[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 227 (Friday, November 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68944-68945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26173]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3149-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Coverage Advisory 
Committee--January 25, 2005

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 (MCAC). The 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 the data 
from and the quality of clinical evidence pertaining to the effects of 
lifestyle modification such as diet, exercise, stress reduction and 
group counseling as it relates to reversal or resolution of diseases 
such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. Notice of this meeting 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 Tuesday, January 25, 2005, 
from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. e.s.t.
    Deadline for Presentations and Comments: Written comments and 
presentations must be received by December 27, 2005, 5 p.m., e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the auditorium at the Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd, Baltimore, MD 
21244.
    Presentations and Comments: Interested persons may present data, 
information, or views orally or in writing on issues pending before the 
Committee. Please submit written comments to Michelle Atkinson, by e-
mail at [email protected] or by mail to the Executive Secretary for 
MCAC, Coverage and Analysis Group, Office of Clinical Standards and 
Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Mail Stop C1-09-06, Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Web site: You may access up-to-date information on this meeting at 
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcac/default.asp#meetings.
    Hotline: You may access up-to-date information on this meeting on 
the CMS Advisory Committee Information Hotline, 1-877-449-5659 (toll 
free) or in the Baltimore area (410) 786-9379.

[[Page 68945]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Atkinson, Executive 
Secretary, by telephone at 410-786-2881 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 (MCAC), which provides advice and recommendations to 
us about clinical issues. This notice announces a public meeting of the 
Committee.
    Meeting Topic: The Committee will address the data from and the 
quality of clinical evidence pertaining to the effects of lifestyle 
modification such as diet, exercise, stress reduction and group 
counseling as it relates to reversal or resolution of diseases such as 
coronary heart disease and diabetes.
    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 the Deadline 
for Presentations and Comments date listed in the DATES section of this 
notice: 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. 
The questions will be available on our Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcac/default.asp#meetings. If the specific questions 
are not addressed, your presentation will not be accepted. 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.

Registration Instructions

    The Coverage and Analysis Group is coordinating meeting 
registration. While there is no registration fee, individuals must 
register to attend. You may register by contacting Maria Ellis at 410-
786-0309, mailing address: Coverage and Analysis Group, OCSQ; Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 7500 Security Blvd, Mailstop: C1-09-
06; Baltimore, MD 21244, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Please 
provide your name, address, organization, telephone and fax number, and 
e-mail address.
    You will receive a registration confirmation with instructions for 
your arrival at the CMS complex. You will be notified if the seating 
capacity has been reached.
    Because the meeting is located on Federal property, for security 
reasons, any persons wishing to attend this meeting must register by 
close of business on January 17, 2005. In order to gain access to the 
building and grounds, participants must show to the Federal Protective 
Service or guard service personnel, government-issued photo 
identification and a copy of their registration confirmation. 
Individuals who have not registered in advance will not be allowed to 
enter the building to attend the meeting.
    Special Accommodations: Persons attending the meeting who are 
hearing or visually impaired, or have a condition that requires special 
assistance or accommodations, are asked to notify the Executive 
Secretary by January 3, 2005 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

    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: November 17, 2004.
Sean R. Tunis,
Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 04-26173 Filed 11-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P