[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 72 (Friday, April 13, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19178-19179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9257]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-3068-N]


Medicare Program; Educational Symposium To Discuss the Use of 
Evidence-Based Medicine in the Medicare Coverage Decision Process--May 
3, 2001

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces an educational symposium open to all 
interested parties at which presenters will describe evidence-based 
medicine and its role in the decision making process for Medicare 
coverage issues. This meeting represents one aspect of the evolving 
process for making the Medicare coverage process more open and 
comprehensible to the public.

DATES: The Meeting: The meeting will be held on May 3, 2001, from 8 
a.m. until 12 noon, E.D.T.
    Special Accommodations: Persons attending the meeting who are 
hearing or visually impaired, or have a condition that requires special 
assistance or accommodations, are asked to notify the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT person by April 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the HCFA headquarters 
MultiPurpose Room, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244. 
Seating in the MultiPurpose Room is limited to 150 persons, and is 
available on a first come, first served basis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Anderson at 410-786-2700, email 
[email protected], or Janet Anderson, Coverage and Analysis Group, 
7500 Security Blvd, mailstop S3-02-01, Baltimore, MD 21244.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On April 27, 1999, we published a general notice in the Federal 
Register (64 FR 22619) that announced the process we use to make 
national coverage decisions under the Medicare program. In the notice, 
we explained that these coverage decisions are prospective, population-
based policies that apply to a clinical subset or class of Medicare 
beneficiaries. We described the clinical circumstances and setting 
under which an item or service is available (or not available). We 
included information and approaches we are considering for making 
coverage decisions. One approach is the use of the principles of 
evidence-based medicine in evaluating the effectiveness of health 
services. We also clarified that the notice was not intended to address 
individual medical necessity determinations and claims adjudication by 
our contractors and other adjudicators, nor was it intended to address 
changes in current Medicare payment policies.
    On August 13, 1999, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
(64 FR 44231) to describe the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee 
(MCAC), which provides advice and recommendations to us about clinical 
issues. The MCAC is charged with providing recommendations on a variety

[[Page 19179]]

of topics relating to the effectiveness of health services. The MCAC 
uses guidelines for evaluating evidence through applying criteria that 
employs the principles of evidence-based medicine.
    Since the publication of these Federal Register notices we have 
employed the principles of evidence-based medicine in the coverage 
process, both in the creation of decision memorandum and in involvement 
with the MCAC.

II. Format of Meeting

    We will begin the meeting with a brief overview of the purpose of 
the meeting. Following this introduction, there will be an informative 
presentation highlighting the principles of evidence-based medicine. 
This discussion will then be followed by presentations given by experts 
who have experience with the use of evidence-based medicine in the 
coverage decision process. Public comments and questions to the panel 
will follow these last presentations.

III. Registration

    Since seating is limited to 150 persons, and is available on a 
first come, first served basis, prior registration with the contact 
person is not necessary.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2).

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

    Dated: April 6, 2001.
Jeffrey L. Kang, M.D.,
Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Health Care 
Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-9257 Filed 4-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P