[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55440-55441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20689]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-6027-N]


Medicare Program; September 30, 2004 Open Door Forum: 
Requirements for Coordination Between Plans Primary or Secondary to 
Medicare Part D Under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 
Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA)

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a September 30, 2004 Open Door Forum for 
the purpose of discussing the establishment of requirements of benefit 
coordination among Medicare Part D plans, State Pharmaceutical 
Assistance Programs (SPAPs), States, pharmaceutical benefit managers, 
employers, data processing experts, pharmacists, pharmaceutical 
manufacturers, and other interested and affected parties (or customers 
and partners). This Forum will enable interested parties to comment and 
raise issues regarding requirements for enrollment file-sharing, claims 
processing, claims reconciliation reports, application of the 
catastrophic out-of-pocket protection under Section 1860D-2(b)(4) and 
other administrative procedures under the provisions of the Medicare 
Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) 
(Pub. L. 108-173). Interested parties will also have the opportunity to 
ask questions and raise issues regarding the potential paperwork burden 
that these MMA provisions may impose. The MMA requires that these 
requirements be established before July 1, 2005.

DATES: The Open Door Forum is scheduled for September 30, 2004, from 2 
p.m. to 4 p.m., e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: The Open Door Forum will be held in the Centers for Medicare 
& Medicaid Services (CMS) Multipurpose Room, located at 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244. Please note that meeting space is 
limited to 250 persons. However, a phone line will be available for 
those who wish to call in for the meeting. Please check the Open Door 
Forum Web site for call-in information at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoor/ or contact Sabrina Lopez at 410-786-6884.
    Written Statements and Requests: We will accept written questions 
about meeting logistics or requests for meeting materials either before 
the meeting or up to 14 days after the meeting. Written submissions 
must be sent to: Troop, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C3-14-16, Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Public Comments: Public comments must be sent to: Troop, Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop 
C3-14-16, Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Web site: Additional details and materials regarding the Open Door 
Forum meeting and process, along with information on how to register, 
will be posted before the first meeting date on the official CMS Open 
Door Forum Web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoor/ opendoor/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sabrina Lopez, (410) 786-6884.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On November 20, 2003, the Congress passed the Medicare Prescription 
Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173), which 
amended Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (the Act) and 
established the provisions of sections 1860D-23 and 1860D-24 of the 
Act.
    Section 1860D-23 of the Act mandates requirements that ensure 
effective coordination between Medicare Part D plans (private 
prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage prescription drug 
plans (MA-PDs)) and State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs). 
Section 1860D-24 of the Act applies the 1860D-23 requirements to other 
types of plans, including, but not limited to, Medicaid plans, group 
health plans, Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans (FEHBPs), and 
military plans (such as Tricare).
    The Secretary is required, when developing these requirements, to 
consult with State programs, the PDP sponsors, MA-PD organizations, 
States, pharmaceutical benefit managers, employers, data processing 
experts, pharmacists, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and other experts.

II. Registration

    Registration Procedures: Individuals must register in advance of 
attending the Open Door Forum by sending an e-mail (containing the 
individual's name, company name, company address, telephone number, fax 
number, e-mail address, and special needs information) to the following 
address: [email protected], or contact Sabrina Lopez at 410-786-
6884. Individuals must register by September 24, 2004.

III. Comment Format

    Individuals may submit comments or questions in advance of the Open 
Door Forum to [email protected] by September 24, 2004. Comments or 
questions may also be submitted at the Forum if not available at the 
time of deadline.
    Both in-person participants and those participating by telephone 
will be given an opportunity to participate. Comments and input will be 
sought from the attendees on an individual basis and not from the group 
as a whole.
    Time for participants to comment and ask questions may be limited 
according to the number of registered participants. We will attempt to 
accommodate as many participants as possible that may wish to 
participate.

[[Page 55441]]

IV. General Information

    The Open Door Forum will be 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. 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.
    Please note that smoking is not permitted anywhere on the CMS 
single site campus.
    Special Accommodations: Persons attending the 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: Sections 1860D-23, 1860D-24, and 1860D-2 of the 
Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare Prescription Drug, 
Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173)

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)


    Dated: September 8, 2004.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 04-20689 Filed 9-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P