[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 62057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23443]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1302-N]


Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on the Medicare Provider 
Feedback Group (MPFG) November 16, 2004

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a town hall meeting. The purpose of the 
meeting is to solicit the opinions of individual Medicare providers and 
suppliers to educate CMS on how we can better serve Medicare providers 
and suppliers. Providers, physicians, home health agencies, industry 
billing staff representatives, and other Medicare billers are invited 
to attend this meeting. We will consider facts and opinions provided by 
individuals during this meeting. The information gathered will be used 
as feedback on CMS provider and supplier communication activities and 
related topics. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is 
limited to space available.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 16, 2004, from 2 
p.m. until 3 p.m. e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the auditorium at the Centers 
for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 
Maryland 21244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Magwood, (410) 786-1999. You may 
also send e-mail inquiries about this meeting to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 16, 2004, we will convene a town hall meeting to 
solicit the opinions of individual Medicare providers and suppliers on 
how CMS can better serve Medicare providers and suppliers through 
communication education materials and other means. This meeting will 
provide the Agency with a venue that allows Agency managers an 
opportunity to interact with individual Medicare providers and 
suppliers and obtain their opinions on various topics. We will have 
follow-up meetings to solicit additional opinions and clarify any 
issues that may arise during the November 16, 2004 meeting.
    At the November 16th meeting, we will explain CMS's design for 
gathering individual provider and supplier information, and then ask 
for opinions on how CMS can better serve the Medicare provider and 
supplier community. An on-line registration is available for interested 
individuals who wish to participate in the meeting in person or by 
teleconference. The on-line registration will capture contact 
information and practice characteristics, such as names, email 
addresses, and provider and supplier types.
    Meeting Format: The meeting will begin with an overview of the 
goals and objectives of the initiative, including a discussion of our 
efforts to gather feedback from individual Medicare providers and 
suppliers. The meeting moderator will be introduced, and, along with 
members of the Provider Communications Group, Centers for Medicare 
Management, will provide background information on the initiative. We 
will then hold a question and answer session that offers meeting 
attendees an opportunity to provide feedback on how CMS serves Medicare 
providers and suppliers, as well as make suggestions regarding how this 
process can be improved.
    Attending the Meeting: The Provider Communication Group, Centers 
for Medicare Management, Division of Provider Relations and Evaluation, 
is the coordinator for this meeting. This meeting will be held in a 
Federal Government building, and persons attending the meeting will be 
required to show a photographic identification, preferably a valid 
driver's license, and be listed on an approved security list before 
entering. Persons interested in attending the meeting and providing 
feedback must complete the on-line registration located at http://registration.intercall.com/go/cms. Registration will open on October 
25, 2004 and close November 23, 2004. The on-line registration system 
will generate a confirmation page to indicate the completion of your 
registration. Please print this page as your registration receipt. 
Registration after 12 p.m. on November 15, 2004 will delay confirmation 
and individuals may not be permitted entrance to the building. However, 
registrations received after November 16 will enable individuals to 
listen to a digital recording of the meeting.
    Individuals may participate in the public meeting by 
teleconference. The dial-in number is 877-357-7851, and you should 
reference conference identification number 1040512. Physicians and 
other interested parties may speak or ask questions during the question 
and answer period facilitated by the moderator. Parties may also submit 
written comments to the point of contact named in this Federal Register 
Notice.
    Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring sign language 
interpretation or other special accommodations must contact Keri Boston 
by e-mail at [email protected].

    Authority: Section 1811 and 1831 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395c and 1395j).

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

    Dated: October 14, 2004.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 04-23443 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P