[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 9349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3121]



[[Page 9349]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-3054-N]


Medicare Program; Renewal of the Medicare Coverage Advisory 
Committee (MCAC)

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the renewal of the Medicare Coverage 
Advisory Committee (MCAC). The MCAC advises the Secretary of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) and the 
Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, as requested 
by the Secretary, whether medical items and services are reasonable and 
necessary under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act. This notice 
announces the signing of the MCAC charter renewal by the Secretary on 
November 24, 2000. The charter will terminate on November 24, 2002, 
unless renewed by the Secretary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Brocato-Simons, Office of 
Clinical Standards and Quality, HCFA, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail 
Stop S3-02-01, Baltimore, MD 21244, 410-786-0261, or E-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On December 14, 1998, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
(63 FR 68780) announcing the establishment of the Medicare Coverage 
Advisory Committee (MCAC). The charter for the MCAC was signed by the 
Secretary on November 24, 1998.
    The MCAC, chartered under 42 U.S.C. 217(a), section 222 of the 
Public Health Service Act, as amended, is governed by the provisions of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Public Law 92-463 as amended 
(5 U.S.C. Appendix 2)), which sets forth standards for the formulation 
and use of advisory committees.
    The MCAC consists of 6 specialty panels and an executive committee 
(EC), with a total of 120 appointed members from authorities in 
clinical and administrative medicine, biologic and physical sciences, 
public health administration, health care data and information 
management and analysis, the economics of health care, medical ethics, 
and other related professions. The MCAC, functioning on its panel 
basis, reviews and evaluates medical literature, reviews technical 
assessments, and examines data and information on the effectiveness and 
appropriateness of medical items and services that are covered or 
eligible for coverage under Medicare. The panels work from an agenda 
provided by the MCAC that lists specific issues. The panels develop 
technical advice to be reviewed and ratified by the EC to assist us in 
determining reasonable and necessary applications of medical services 
and technology.

II. Provisions of This Notice

    This notice announces the signing of the MCAC charter renewal by 
the Secretary on November 24, 2000. The charter will terminate on 
November 24, 2002, unless renewed by the Secretary.

III. Copies of the Charter

    You may obtain a copy of the Secretary's Charter for the MCAC by 
submitting a request to Maria Ellis, Office of Clinical Standards and 
Quality, Health Care Financing Administration, 7500 Security Blvd., 
Mail Stop S3-02-01, Baltimore, MD 21244, 410-786-0309, or E-mail the 
request to [email protected].

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: January 29, 2001.
Michael McMullan,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-3121 Filed 2-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P