[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 70358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29795]



[[Page 70358]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Chapter IV

[CMS-6012-N3]
RIN 0938-AL13


Medicare Program; Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Special 
Payment Provisions and Requirements for Prosthetics and Certain Custom-
Fabricated Orthotics; Meeting Announcement

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

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, this document announces additional public meetings of 
the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Special Payment Provisions and 
Requirements for Prosthetics and Certain Custom-Fabricated Orthotics. 
The Committee was mandated by section 427 of the Medicare, Medicaid, 
and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA).

DATES: The next two negotiated rulemaking committee meetings will be 
held January 6 and 7, 2003; and February 10 and 11, 2003 from 9 a.m. to 
5 p.m. e.s.t.
    These meetings are open to the public, and subsequent meetings will 
be announced in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The Committee meetings will be held at the Hilton Pikesville 
at 1726 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21208, (Telephone 410-653-
1100). Any subsequent meetings will be held at locations to be 
announced.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Theresa Linkowich, (410) 786-9249 (General inquiries concerning 
prosthetics and custom-fabricated orthotics), Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services (CMS), 7500 Security Blvd, Baltimore MD 21244; or
Lynn Sylvester, 202-606-9140, Federal Mediation and Conciliation 
Services, 2100 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20427; or
Ira Lobel, 518-431-0130, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services, 1 
Clinton Square, Room 952, Albany, NY 12207.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We published a document in the Federal 
Register on July 26, 2002 (67 FR 48839), announcing the establishment 
of the negotiated rulemaking committee to advise us on developing a 
proposed rule that would establish special payment provisions and 
requirements for suppliers of prosthetics and certain custom-fabricated 
orthotics under the Medicare program. The document also announced dates 
for the Committee's first two meetings on October 1 to 3, 2002, and 
October 29 to 31, 2002.
    Through face-to-face negotiations, these meetings will help the 
Committee to reach consensus on the substance of the proposed rule. If 
consensus is reached, the Committee will transmit to us a report 
containing required information for developing a proposed rule, and we 
will use the report as the basis for the proposed rule. The Committee 
is responsible for identifying the key issues, gauging their 
importance, analyzing the information necessary to resolve the issues, 
arriving at a consensus, and recommending the text and content of the 
proposed regulation. Detailed information is available on the CMS 
Internet Home Page: http://cms.hhs.gov/faca/prosthetic/ or by calling 
the Federal Advisory Committee Hotline at (410) 786-9379.
    The agendas for the January 5 and 6, 2002 and February 10 and 11, 
2002 meetings will cover the following:
    1. Review of the October 29 to 31 minutes (January 5 and 6) and 
review of the January 5 and 6 minutes (February 10 and 11).
    2. Workgroup presentations on orthotics and prosthetics.
    3. Consensus on workgroup items.
    4. Development of new workgroups (as applicable).
    5. Presentation by the American Society of Hand Therapists (January 
5 and 6).
    6. Public comment period.

Public Participation

    All interested parties are invited to attend these public meetings, 
but attendance is limited to the space available. No advance 
registration is required. Seating will be available on a first-come 
first'served basis. Individuals requiring sign language interpretation 
for the hearing impaired or other special accommodations should contact 
Theresa Linkowich, at e-mail address [email protected], or call 
(410) 786-9249 at least 10 days before the meeting. The Committee has 
the authority to decide to what extent oral presentations by members of 
the public may be permitted at the meeting. Oral presentations will be 
limited to statements of fact and views, and shall not include any 
questioning of the Committee members or other participants unless the 
facilitators have specifically approved these questions. The number of 
oral presentations may be limited by the time available.
    Interested parties can file statements with the Committee. Mail 
written statements to the following address: Federal Mediation and 
Conciliation Services, 2100 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20427, 
Attention: Lynn Sylvester, or call Lynn Sylvester at (202) 606-9140.

Additional Meetings

    Meetings will be held as necessary. We will publish notices of 
future meetings in the Federal Register. All future meetings will be 
open to the public without advance registration.

    Authority: Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2)

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

    Dated: November 19, 2002.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 02-29795 Filed 11-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P