[Federal Register: September 25, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 185)]
[Notices]
[Page 48990-48991]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25se09-97]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1336-N]
Medicare Program; Medicare Provider Feedback Group Town Hall
Meeting--October 29, 2009
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the annual Medicare Provider Feedback
Group (MPFG) Town Hall meeting. This meeting is open to all Medicare
Fee-for-Service (FFS) providers and suppliers that participate in the
Medicare program, including physicians, hospitals, home health
agencies, third-party billers, and interested parties, to present their
individual views and opinions on selected FFS Medicare topics. In
addition, we will be soliciting input on how we can improve
communications to better serve the Medicare providers and suppliers.
DATES: Meeting Date: The Town Hall meeting announced in this notice
will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Deadlines:
Deadline for Attendance Registration--Registration will be open
beginning September 28, 2009 and will close on October 23, 2009.
Registration after 5 p.m. EDT on October 23, 2009 will not be accepted.
Deadline for Written Feedback--Written feedback will be accepted
through November 6, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The Town Hall meeting 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. The
meeting will also be available by teleconference.
Web sites:
Meeting Registration: Individuals must complete the online
registration at http://registration.intercall.com/go/cms2.
Meeting Materials: The meeting agenda and discussion material will
be available to download by October 23, 2009, at http://
www.cms.hhs.gov/center/provider.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Shatto, (410) 786-6932. You
may also send inquiries about this meeting by e-mail to
MFG@cms.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Since 2005, CMS has held five Medicare Provider Feedback Group
(MPFG) Town Hall meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to capture
individual provider and supplier feedback on relevant Fee-for-Service
(FFS) Medicare policy and operational issues. These meetings allow us
to further advance our efforts to strengthen the Medicare program and
enhance our relationship with providers and suppliers. The meetings
also provide a venue to allow us to continue a process of communication
with individual providers and suppliers through the following year.
II. Meeting Format and Agenda
The meeting will begin with an overview of the goals and objectives
of the MPFG efforts to gather feedback from individual Medicare
providers and suppliers. This meeting will be held on-site at CMS and
by teleconference. The meeting is open to the public, but on-site
attendance is limited to space available. The meeting agenda and
discussion materials will be available to download by October 23, 2009.
These materials can be located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/
provider.asp.
The feedback provided during this meeting will assist us as we
evaluate FFS Medicare policy, operational issues, and CMS' provider and
supplier communication activities. Topics to be discussed include, but
are not limited to, 5010, ICD-10, Medicare Contracting Reform: Lessons
Learned from Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Implementations,
Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), Provider Communications, and Program
Integrity.
There will be a discussion session that offers meeting participants
an opportunity to provide feedback on how CMS services physicians,
providers, and suppliers, as well as make suggestions on how this
process can be improved. Time for participants to provide feedback will
be limited according to
[[Page 48991]]
the number of registered participants; however, written submissions
will be accepted. Individuals who wish to provide written feedback
should e-mail their feedback to Colette Shatto at MFG@cms.hhs.gov.
Written feedback will be accepted through November 6, 2009.
Consideration will be given to feedback received on the topics
discussed at the meeting, but written responses will not be provided.
Registered participants from the meeting will be included as
volunteer participants in the MPFG and may be contacted throughout the
year for follow-up meetings to solicit additional opinions or clarify
any issues that may arise from the October 29, 2009 meeting.
III. Registration Instructions
The Division of Provider Relations and Evaluations, Provider
Communications Group, Center for Medicare Management is coordinating
the meeting registration. While there is no registration fee,
individuals must register to participate both on-site and by
teleconference. Individuals must complete the on-line registration
located at http://registration.intercall.com/go/cms2.
The on-line registration system will capture contact information
and practice characteristics (for example, names, e-mail addresses, and
provider and supplier types). Registration will be open beginning
September 28, 2009 and will close on October 23, 2009. Registration
after 5 p.m. EDT on October 23, 2009 will not be accepted.
The on-line registration system will generate a confirmation page
to indicate the completion of your registration. Participants should
print this page as his or her registration receipt. Teleconference
instructions will be issued as part of the confirmation page once
participants have registered through the on-line registration
instrument. Seating capacity is limited to the first 250 registrants.
If seating capacity has been reached for on-site participants,
notification will be sent that the meeting has reached capacity;
however, those wishing to participate may still do so by
teleconference.
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 5 p.m. EDT on October 23, 2009. Individuals who have not
registered by the registration deadline will not be allowed to enter
the building to attend the meeting or attend the meeting by
teleconference.
The on-site check-in for visitors will be held from 12:30 p.m. to
1:30 p.m EDT. Participants should allow sufficient time to go through
the security checkpoints. It is suggested that participants arrive at
7500 Security Boulevard no later than 1:30 p.m. EDT in order to arrive
promptly at the meeting by 2 p.m.
Security measures will 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 to
the building, whether personal or for the purpose of the meeting, are
subject to inspection. In order to gain access to the building,
participants will be required to show a government-issued photo
identification (for example, driver's license or passport), and must be
listed on an approved security list before persons are permitted
entrance. Persons not registered in advance will not be permitted into
the CMS building and will not be permitted to attend the meeting.
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 the purpose of presentation.
Individuals requiring sign language interpretation or other special
accommodation must contact the Designated Federal Officer specified in
the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section of this notice by
October 23, 2009.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: September 3, 2009.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E9-22164 Filed 9-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P