[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15139-15140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7494]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Chapter IV

[CMS-6012-N5]
RIN 0938-AM40


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 notice 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 May 19 and 20, 2003 and June 2 and 3, 2003. On May 19 and June 2, 
the negotiated rulemaking committee will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On 
May 20 and June 3, the negotiated rulemaking committee will meet from 8 
a.m. to 4 p.m.
    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 notice in the Federal 
Register on July 26, 2002 (FR pages 48839-48840) 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 notice also 
announced dates for the Committee's first two meetings that were held 
on October 1-3, 2002 and October 29-31, 2002. On November 22, 2002 (FR 
page 70358), a notice of meetings was published in the Federal Register 
announcing the third meeting that was held January 6 and 7, 2003, and 
the fourth meeting that was held February 10 and 11, 2003. On January 
24, 2003, (FR Page 3482) a notice of meetings was published in the 
Federal Register announcing the fifth meeting that was held March 10 
and 11, 2003 and the sixth meeting held April 7 and 8, 2003.
    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 May 19 and 20 meeting and the June 2 and 3 will 
cover the following:
    1. Review of the April 7 and 8 minutes (May 19 and 20) and review 
of the May 19 and 20 minutes (June 2 and 3).
    2. Continuing discussion of statutory terms to be further defined 
by regulation.
    3. Continuing discussion on L codes.
    4. Continuing discussion on qualifications as defined in the 
statute.
    5. Presentation by Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists 
on delivery of care.
    6. Public comments.

Public Participation

    All interested parties are invited to attend these public meetings, 
but attendance is limited to the space available. No advance 
registration is

[[Page 15140]]

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, [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: March 21, 2003.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 03-7494 Filed 3-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P