[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8272-8273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4356]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1214-N]


Medicare Program; March 25-26, 2002, Meeting of the Practicing 
Physicians Advisory Council

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, this notice announces a meeting of the Practicing 
Physicians Advisory

[[Page 8273]]

Council. The Council will be meeting to discuss certain proposed 
changes in regulations and carrier manual instructions related to 
physicians' services, as identified by the Secretary of the Department 
of Health and Human Services. These meetings are open to the public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for March 25, 2002, from 8:30 a.m. 
until 5 p.m. e.s.t., and March 26, 2002, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. 
e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 800, 8th Floor, Hubert H. 
Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201.
    Meeting Registration: Persons wishing to attend this meeting must 
contact Diana Motsiopoulos, Administrative Officer, at 
[email protected] or (410) 786-3379, at least 72 hours in 
advance to register. Persons not registered in advance, will not be 
permitted into the building and will not be permitted to attend the 
meeting. Persons attending the meeting will be required to show a 
photographic identification, preferably a valid driver's license, 
before entering the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Rudolf, M.D., J.D., Executive 
Director, Practicing Physicians Advisory Council, 7500 Security Blvd., 
Mail Stop C5-17-14, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, 410-786-3379. News media 
representatives should contact the CMS Press Office, (202) 690-6145. 
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/medicare/ppacsite.htm for additional information and 
updates on committee activities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(the Secretary) is mandated by section 1868 of the Social Security Act 
to appoint a Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (the Council) based 
on nominations submitted by medical organizations representing 
physicians. The Council meets quarterly to discuss certain proposed 
changes in regulations and carrier manual instructions related to 
physicians' services, as identified by the Secretary. To the extent 
feasible and consistent with statutory deadlines, the consultation must 
occur before publication of the proposed changes. The Council submits 
an annual report on its recommendations to the Secretary and the 
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services not later 
than December 31 of each year.
    The Council consists of fifteen physicians, each of whom must have 
submitted at least two hundred fifty claims for physicians' services 
under Title XVIII in the previous year. Members shall include both 
participating and nonparticipating physicians, and physicians 
practicing in rural and under served urban areas. At least eleven 
members of the Council shall be physicians as described in section 
1861(r)(1) (that is, M.D. or D.O.). The remaining four members may 
include dentists, podiatrists, optometrists and chiropractors. Members 
serve for overlapping 4-year terms; terms of more than 2 years are 
contingent upon the renewal of the Council by appropriate action prior 
to its termination. Section 1868(a) of the Act provides that 
nominations to the Secretary for Council membership must be made by 
medical organizations representing physicians.
    The Council held its first meeting on May 11, 1992.
    The current members are: Jerold M. Aronson, M.D.; James Bergeron, 
M.D.; Richard Bronfman, D.P.M.; Joseph Heyman, M.D.; Sandral Hullett, 
M.D.; Stephen A. Imbeau, M.D.; Joe Johnson, D.O.; Angelyn L. Moultrie-
Lizana, D.O.; Dale Lervick, O.D.; Michael T. Rapp, M.D.; Sandra B. 
Reed, M.D.; Amilu Rothhammer, M.D.; Victor Vela, M.D.; Kenneth M. 
Viste, Jr., M.D.; and Douglas L. Wood, M.D.
    The meeting will commence with a Council update on the status of 
prior recommendations, followed by discussion and comment on the 
following agenda topics:
     Physician's Regulatory Issues Team Update
     Update on Physician Fee Schedule
     Sustainable Growth Rate 2003
     Evaluation & Management Guidelines
     Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act Privacy 
Rule
     Contractor Billing and Operations--Claims Processing
    For additional information and clarification on these topics, 
contact the Executive Director, listed under the For Further 
Information Contact section of this notice. Individual physicians or 
medical organizations that represent physicians wishing to make a 5-
minute oral presentation on agenda issues should contact the Executive 
Director by 12 noon, March 11, 2002, to be scheduled. Testimony is 
limited to agenda topics only. The number of oral presentations may be 
limited by the time available. A written copy of the presenter's oral 
remarks must be submitted to Diana Motsiopoulos, Administrative Officer 
no later than 12 noon, March 11, 2002, for distribution to Council 
members for review prior to the meeting. Physicians and medical 
organizations not scheduled to speak may also submit written comments 
to the Administrative Officer for distribution. The meeting is open to 
the public, but attendance is limited to the space available. 
Individuals requiring sign language interpretation for the hearing 
impaired or other special accommodation should contact Diana 
Motsiopoulos at [email protected] or (410) 786-3379 at least 10 
days before the meeting.

    Authority: (Section 1868 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395ee) and section 10(a) of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, 
section 10(a)).

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

    Dated: February 19, 2002.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 02-4356 Filed 2-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P