[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 57325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21201]



[[Page 57325]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3137-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Coverage Advisory 
Committee--November 4, 2004

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the Medicare 
Coverage Advisory Committee. This Committee provides advice and 
recommendations about whether scientific evidence is adequate to 
determine whether certain medical items and services are reasonable and 
necessary under the Medicare statute. This meeting concerns bariatric 
surgery for the treatment of morbid obesity. Notice is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)).

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Thursday, November 4, 2004 
from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. e.s.t.
    Special Accommodations: For anyone attending the meeting who is 
hearing or visually impaired, or who requires special assistance or 
accommodations, please notify the Executive Secretary by October 18, 
2004 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT)

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Inner Harbor, 
301 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.
    Presentations and Comments (and Deadline): Interested persons may 
present data, information, or views orally or in writing on issues 
pending before the Committee. Please submit written comments to 
Kimberly Long, by email at [email protected] or by mail to the 
Executive Secretary, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop 
C1-09-06, Baltimore, MD 21244. Written comments must be received by 
October 4, 2004, 5 p.m., e.s.t.
    Web site: You may access up-to-date information on this meeting at 
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcac/default.asp#meetings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Long, Executive Secretary, by 
telephone at 410-786-5702 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 14, 1998, we published a notice 
in the Federal Register (63 FR 68780) to describe the Medicare Coverage 
Advisory Committee, which provides advice and recommendations to us 
about clinical issues. This notice announces a public meeting of the 
Committee.
    Meeting Topic: The Committee will discuss the evidence, hear 
presentations and public comment, and make recommendations regarding 
the use of bariatric surgery for the treatment of morbid obesity. 
Background information about this topic, including panel materials, is 
available on the Internet at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/coverage/.
    Procedure: This meeting is open to the public. The Committee will 
hear oral presentations from the public for approximately 45 minutes. 
The Committee may limit the number and duration of oral presentations 
to the time available. If you wish to make formal presentations, you 
must notify the Executive Secretary named in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section and submit the following by October 4, 
2004, 5 p.m., e.s.t.: a brief statement of the general nature of the 
evidence or arguments you wish to present; and the names and addresses 
of proposed participants. A written copy of your presentation must be 
provided to each Committee member before offering your public comments. 
Your presentation must address the questions asked by us to the 
Committee. If the specific questions are not addressed your 
presentation will not be accepted. The questions will be available on 
the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcac/default.asp#meetings. 
We request that you declare at the meeting whether or not you have any 
financial involvement with manufacturers of any items or services being 
discussed (or with their competitors).
    After the public and CMS presentations, the Committee will 
deliberate openly on the topic. Interested persons may observe the 
deliberations, but the Committee will not hear further comments during 
this time except at the request of the chairperson. The Committee will 
also allow a 15 minute unscheduled open public session for any attendee 
to address issues specific to the topic. At the conclusion of the day, 
the members will vote and the Committee will make its recommendation.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: August 26, 2004.
Sean R. Tunis,
Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 04-21201 Filed 9-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P