[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 165 (Friday, August 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50374-50375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16797]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1330-N]


Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on the Medicare Provider 
Feedback Group (MPFG)--September 12, 2005

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a Town Hall meeting on the Medicare 
Provider Feedback Group (MPFG). The purpose of the meeting is to 
solicit facts and opinions from individual Medicare providers and 
suppliers on a variety of Medicare policy and operational issues. All 
Medicare providers and suppliers that participate in the Medicare 
program, including physicians, hospitals, home health agencies, and 
other third-party billers, are invited to attend this meeting. We will 
consider facts and opinions obtained from individual Medicare providers 
and suppliers. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is 
limited to space available.

DATES: Meeting Date: The Town Hall meeting announced in this notice 
will be held on September 12, 2005 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The Town Hall meeting will be held in the Auditorium in the 
central building of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eva Tetteyfio, (410) 786-3136. You may 
also send e-mail inquiries about this meeting to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On November 16, 2004, we held the first Medicare Provider Feedback 
Town Hall meeting to solicit the facts and opinions of individual 
Medicare providers and suppliers. Topics discussed during the November 
16, 2004 meeting included Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Chronic Care 
Improvement Programs, CMS electronic medical records, CMS Provider 
Outreach, and consolidated billing. After the meeting, we conducted 
follow-up meetings to clarify information received and solicited 
additional comments.
    At the September 12, 2005 meeting, we will explain our design for 
gathering individual provider and supplier information and present 
topics for provider and supplier input. We will also solicit facts and 
opinions on how we can better serve the Medicare provider and supplier 
community.

II. Meeting Format

    This meeting will begin with an overview of the goals and 
objectives of the meeting that includes a discussion of our efforts to 
gather feedback from individual Medicare providers and suppliers. We 
will introduce the meeting moderator. We will also introduce members of 
the Provider Communications Group, Center for Medicare Management, who 
will provide background information on the Medicare Provider Feedback 
Group initiative. Topics to be discussed during the meeting include:
     The important information for individual providers and 
suppliers on our implementation of the National Provider Identifier 
(NPI).
     The elimination of the Standard Paper Remittance (SPR) 
advice notices and their effect on individual provider and supplier 
practices.
     The impact of the implementation and procurement of 
Medicare Contracting Reform on individual providers and suppliers.
     A discussion and summary of the proposed rule for the 2006 
physician fee-schedule.
     The effect of a revised payment system for Ambulatory 
Surgical Center (ASC) facility services.
     Individual perspectives from hospitals on how Medicare 
pays for new technologies.
    We will hold a question and answer session that offers meeting 
attendees an opportunity to provide feedback on the topics discussed. 
We will also solicit suggestions on how this process can be improved.

III. Registration Instructions

    The Provider Communications Group, Center for Medicare Management, 
Division of Provider Relations and Evaluations is the coordinator for 
this meeting. On-line Registration: An on-line registration tool is 
available for interested individuals who wish to participate in the 
meeting in person, by teleconference, or listen to a digital recording 
of the meeting. The on-line registration system will capture contact 
information and practice characteristics such as names, e-mail 
addresses, and provider and supplier types.
    Registration will begin on August 19, 2005. Persons interested in 
attending the meeting and providing feedback must complete the on-line 
registration located at http://registration.mshow.com/cms2/. The on-
line registration system will generate a confirmation page to indicate 
the completion of your registration. Interested parties, who will 
attend the meeting in person, must print the confirmation page and 
bring it with them to the meeting. We encourage all interested parties 
to complete the registration as soon as possible. Registration after 12 
p.m. on September 9, 2005 will delay confirmation, and individuals may 
not be permitted entrance to the building. However, registrations 
received after September 12 will enable individuals to listen to a 
digital recording of the meeting that will be available beginning 2 
hours after the meeting through midnight on September 14, 2005. The 
online registration will close on September 16, 2005.
    Teleconference Participation: Individuals may participate in the 
public meeting by teleconference. The dial-in number is 877-357-7851 
and the conference identification number is 7970566. 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 Eva Tetteyfio at [email protected].

IV. Security Information

    Since this meeting will be held in a Federal government building, 
Federal security 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

[[Page 50375]]

must bring a government-issued photo identification and a copy of their 
confirmation of registration for the meeting. 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, for the purpose of demonstration, or to support 
a presentation are subject to inspection. Laptops and other computer 
equipment must be registered with the security desk upon entry. We 
cannot assume responsibility for coordination of the receipt, transfer, 
transport, storage, set-up, safety, or timely arrival of any personal 
belongings or items used for a demonstration or to support a 
presentation. Participants should e-mail presentations to us before the 
meeting to ensure that we have a back-up copy in the event of computer 
problems or lack of software or memory card compatibility. Please note 
that CMS headquarters is a smoke-free facility.
    Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring sign language 
interpretation or other special accommodations must contact Eva 
Tetteyfio by e-mail at [email protected] by September 6, 2005.

    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: August 9, 2005.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-16797 Filed 8-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P