[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 127 (Friday, July 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38533-38535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16163]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1571-N]
Medicare Program; Second Semi-Annual Meeting of the Advisory
Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups--August 23 & 24, 2010
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health
and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the second semi-annual meeting of the
Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Groups (the
Panel) for 2010. 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 (DHHS) (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
prepare the final rule that would update the hospital Outpatient
Prospective Payment System (OPPS) for CY 2011.
DATES: Meeting Dates: We are scheduling the second semi-annual
[[Page 38534]]
meeting in 2010 for the following dates and times:
Monday, August 23, 2010, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. eastern standard
time (e.d.t.).\1\
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (e.d.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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Deadlines
Deadline for Hardcopy Comments (including the comment in electronic
format)/Suggested Agenda Topics--5 p.m. (e.d.t.), Monday, August 2,
2010.
Deadline for Hardcopy Presentations, including the required
electronic documents as discussed below--5 p.m. (e.d.t.), Monday,
August 2, 2010.
Deadline for Attendance Registration--5 p.m. (e.d.t.), Wednesday,
August 16, 2010.
Deadline for Special Accommodations--5 p.m. (e.d.t.), Wednesday,
August 16, 2010.
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 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 Designated Federal
Officer (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, Designated Federal Official (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.
The e-mail address for comments, presentations, and registration
requests is CMS [email protected].
Note: There is NO underscore in this 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: Please access the CMS Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/05_AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPaymentClassificationGroups.asp#TopOfPage 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.
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 APC groups and weights
established under the Medicare hospital OPPS.
The APC Panel meets up to three times annually. The Charter
requires 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. Such 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 FACA and CMS Web sites as listed above.
The Panel presently consists of the following members:
E.L. Hambrick, M.D., J.D., Chair, CMS Medical Officer.
Ruth L. Bush, M.D., M.P.H.
Dawn L. Francis, M.D., M.H.S.
Patrick A. Grusenmeyer, Sc.D., F.A.C.H.E.
Kathleen Graham, R.N., M.S.H.A., C.P.H.Q., A.C.M.
David Halsey, M.D.
Judith T. Kelly, B.S.H.A., R.H.I.T., R.H.I.A., C.C.S.
Michael D. Mills, Ph.D.
Agatha L. Nolen, D.Ph., M.S., F.A.S.H.P.
Randall A. Oyer, M.D.
Beverly Khnie Philip, M.D.
Daniel Pothen, M.S., R.H.I.A., C.P.H.I.M.S., C.C.S.-P,
C.H.C.
Gregory Przybylski, M.D.
Russ Ranallo, M.S., B.S.
Michael A. Ross, M.D., F.A.C.E.P.
Patricia Spencer-Cisek, M.S., A.P.R.N.-B.C., A.O.C.N.
[[Page 38535]]
II. Agenda
The agenda for the August 2010 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 the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) and CMS, in conducting its review. We recommend organizations to
submit data for the Panel's and CMS staff's review.
III. Written Comments and Suggested Agenda Topics
Hardcopy and electronic written comments and suggested agenda
topics should be sent to the DFO as specified in the ADDRESSES section
of this notice. The DFO must receive these items by 5 p.m. (e.d.t.),
Monday, August 2, 2010. There will be no exceptions. We appreciate your
cooperation on this matter.
The written comments and suggested agenda topics submitted for the
August 2010 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.d.t.), Monday, August 2, 2010,
for consideration.
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. Presentation times
listed in the public agenda are approximate and presenters should be
prepared to present earlier and later than indicated.
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.
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. Collection of Information Requirements
This document does not impose any 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).
VII. 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.
VIII. 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.d.t.), Wednesday, August 16, 2010. A confirmation will be sent
to the requester(s) by 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 address(es).
Telephone number(s).
IX. 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 photographic identification to the
Federal Protective Service or Guard Service personnel before entering
the building.
Security measures include inspection of vehicles, inside
and out, at the entrance to the grounds.
All persons entering the building must pass through a
metal detector.
All items brought into CMS including personal items, such
as 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.
X. 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.d.t.), Monday, August 16, 2010.
XI. Panel Recommendations and Discussions
The Panel's recommendations at any APC Panel meeting generally are
not final until they have been reviewed and approved by the Panel on
the last day prior to final adjournment.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: June 18, 2010.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Acting Administrator and Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-16163 Filed 6-30-10; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P