[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24550-24551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11560]


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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 locations 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 third meeting is scheduled for May 24, 1999 from 9:00 a.m. 
until 5 p.m. and May 25, 1999 from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. E.S.T. The 
fourth meeting is scheduled for June 28, 1999 from 9:00 a.m. until 5 
p.m. and June 29, 1999 from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. E.S.T.

ADDRESSES: The 2-day May meeting will be held at Doyle's Hotel, 1500 
New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; (202) 483-6000. The 
2-day June meeting will be held at BWI Airport Marriott, 1743 West 
Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD. 21240; (410) 849-8300.

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 second meeting on April 12, 13, and 14, 
1999. At this meeting the Committee heard presentations from HCFA 
staff. The first presenter, a representative from HCFA's Actuarial and 
Health Cost Analysis Group, described the methodology used in 
determining how the payment cap under the fee schedule was calculated. 
The second presenter, a member of the HCFA negotiated rulemaking team, 
presented historical Medicare hospital and supplier ambulance billing 
data. The non-government members Committee finalized the private 
agreement with Project Hope to obtain ambulance cost data and reached 
consensus on the statements of the issues to be negotiated. Each 
Committee member presented the member's constituency's interests. Work 
began on the criteria for evaluating options for the fee schedule.

    During the May meeting the Committee will work toward achieving 
consensus on the interests and on the criteria to be considered in 
evaluating options for the fee schedule. Discussions will then begin on 
the options.

    The announced future meetings are open to the public without 
advanced registration. Interested parties can file statements with the 
Committee. Mail written statements to the following address: Federal 
Mediation and Conciliation Service, 2100 K Street, N.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20427, Attention: Lynn Sylvester. 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

[[Page 24551]]

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: May 4, 1999.
Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-11560 Filed 5-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P