[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 241 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64838-64839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30990]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[HCFA-1191-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory 
Payment Classification Groups

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2), this notice announces the second 
annual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment 
Classification Groups. The purpose of this panel is to review the 
ambulatory payment classification (APC) groups and provide technical 
advice to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services 
(the Secretary) and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services (the Administrator) concerning the clinical integrity 
of the APC groups and their associated weights. This meeting is taking 
place at this time because the technical advice of the panel will be 
considered as CMS prepares its annual Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
that will propose changes to the Outpatient Prospective Payment System 
(OPPS) that will be published in the spring of 2002. The next meeting 
of the panel will be in early calendar year 2003.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 22, Wednesday, 
January 23, and Thursday, January 24, 2002 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Multipurpose Room at the CMS 
Central Office, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Mason (410) 786-7452 or Valerie 
Barton (410) 786-2803. Please refer to the CMS Advisory Committees 
Information Line (1-877-449-5659 toll free)/(410-786-9379 local), or 
the Internet at http://www.hcfa.gov/fac/apcpage.htm for additional 
information and updates on committee activities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary is required by section 
1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social Security Act (the Act), as added by section 
201(h)(1)(B) and redesignated by section 202(a)(2) of the Balanced 
Budget Refinement Act of 1999, to consult with an APC advisory panel. 
The panel will meet once annually to review the APC groups and provide 
technical advice to the Secretary and the Administrator of CMS 
concerning the clinical integrity of the groups and their associated 
weights. The technical advice provided by the panel at its annual 
meeting will be considered as CMS prepares the annual Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking that will propose changes to the OPPS for the next 
calendar year.
    The panel consists of 15 representatives of Medicare providers that 
are subject to the OPPS. The members were selected by the Administrator 
of CMS based upon either self-nominations or nominations submitted by 
providers or organizations.
    The current members of the panel are: Michelle Burke, R.N.; Leslie 
Jane Collins, R.N.; Geneva Craig, R.N.; Lora A. DeWald, M.Ed; Gretchen 
M. Evans, R.N.; Robert E. Henkin, M.D.; Lee H. Hilborne, M.D.; Stephen 
T. House, M.D.; Kathleen P. Kinslow, CRNA, Ed.D; Mike Metro, R.N.; 
Gerald V. Naccarelli, M.D.; Beverly K. Philip, M.D.; Karen L. Rutledge, 
B.S.; William A. Van Decker, M.D.; and Paul E. Wallner, D.O. The panel 
Chairperson is Paul M. Rudolf, M.D., J.D., a CMS medical officer.
    The agenda will provide for discussion and comment on the following 
topics:
     Reconfiguration of APCs, such as splitting of an APC and 
moving CPT codes from one APC to another.
     Consideration of the effects of using single versus 
multiple claims in setting relative weights.
     Consideration of guidelines for hospital billing of clinic 
visits and evaluation and management visits.
     Other technical issues concerning APC structure.
    The panel will not be discussing the incorporation of the estimated 
cost of the pass-through devices into the base APC rates at this 
meeting.
    For more detailed information on the agenda topics see our web site 
at 
http://www.hcfa.gov/fac/apcpage.htm.
    Comments relating to this meeting must be received no later than 5 
p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2002. Send comments to the following 
address: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health 
and Human Services, Attn: Valerie Barton, Mail Stop C4-05-17, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    Comments may also be sent via electronic mail to 
[email protected]. Because of staffing and resource 
limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission 
and cannot acknowledge or respond individually to comments we receive. 
Comments that are included in the agenda topics will be addressed in 
the proposed rule that will be published in the spring of 2002.
    The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the 
space available. Individuals or organizations wishing to make oral 
presentations on the agenda items must submit a copy of the 
presentation and the name, address and telephone number of the proposed 
presenter. In addition, all presentations must contain, at a minimum, 
the following supporting information and data:
     Financial relationship(s), if any, with any company whose 
products, services, or procedures are under consideration;
     CPT codes involved;
     APC(s) affected;
     Description of the issue;

[[Page 64839]]

     Clinical description of the service under discussion, with 
comparison to other services within the APC;
     Description of the resource inputs associated with the 
service under discussion, with a comparison to other services within 
the APC;
     Recommendations and rationale for change; and
     Expected outcome of change and potential consequences of 
no change.
    Further details can be found on our web site at http://www.hcfa.gov/fac/apcpage.htm. Presentations submitted without the 
required data and information will not be considered.
    In order to be scheduled to speak, this information must be 
received no later than 5 p.m., Tuesday, January 8, 2002 at the above 
address. Alternatively, the information may be sent electronically to 
the email address specified above. Because of staffing and resource 
limitations, we cannot accept this information by facsimile (FAX).
    Presentations are limited to no more than 5 minutes and must be on 
the listed agenda topics only. The number of presentations may be 
limited by the time available.
    In addition to formal presentations, there will be an opportunity 
during the meeting for public comment, limited to 1 minute for each 
individual or organization. The number of speakers may be limited by 
the time available.
    Any persons wishing to attend this meeting located on Federal 
property must call the meeting coordinator, Angela Mason, at (410) 786-
7452 to register at least 72 hours in advance. Persons attending must 
show a photographic identification to the Federal Protective Service or 
Guard Service personnel before they will be allowed to enter the 
building. Persons not registered in advance will not be permitted into 
the building and will not be permitted to attend the meeting. News 
media representatives should contact the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-
6145.
    Individuals requiring sign language interpretation for the hearing 
impaired or other special accommodations should contact the meeting 
coordinator at least 10 days before the meeting.

    Authority: Section 1833 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395l) and section 10(a) of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, 
section 10(a)); 45 CFR part 11)

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

    Dated: December 11, 2001.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 01-30990 Filed 12-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P