[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 141 (Friday, July 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44036-44037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16527]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1334-N]


Medicare Program; Public Meeting in Calendar Year 2004 for Coding 
and Payment Determinations for Power Wheelchairs

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting to be held on September 
1, 2004 to discuss coding and payment for power wheelchairs. This 
meeting provides a forum for interested parties to hear various 
proposals presented to us regarding changes to wheelchair coding. This 
meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to make oral 
presentations or to submit written comments in response to preliminary 
coding and pricing recommendations presented by CMS at this meeting. 
Discussion will be directed toward response to alternative coding 
recommendations, and will be limited to discussions of the proposed 
recommendations presented at the meeting on coding and payment of power 
wheelchairs.

DATES: This public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 1, 
2004 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: This public meeting will be held in the Centers for Medicare 
& Medicaid Services Auditorium, located at 7500 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Web site: Additional details regarding the public meeting process 
and details on the public meeting on the power wheelchair coding and 
payment proposals will be posted at least two weeks before the date of 
the meeting on the official Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System 
(HCPCS) Web site, and can be accessed at http://cms.hhs.gov/medicare/hcpcs/default.asp.
    Individuals who intend to provide a presentation at the public 
meeting for coding and payment of power wheelchairs need to familiarize 
themselves with this information. This Web site also includes a 
description of the HCPCS coding process, along with a detailed 
explanation of the procedures used to make coding and payment 
determinations for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and other items and 
services that are coded in the HCPCS.
    A summary of each public meeting for DME will be posted on the Web 
site

[[Page 44037]]

listed in this section within one month after the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorrie Ballantine, (410) 786-7543 or 
Jennifer Carver, (410) 786-6610.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On December 21, 2000, the Congress passed the Medicare, Medicaid, 
and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA), Pub. 
L. 106-554. Section 531(b) of BIPA mandated that we establish 
procedures that permit public consultation for coding and payment 
determinations for new DME under Medicare Part B of title XVIII of the 
Social Security Act (the Act). The procedures and public meetings 
announced in this notice are in response to the mandate of section 
531(b) of BIPA.
    As part of ``Operation Wheeler Dealer'', we stated in testimony 
before the Senate Finance Committee that we will work to make changes 
to the HCPCs coding for power wheelchairs that better describe the 
power wheelchairs currently on the market and thus assure that 
wheelchair payments are accurate.
    We published a notice in the Federal Register (66 FR 58743) on 
November 23, 2001 with information regarding the establishment of the 
public meeting process for DME.

II. Registration

    Registration Procedures: Registration may be completed online at 
http://cms.hhs.gov/medicare/hcpcs/default.asp, or you may contact the 
Power Wheelchair Public Meeting Coordinator, Lorrie Ballantine, (410) 
786-7543, or Jennifer Carver, (410) 786-6610, to register by phone. The 
following information must be provided when registering: name, company 
name and address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address and special 
needs information. A CMS staff member will confirm your registration by 
mail, e-mail or fax.
    Registration Deadline: Individuals must register by August 20, 
2004.

III. Presentations and Comment Format

A. Primary Speaker Presentations

    The entity that has requested to speak at the Public Meeting may 
designate one person to be the ``Primary Speaker'' and make a 
presentation at the meeting. We will post guidelines regarding the 
amount of time allotted to the speaker, as well as other presentation 
guidelines, on the official HCPCS Web site by August 27, 2004. Persons 
designated to be a Primary Speaker must register to attend the meeting 
using the registration procedures described in section II of this 
notice by August 20, 2004, contact the DME Public Meeting Coordinator, 
Lorrie Ballantine or Jennifer Carver.
    At the time of registration, Primary Speakers must provide a brief, 
written statement regarding the nature of the information they intend 
to provide, and advise the meeting coordinator regarding needs for 
audio/visual support. In order to avoid disruption of the meeting and 
ensure compatibility with our systems, tapes and disk files are tested 
and arranged in speaker sequence well in advance of the meeting. We 
will accommodate tapes and disk files that are received by the DME 
Public Meeting Coordinator by August 27, 2004. In addition, on the day 
of the meeting, Primary Speakers must provide a written summary of 
their comments to the DME Public Meeting Coordinator.

B. Speaker Declaration

    The Primary Speakers must declare, at the meeting as well as in 
their written summary, whether or not they have any financial 
involvement with the manufacturers, suppliers or competitors of power 
wheelchairs. This includes any payment, salary, remuneration, or 
benefit provided to the speaker by the manufacturer.

C. Written Comments From Meeting Attendees

    We welcome written comments from persons in attendance at a public 
meeting, whether or not they had the opportunity to make an oral 
presentation. Written comments may be submitted at the meeting, or 
prior to the meeting via e-mail to http://cms.hhs.gov/medicare/hcpcs/default.asp or by regular mail to Lorrie Ballantine, Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C5-08-
27, Baltimore, MD 21244.

IV. General Information

    The meetings are held in a Federal government building; therefore, 
Federal measures are applicable. In planning your arrival time, we 
recommend allowing additional time to clear security. In order to gain 
access to the building and grounds, participants must bring a 
government-issued photo identification and a copy of their confirmation 
of pre-registration for the meeting. Access may be denied to persons 
without proper identification.
    Security measures also include inspection of vehicles, inside and 
out, at the entrance to the grounds. In addition, all persons entering 
the building must pass through a metal detector. All items brought to 
CMS, whether personal or for the purpose of demonstration or to support 
a presentation, are subject to inspection. We cannot assume 
responsibility for coordinating the receipt, transfer, transport, 
storage, set-up, safety, or timely arrival of any personal belongings 
or items used for demonstration or to support a presentation.
    Special Accommodations: Persons attending a meeting who are hearing 
or visually impaired and have special requirements, or a condition that 
requires special assistance or accommodations, must provide this 
information upon registering for the meeting.

    Authority: Section 1102 and 1871 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1302 and 42 U.S.C. 1395hh) (Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance Program No. 93.774, Medicare--Supplementary Medical 
Insurance Program)

    Dated: July 15, 2004.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 04-16527 Filed 7-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P