[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20394-20395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9942]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1251-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Practicing Physicians Advisory 
Council--May 19, 2003

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 Council (the Council), and the swearing in of four 
new Council members. 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. The meeting is open to the 
public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. until 
5 p.m. e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 800, 8th floor, at Hubert 
H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20201.
    Meeting Registration: Persons wishing to attend this meeting must 
contact Diana Motsiopoulos, The Council Administrative Coordinator, 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 Humphrey 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, 410-786-6960. 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.cms.hhs.gov/faca/ppac/default.asp for additional information and 
updates on committee activities.
    Background Information: The Secretary of the Department of Health 
and Human Services (the Secretary) is mandated by section 1868 of the 
Social Security Act (the Act) to appoint Practicing Physicians Advisory 
Council (the Council) members 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 15 physicians, each of whom must have 
submitted at least 250 claims for physicians' services under Title 
XVIII in the previous year. Members must include both participating and 
nonparticipating physicians, and physicians practicing in rural and 
under served urban areas. At least 11 members of the Council must be 
physicians as described in section 1861(r)(1) (that is, M.D. or D.O.). 
The remaining 4 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: James Bergeron, M.D.; Ronald Castallanos, M.D.; Rebecca 
Gaughan, M.D.; Carlos R. Hamilton, M.D.; Joseph Heyman, M.D.; Dennis K. 
Iglar, M.D.; Christopher Leggett, M.D.; Joe Johnson, D.O.; Barbara 
McAneny, M.D.; Angelyn L. Moultrie-Lizana, D.O.; Laura B. Powers, M.D.; 
Michael T. Rapp, M.D.; Amilu Rothhammer, M.D.; Robert L. Urata, 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:

[sbull] Physician's Regulatory Issues Team (PRIT)
[sbull] Stark II--CMS-1810-FC
[sbull] Office of the Actuary--Volume Performance
[sbull] Measures/Volume Intensity Adjustments
[sbull] HIPAA Privacy Rule--Cell phone communications
[sbull] Access to physicians services

    For additional information and clarification on these topics, 
contact the

[[Page 20395]]

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, May 
5, 2003, 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 Coordinator no later than 12 noon, 
May 5, 2003, 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 Coordinator 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: April 15, 2003.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 03-9942 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P