[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 58 (Friday, March 26, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 14666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7366]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

42 CFR Part 405

[HCFA-1002-N]


Medicare Program; Meetings of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee 
on Ambulance Fee Schedule

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, this notice announces the dates and location for the 
second meeting and the dates for the third and fourth meetings of the 
Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on the Ambulance Fee Schedule. These 
meetings are open to the public.
    The purpose of this committee is to develop a proposed rule that 
establishes a fee schedule for the payment of ambulance services under 
the Medicare program through negotiated rulemaking, as mandated by 
section 4531(b) of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997.

DATES: The second meeting is scheduled for April 12 and 13, 1999 from 
9:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. and April 14, 1999 from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. 
E.S.T.
    Two further meetings are scheduled for May 24 and 25, 1999 and June 
28 and 29, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The 3-day April meeting will be held at Doyle's Hotel, 1500 
New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; (202) 483-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquiries regarding these meetings 
should be addressed to Bob Niemann (410) 786-4569 or Margot Blige (410) 
786-4642 for general issues related to ambulance services or to Lynn 
Sylvester (202) 606-9140 or Elayne Tempel (207) 780-3408, facilitators.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4531(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget 
Act (BBA), Public Law 105-33, added a new section 1834(l) to the Social 
Security Act (the Act). Section 1834(l) of the Act mandates 
implementation, by January 1, 2000, of a national fee schedule for 
payment of ambulance services furnished under Medicare Part B. The fee 
schedule is to be established through negotiated rulemaking. Section 
4531(b)(2) also provides that in establishing such fee schedule, the 
Secretary will--
     Establish mechanisms to control increases in expenditures 
for ambulance services under Part B of the program;
     Establish definitions for ambulance services that link 
payments to the type of services furnished;
     Consider appropriate regional and operational differences;
     Consider adjustments to payment rates to account for 
inflation and other relevant factors; and
     Phase in the fee schedule in an efficient and fair manner.
    The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on the Ambulance Fee Schedule 
has been established to provide advice and make recommendations to the 
Secretary with respect to the text and content of a proposed rule that 
establishes a fee schedule for the payment of ambulance services under 
Part B of the Medicare program.
    The Committee held its first meeting on February 22, 23, and 24, 
1999. At this meeting, the Committee discussed in detail how the 
negotiations will proceed, the schedule for subsequent meetings, and 
how the Committee will function. The Committee agreed to ground rules 
for Committee operations, determined how best to address the principal 
issues, and began to address those issues.
    During the April meeting the committee will finalize descriptions 
of the issues to be negotiated, committee members will present a 
description of their interests, and a representative from HCFA's 
Actuarial and Health Cost Analysis Group will describe the methodology 
for determining the amount that would have been paid for ambulance 
services had the fee schedule not been implemented.
    The announced future meetings are open to the public without 
advanced registration. Interested parties can file statements with the 
committee. Location of future meetings will be published in the Federal 
Register at a later date.
    Public attendance at the meetings may be limited to space 
available. A summary of all proceedings will be available for public 
inspection in room 443-G of the Department's offices at 200 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. on Monday through Friday of 
each week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Phone: (202) 690-7890), or can be 
accessed through the HCFA Internet site at http://www.hcfa.gov/
medicare/ambmain.htm. Additional information related to the Committee 
will also be available on the web site.

    Authority: Section 1834(l)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: March 19, 1999.
Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-7366 Filed 3-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P