminology
codes; and alpha-numeric Health Care Common Procedure Coding System
codes; and the use of, and payment for, drugs, medical devices, and
other services in the outpatient setting, as well as other forms of
relevant expertise. Details regarding membership requirements for the
APC Panel are found on the CMS and FACA Web sites as listed above.
The Panel presently consists of the following members:
E. L. Hambrick, M.D., J.D., Chair, a CMS Medical Officer.
Gloryanne Bryant, B.S., RHIA, RHIT, CCS.
Patrick A. Grusenmeyer, Sc.D., FACHE.
Kathleen Graham, R.N., MSHA, CPHQ, ACM.
Judith T. Kelly, B.S.H.A., RHIT, RHIA, CCS.
Michael D. Mills, Ph.D.
Thomas M. Munger, M.D., FACC.
Agatha L. Nolen, D.Ph., M.S.
Randall A. Oyer, M.D.
Beverly Khnie Philip, M.D.
Russ Ranallo, M.S., B.S.
James V. Rawson, M.D.
Michael A. Ross, M.D., FACEP.
Patricia Spencer-Cisek, M.S., APRN-BC,
AOCN[reg].
Kim Allen Williams, M.D., FACC, FABC.
Robert M. Zwolak, M.D., Ph.D., FACS.
II. Agenda
The agenda for the August 2009 meeting will provide for discussion
and comment on the following topics as designated in the Panel's
Charter:
Addressing whether procedures within an APC group are
similar both clinically and in terms of resource use.
Evaluating APC group weights.
Reviewing the packaging of OPPS services and costs,
including the methodology and the impact on APC groups and payment.
Removing procedures from the inpatient list for payment
under the OPPS.
Using single and multiple procedure claims data for CMS'
determination of APC group weights.
Addressing other technical issues concerning APC group
structure.
Note: The subject matter before the Panel will be limited to
these and related topics. Issues related to calculation of the OPPS
conversion factor, charge compression, pass-through payments, or
wage adjustments are not within the scope of the Panel's purpose.
Therefore, these issues will not be considered for presentations
and/or comments. There will be no exceptions to this rule. We
appreciate your cooperation on this matter.
The Panel may use data collected or developed by entities and
organizations, other than DHHS and CMS, in conducting its review. We
recommend that organizations submit data for the Panel's and CMS
staff's review.
III. Written Comments and Suggested Agenda Topics
Send hardcopy and electronic written comments and suggested agenda
topics to the DFO at the address indicated above. The DFO must receive
these items by 5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 22, 2009. There will be
no exceptions. We appreciate your cooperation on this matter.
The written comments and suggested agenda topics submitted for the
August 2009 APC Panel meeting must fall within the subject categories
outlined in the Panel's Charter and as listed in the Agenda section of
this notice.
IV. Oral Presentations
Individuals or organizations wishing to make 5-minute oral
presentations must submit hardcopy and electronic versions of their
presentations to the DFO by 5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 22, 2009,
for consideration.
Concise PowerPoint presentations, not lengthy written statements,
are easier for the Panel and audience to follow.
The number of oral presentations may be limited by the time
available. Oral presentations should not exceed 5 minutes in length for
an individual or an organization.
The Chair may further limit time allowed for presentations due to
the number of oral presentations, if necessary.
V. Presenter and Presentation Information
All presenters must submit Form CMS-20017 (revised 01/07).
Hardcopies are required for oral presentations; however, electronic
submissions of Form CMS-20017 are optional. The DFO must receive the
following information from those wishing to make oral presentations:
Form CMS-20017 completed with all pertinent information
identified on the first page of the presentation,
One hardcopy of presentation,
Electronic copy of presentation, and
Personal registration information as described in the
Meeting Attendance section below.
(Those persons wishing to submit comments only must send hardcopy
and electronic versions of their comments, but they are not required to
submit Form CMS-20017.)
VI. Oral Comments
In addition to formal oral presentations, there will be opportunity
during the meeting for public oral comments, which will be limited to 1
minute for each individual and a total of 3 minutes per organization.
VII. Meeting Attendance
The meeting is open to the public; however, attendance is limited
to space available. Attendance will be determined on a first-come,
first-served basis.
Persons wishing to attend this meeting, which is located on Federal
property, must e-mail the DFO to register in advance no later than 5
p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 29, 2009. A confirmation will be sent to
the requester(s) via return e-mail.
The following personal information must be e-mailed to the DFO by
the date and time above:
Name(s) of attendee(s),
Title(s),
Organization,
E-mail addresses of all attendees, and
Telephone number(s).
VIII. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines
The following are the security, building, and parking guidelines:
Persons attending the meeting including presenters must be
registered and on the attendance list by the prescribed date.
Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be
permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the
meeting.
Attendees must present U.S. Federal Government or State
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photographic identification (preferably a valid driver's license or
passport) to the Federal Protective Service or Guard Service personnel
before entering the building.
CMS is a tobacco-free campus; violators are subject to
legal action.
Security measures include inspection of vehicles, inside
and out, at the entrance to the grounds.
In addition, all persons entering the building must pass
through a metal detector.
All items brought into CMS including personal items, for
example laptops, cell phones, and palm pilots, are subject to physical
inspection.
The public may enter the building 30 to 45 minutes before
the meeting convenes each day.
All visitors must be escorted in areas other than the
lower and first-floor levels in the Central Building.
The main-entrance guards will issue parking permits and
instructions upon arrival at the building.
At CMS, security is a primary concern and is taken very
seriously. These security issues are for your and our protection.
IX. Special Accommodations
Individuals requiring sign-language interpretation or other special
accommodations must send a request for these services to the DFO by 5
p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 29, 2009.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program.)
Dated: June 11, 2009.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E9-15880 Filed 7-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P