[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 37 (Friday, February 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9336-9337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3752]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1296-N]


Medicare Program; Request for Nominations to the Advisory Panel 
on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice invites nominations of members to the Advisory 
Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Groups (the Panel). 
Seven vacancies will exist on the Panel as of March 31, 2005.
    The purpose of the Panel is to review the APC groups and their 
associated weights and to advise the Secretary of the Department of 
Health and Human Services (the Secretary) and the Administrator of the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (the Administrator) 
concerning the clinical integrity of the APC groups and their 
associated weights. The advice provided by the Panel will be considered 
as CMS prepares its annual updates of the hospital Outpatient 
Prospective Payment System (OPPS) through rulemaking.
    The panel was recently rechartered for a 2-year period through 
November 21, 2006.
    Nominations: Nominations will be considered if received no later 
than March 15, 2005 at 5 p.m. e.s.t. Mail or deliver nominations to the 
following address: CMS; Attn: Shirl Ackerman-Ross, Designated Federal 
Officer (DFO), Advisory Panel on APC Groups; Center for Medicare 
Management (CMM), Hospital & Ambulatory Policy Group (HAPG), Division 
of Outpatient Care (DOC); 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C4-05-17; 
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    Web Site: For additional information on the APC Panel and updates 
to the Panel's activities, search our Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca/apc/default.asp.
    Advisory Committees' Information Lines: You may also refer to the 
CMS Advisory Committee Information Hotlines at 1-877-449-5659 (toll-
free) or 410-786-9379 (local) for additional information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons wishing to nominate 
individuals to serve on the Panel or to obtain further information can 
also

[[Page 9337]]

contact Shirl Ackerman-Ross, the DFO, at [email protected] or call 
410-786-4474. News media representatives should contact the CMS Press 
Office at 202-690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Secretary is required by section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social 
Security Act (the Act), as amended and redesignated by sections 201(h) 
and 202(a)(2) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget 
Refinement Act of 1999 (BBRA) (Pub. L. 106-113), respectively, to 
establish and consult with an expert, outside advisory panel on 
Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) groups.
    The Panel meets up to three times annually to review the APC groups 
and to provide technical advice to the Secretary and the Administrator 
concerning the clinical integrity of the groups and their associated 
weights. CMS considers the technical advice provided by the Panel as we 
prepare the proposed rule that proposes changes to the OPPS for the 
next calendar year.
    The Panel may consist of up to 15 representatives who are full-time 
employees (not consultants) of Medicare providers, which are subject to 
the OPPS, and a Chair.
    The Administrator selects the Panel membership based upon either 
self-nominations or nominations submitted by providers or interested 
organizations.
    The current Panel members are: (The asterisk [*] indicates a Panel 
member whose term expires on March 31, 2005.)
     E. L. Hambrick, M.D., J.D., a CMS Medical Officer.
     Marilyn K. Bedell, M.S., R.N., O.C.N.*
     Albert Brooks Einstein, Jr., M.D.
     Lee H. Hilborne, M.D.*
     Stephen T. House, M.D.*
     Kathleen P. Kinslow, C.R.N.A., Ed.D.*
     Mike Metro, R.N.*
     Sandra J. Metzler, M.B.A., R.H.I.A.
     Gerald V. Naccarelli, M.D.*
     Frank G. Opelka, M.D.
     Louis Potters, M.D.
     Lou Ann Schraffenberger, M.B.A., R.H.I.A.
     Judie S. Snipes, R.N., M.B.A., C.H.E.
     Lynn R. Tomascik, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.A.A.
     Timothy Gene Tyler, Pharm.D.
     William A. Van Decker, M.D., J.D.*
    Panel members serve without compensation, according to an advance 
written agreement; however, travel, meals, lodging, and related 
expenses are reimbursed in accordance with standard Government travel 
regulations. CMS has a special interest for ensuring that women, 
minorities, and the physically challenged are adequately represented on 
the Panel. CMS further encourages nominations of qualified candidates 
from those groups.
    The Secretary, or his designee, appoints new members to the Panel 
from among those candidates determined to have the required expertise. 
New appointments are made in a manner that ensures a balanced 
membership.

II. Criteria for Nominees

    All nominees must have technical expertise that enables them to 
participate fully in the work of the Panel. Such expertise encompasses 
hospital payment systems, hospital medical-care delivery systems, 
outpatient payment requirements, Ambulatory Payment Classification 
(APC) Groups, Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology Codes (CPTs), 
the use and payment of drugs and medical devices in the outpatient 
setting, and other forms of relevant expertise.
    It is not necessary for a nominee to possess expertise in all of 
the areas listed, but each must have a minimum of 5 years experience 
and currently be employed full-time in his or her area of expertise. 
Members of the Panel serve overlapping 2, 3, and 4-year terms, 
contingent upon the rechartering of the Panel.
    Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified 
individuals. Self-nominations will also be accepted. Each nomination 
must include a letter of nomination, the curriculum vita of the 
nominee, and a statement from the nominee that the nominee is willing 
to serve on the Panel under the conditions described in this notice and 
further specified in the Charter.

III. Copies of the Charter

    To obtain a copy of the Panel's Charter, submit a written request 
to the DFO at the address provided or by e-mail at 
[email protected], or call her at 410-786-4474. Copies of the 
Charter are also available on the Internet at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca.

    Authority: Section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395l(t)(9)(A). The Panel is governed by the provisions of Pub. L. 
92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2).

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

    Dated: February 18, 2005.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-3752 Filed 2-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P