[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 52 (Monday, March 18, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11969-11970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6578]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Chapter IV

[CMS-1206-N]
RIN 0938-ZA31


Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on Payment for Certain Drugs, 
Biologicals, and Devices under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective 
Payment System for Calendar Year 2003

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a town hall meeting to discuss the 
payment for drugs, biologicals, and devices that are eligible for 
transitional pass-through payments under the hospital outpatient 
prospective payment system (OPPS) for calendar year 2003. Specifically, 
the meeting will focus on how the cost of drugs, (including 
radiopharmaceuticals), biologicals, and devices should be recognized 
under the hospital OPPS. Providers, physicians, hospitals, coding 
specialists, and other interested parties are invited to this meeting 
to present their views on these issues. We will consider the opinions 
and advice provided during this meeting as we prepare our annual 
proposed rule that would update the OPPS. The meeting is open to the 
public, but attendance is limited to space available.

DATE: Meeting Date: The town hall meeting announced in this notice will 
be held on Friday, April 5, 2002, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (eastern 
standard time).

ADDRESSES: The town hall meeting will be held in the multipurpose room 
at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roechel Kujawa, (410) 786-9111. You 
may also send inquiries about this meeting via e-mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-33), enacted on August 
5, 1997, amended the Social Security Act (the Act) by adding section 
1833(t) to the Act. This section authorized the implementation of a 
hospital outpatient

[[Page 11970]]

prospective payment system (OPPS) for hospital outpatient services.
    The OPPS is comprised of ambulatory payment classification groups, 
relative weights, and payment rates. The Balanced Budget Refinement Act 
of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-113), enacted on November 29, 1999, amended 
section 1833(t)(6) of the Act. This section authorized transitional 
pass-through payments for certain drugs, biologicals, and devices. 
These drugs, biologicals, and devices include those that were not being 
paid for as a hospital outpatient service as of December 31, 1996 and 
for which the cost is not insignificant in relation to the OPPS payment 
for the procedures associated with the drug, biological, or device. The 
Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 
2000 (Pub. L. 106-554), enacted on December 21, 2000, amended this 
provision to permit transitional pass-through payment for some older 
devices as well. By statute, transitional pass-through payment status 
extends at least 2 years, but no more than 3 years. Beginning January 
1, 2003, almost all of the items that are eligible for transitional 
pass-through payments will reach the end of their eligibility for pass-
through payments. Therefore, their costs must be recognized through 
other means under the OPPS. Participants at the town hall meeting are 
invited to share their opinions about how these items should be treated 
under the OPPS for calendar year (CY) 2003.

II. Meeting Format

    The meeting will begin with an introduction of the OPPS, focusing 
on the treatment of transitional passthrough payments for drugs, 
biologicals, and devices under the OPPS for CY 2003. The remainder of 
the meeting will be reserved for statements from interested parties on 
this issue.
    We will limit the time for participants to make a statement 
according to the number of registered participants. Individuals who 
wish to make a statement must contact Roechel Kujawa as soon as 
possible. Those individuals must subsequently mail their written 
submission no later than 5 p.m., Monday, April 1, 2002. Send written 
submissions to: Roechel Kujawa, Division of Outpatient Care, Center for 
Medicare Management, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C4-05-25, Baltimore, Maryland 21244. All 
written submissions must be received no later than 5 p.m., Monday, 
April 1, 2002, at the above address. Comments from individuals not 
registered to speak will be heard after scheduled statements, if time 
permits.

III. Registration Instructions

    The Division of Outpatient Care is coordinating meeting 
registration. While there is no registration fee, all individuals must 
register to attend. Because this meeting will be located on Federal 
property, for security reasons, any persons wishing to attend this 
meeting must call Roechel Kujawa to register at least 72 hours in 
advance. Attendees must show photographic identification to the Federal 
Protective Service or Guard Service personnel before they will be 
permitted to enter the building. Individuals who have not registered in 
advance will not be allowed to enter the building to attend the 
meeting. Seating capacity is limited to the first 250 registrants.
    Individuals requiring sign language interpretation for the hearing 
impaired or other special accommodations should contact Roechel Kujawa 
at least 10 days before the meeting.

    Authority: Section 1833(t) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395l(t))

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

    Dated: March 12, 2002.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 02-6578 Filed 3-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P