[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79107-79109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31409]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1231-N]


Medicare Program; Re-Chartering of the Advisory Panel on 
Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups and Notice of Meeting of the 
Advisory Panel--January 21, 22, and 23, 2003

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

ACTION: Notice of re-chartering and notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the re-chartering of the Advisory Panel 
on Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Groups (the Panel) for a 2-
year period through November 21, 2004, and also announces, in 
accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. Appendix 2), the third annual meeting of the Advisory Panel.

[[Page 79108]]

    The purpose of the Panel is to review the APC groups, and their 
associated weights, and to advise the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services concerning the clinical integrity of the APC groups and their 
weights. The advice provided by the Panel will be considered as CMS 
prepares its annual update of the hospital outpatient prospective 
payment system (OPPS) through rulemaking.

DATES: Meeting dates: The third annual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 
(January 21), Wednesday (January 22), and Thursday (January 23), 2003, 
from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily (e.s.t.).

ADDRESSES: The 3-day meeting will be held in the Multipurpose Room, 1st 
Floor, at the CMS Central Office, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 
Maryland 21244-1850.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For copies of the charter, for 
inquiries regarding these meetings, for meeting registration, and for 
submitting oral presentations or written agenda items, contact the 
meeting coordinator, Shirl Ackerman-Ross, CMS, Center for Medicare 
Management (CMM), Hospital Ambulatory Policy Group (HAPG), Division of 
Outpatient Care (DOC), 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C4-05-17, 
Baltimore, MD 21244, or phone (410) 786-4474. Also, please refer to the 
CMS Advisory Committees' Information Line at 1-877-449-5659 (toll free) 
and (410) 786-9379 (local).
    For additional information on the APC meeting agenda topics or 
updates to the Panel's activities, search our Internet Web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca/apc/default.asp.
    To submit a request for a copy of the charter, search the Internet 
at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca or e-mail [email protected].
    Written materials may also be sent electronically to 
[email protected].
    News media representatives should contact our Public Affairs Office 
at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) is 
required by section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social Security Act (the Act), 
as amended by section 201(h)(1)(B) and redesignated by section 
202(a)(2) of the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (BBRA) (Pub. L. 
106-113), to establish and consult with an expert, outside advisory 
panel on ambulatory payment classification (APC) groups. The Advisory 
Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups (the Panel) meets a 
minimum of once annually to review the APC groups and to provide 
technical advice to the Secretary and to the Administrator of the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (the Administrator) concerning 
the clinical integrity of the groups and their associated weights. We 
will consider the technical advice provided by the Panel as we prepare 
the proposed rule that proposes changes to the hospital outpatient 
prospective payment system (OPPS) for the next calendar year.
    The Panel may consist of up to 15 representatives of Medicare 
providers, which are subject to the OPPS. The Administrator selected 
the Panel membership based upon either self-nominations or nominations 
submitted by providers or organizations. The Panel presently consists 
of the following 14 members and a Chair: Paul Rudolf, M.D., J.D., 
Chair, a CMS medical officer; Michelle Burke, R.N., M.S.A.; Leslie Jane 
Collins, R.N., B.S.N; Geneva Craig, R.N., M.A.; Lora DeWald, M.Ed.; 
Robert E. Henkin, M.D.; Lee H. Hilborne, M.D., M.P.H.; Stephen T. 
House, M.D.; Kathleen Kinslow, C.R.N.A., Ed.D.; Mike Metro, R.N., B.S.; 
Gerald V. Naccarelli, M.D.; Beverly K. Philip, M.D.; Karen Rutledge, 
B.S.; William A. Van Decker, M.D.; and Paul E. Wallner, D.O., F.A.C.R.

II. Provisions of This Notice

A. Re-Chartering

    This notice announces the signing of the APC charter (Re-charter) 
by the Secretary on November 21, 2002. The charter will terminate on 
November 21, 2004, unless re-chartered by the Secretary before the 
expiration date.

B. Meeting Notice

    The agenda for the January 2003 meeting will provide for discussion 
and comment on the following topics:
    [sbull] Reconfiguration of APCs (for example, splitting of APCs, 
moving Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes from one 
APC to another, and moving HCPCS codes from New Technology APCs to 
Clinical APCs).
    [sbull] Packaging devices and drug costs into APCs: methodology, 
effect on APCs, and need for reconfiguring APCs based upon device and 
drug packaging.
    [sbull] Removal of procedures from the inpatient list for payment 
under the OPPS.
    [sbull] Use of single and multiple procedure claims data.
    [sbull] Packaging of HCPCS codes.
    [sbull] Other technical issues concerning APC structure.
    We are soliciting comments from the public on specific proposed 
items falling within these agenda topics for the January 2003 Panel 
meeting. In order to be considered as a potential agenda topic for this 
meeting, comments must be submitted in writing and must fall within the 
agenda topics listed above. We urge those who wish to comment to send 
comments as soon as possible--but no later than 5 p.m. (e.s.t.) on 
Monday, January 6, 2003.
    The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the 
space available. Individuals or organizations wishing to make 5-minute 
oral presentations should contact the meeting coordinator by 5 p.m. 
(e.s.t.) on Monday, January 6, 2003, in order to be scheduled. The 
number of oral presentations may be limited by the time available, and 
in no case should any oral presentation exceed 5 minutes.
    Persons wishing to present 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:
    [sbull] Financial relationship(s), if any, with any company whose 
products, services, or procedures are under consideration.
    [sbull] Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 
involved.
    [sbull] APC(s) affected.
    [sbull] Description of the issue(s).
    [sbull] Clinical description of the service under discussion (with 
comparison to other services within the APC).
    [sbull] Recommendations and rationale for change.
    [sbull] Expected outcome of change and potential consequences of 
not making the change.
    Submit a written copy of the oral remarks or written agenda items 
to the meeting coordinator listed above or electronically to the 
address: [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.
    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.
    Any persons wishing to attend this meeting, which is located on 
Federal property, must call the meeting coordinator to register in 
advance by no later than January 2, 2003. Persons attending must 
present a photographic identification to the Federal Protective Service 
or Guard Service personnel

[[Page 79109]]

before they will be allowed to enter the building. Persons who are not 
registered in advance will not be permitted into the building and will 
not be permitted to attend the meeting.
    A member of our staff will be stationed at the Central Building 
first-floor lobby to provide assistance to attendees. Please remember 
that all visitors must be escorted if they have business in areas other 
than the lower- and first-floor levels in the Central Building. Parking 
permits and instructions are issued upon arrival by the guards at the 
main entrance.
    Individuals requiring sign-language interpretation for the hearing 
impaired or other special accommodations should send a request for 
these services to the meeting coordinator by Monday, January 6, 2003.

    Authority: Section 1833(t) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395(t), as amended by section 201(h) of the BBRA of 1999 (Pub. L. 
106-113). The Panel is governed by the provisions of Pub. L. 92-463, 
as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2).

    Dated: December 4, 2002.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 02-31409 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P