[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78247-78249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31301]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-3236-N]
Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on Physician Quality
Reporting System
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the
Physician Quality Reporting System (previously known as the Physician
Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)). The purpose of the Town Hall
Meeting is to solicit input from participating stakeholders on the
individual quality measures and measures groups being considered for
possible inclusion in the proposed set of quality measures for use in
the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System and key components of the
design of the Physician Quality Reporting System. Measure developers,
eligible professionals, professionals associations, such as medical
specialty societies, and other interested stakeholders are invited to
participate, in person or by teleconference. The meeting is open to the
public, but attendance is limited to space and teleconference lines
available.
DATES: Meeting Date: The Town Hall Meeting will be held on February 9,
2011, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. eastern standard time (e.s.t).
Deadline for Registration of Presenters of the Town Hall Meeting:
All presenters for the Town Hall meeting must register and submit their
discussion item(s) by 5 p.m. e.s.t. on January 18, 2011.
Deadline for Registration of All Other Participants for the Town
Hall Meeting and Request for Special Accommodations: Registration opens
on December 20, 2010. All other participants must register no later
than 5 p.m. e.s.t. on January 28, 2011. Requests for special
accommodations must be received by 5 p.m. e.s.t. on January 28, 2010.
Deadline for Submission of Comments on Key Issues for the Town Hall
Meeting: Written comments on key issues for discussion at the Town Hall
Meeting must be received by 5 p.m. e.s.t. on January 21, 2011.
Deadline for Submission of Other Written Comments or Statements:
Written comments or statements on issues that were discussed at this
Town Hall Meeting or other comments, may be sent via regular mail, fax,
or electronically to the address specified in
[[Page 78248]]
the ADDRESSES section of this notice and must be received by 5 p.m.
e.s.t. on February 25, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The Town Hall Meeting will be held in the
main auditorium of the Central Building of the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
Registration and Special Accommodations: Persons interested in
attending the meeting or participating by teleconference must register
by completing the on-line registration via the Web site at http://www.usqualitymeasures.org. Individuals who require special
accommodations should send a request via email or regular mail to the
contact specified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this
notice.
Submission of Written Comments or Statements: Written comments or
statements may be sent via e-mail to [email protected]. or sent via regular mail to: Attn: 2012 Physician
Quality Reporting System Town Hall Meeting Comments, Office of Clinical
Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mail
Stop S3-02-01, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacquelyn Kosh-Suber, (410).786-6889
via e-mail at [email protected]. or via regular mail as
specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Physician Quality Reporting System is a voluntary reporting
program in which eligible professionals and group practices report data
on quality measures. An eligible professional who satisfactorily
reports data on quality measures may qualify to earn a Physician
Quality Reporting System incentive payment based on a percentage of the
eligible professional's (or, in the case of a group practice, the
group's) total estimated allowed Medicare Part B charges for covered
professional services furnished during a specified reporting period.
Under section 1848(k)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (the Act), the
term ``eligible professional'' means any of the following:
A physician.
A practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the
Act.
A physical or occupational therapist or a qualified
speech-language pathologist or qualified audiologist.
Detailed information about the Physician Quality Reporting System
is available on the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI.
Our goals for the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System include
increasing participation in light of a payment adjustment that begins
in 2015, leveraging the benefits of alternative reporting mechanisms,
such as registry-based reporting, EHR-based reporting, and the group
practice reporting option, and increasing alignment with other
programs, such as the EHR Incentive Program.
This Town Hall meeting will be hosted to solicit input from
eligible professionals and other interested parties on the individual
quality measure and measures group suggestions received in response to
the ``2012 Physician Quality Reporting System Call for Measures'' and
on other changes being considered for the future with regard to the key
components of the Physician Quality Reporting System described in this
notice.
II. Town Hall Meeting Format
The Town Hall meeting will begin with an overview of the objectives
for the session. The remainder of the meeting will be devoted to
presenting and receiving input on each of the major components of the
Physician Quality Reporting System including the following:
The individual quality measures and measures group
suggestions received in response to the ``2012 Physician Quality
Reporting System Call for Measures'' (for more information, see the CMS
Measures Management System Web site at http://www.cms.gov/MMS/13_Call%20for%20Measures.asp#TopOfPage).
Reporting mechanism.
Reporting period.
Criteria for satisfactory reporting.
The group practice reporting option.
The Maintenance of Certification Program Incentive.
Following each presentation, the meeting agenda will provide
opportunities for brief comments on each of the key issues from on-site
session attendees. The time for each presenter's comments will be
approximately 2 minutes and will be based on the number of registered
presenters. As time allows, telephone participants will also have the
opportunity to provide brief comments of no more than 2 minutes on each
of the key issues. Presenters will be scheduled to speak in the order
in which they register. Therefore, individuals who would like to
present must register and submit their comment(s) to the address
specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date specified
in the DATES section of this notice. All other written submissions will
be accepted and presented at the meeting if they are received at the
address specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date
specified in the DATES section of this notice.
We anticipate posting an audio download and/or transcript of the
Town Hall meeting on the CMS PQRI Web site after completion of the
meeting. See Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI. The opinions and
alternatives provided during this meeting will assist us as we develop
the Physician Quality Reporting System for 2012. We anticipate posting
a summary of the individual quality measures and measures groups for
possible inclusion in the proposed set of quality measures, as well as
possible program design options under consideration for use in the 2012
Physician Quality Reporting System on the Physician Quality Reporting
System section of the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI by
January 21, 2011.
III. Registration Instructions
While there is no registration fee, for security reasons, any
persons wishing to attend this meeting must register by the date listed
in the DATES section of this notice. Persons interested in attending
the meeting or participating by teleconference must register by
completing the online registration via the Web site at http://www.usqualitymeasures.org. The online registration system will generate
a confirmation page to indicate the completion of your registration.
Please print this page as your registration receipt. If seating
capacity has been reached, you will be notified that the meeting has
reached capacity. Individuals may also participate in the Town Hall
meeting by teleconference. Registration is required as the number of
call-in lines will be limited. The call-in number will be provided upon
confirmation of registration. Individuals may also register via
telephone by calling the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
section of this notice or via regular mail to the address listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
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 recommend you to arrive at the central
[[Page 78249]]
building no later than 9 a.m. e.s.t. to allow for enough time to clear
security and to check in before the meeting begins. The on-site check-
in for visitors will begin at 9:30 a.m. e.s.t. All items brought to the
building, whether personal or for the purpose of demonstration or to
support a presentation, including items such as laptops, cell phones,
and palm pilots, are subject to physical inspection.
Security measures include the following:
Presentation of government-issued photographic
identification to the Federal Protective Service or Guard Service
personnel.
Interior and exterior inspection of vehicles (this
includes engine and trunk inspection) at the entrance to the grounds.
Parking permits and instructions will be issued after the vehicle
inspection.
Passing through a metal detector and inspection of items
brought into the building.
We note that 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, setup, safety, or timely arrival
of any personal belongings or items used for demonstration or to
support a demonstration.
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 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. Seating capacity is limited to the first 250
registrants.
Authority: Section 503 of Public Law 108-173.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program).
Dated: December 7, 2010.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-31301 Filed 12-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P