[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 145 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42852-42854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11948]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1527-N]


Medicare Program; Request for Nominations and Meeting of the 
Practicing Physicians Advisory Council, August 28, 2006

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a request for nominations and the 
quarterly meeting of the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (the 
Council). The Council will meet to discuss certain proposed changes in 
regulations and manual instructions related to physicians' services, as 
identified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the 
Secretary). This meeting is open to the public. In addition, this 
notice invites all organizations representing physicians to submit 
nominations for consideration to fill five seats that will be vacated 
by current Council members in 2007.

[[Page 42853]]


DATES: The Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 28, 2006, 
from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 705A, 7th floor, in the 
Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20201.
    Meeting Registration: Persons wishing to attend this meeting must 
register by contacting Kelly Buchanan, the Designated Federal Official 
(DFO), by e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (410) 786-6132, 
at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. This meeting will be held 
in a Federal Government Building, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, and 
persons attending the meeting will be required to show a photographic 
identification, preferably a valid driver's license, and will be listed 
on an approved security list before persons are permitted entrance. 
Persons not registered in advance will not be permitted into the Hubert 
H. Humphrey Building and will not be permitted to attend the Council 
meeting.
    Nomination Requirements: Nominations must be submitted by medical 
organizations representing physicians. Nominees must have submitted at 
least 250 claims for physician services under the Medicare program in 
the previous year. Each nomination must state that the nominee has 
expressed a willingness to serve as a Council member and must be 
accompanied by a short resume or description of the nominee's 
experience. To permit an evaluation of possible sources of conflicts of 
interest, potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed 
information concerning financial holdings, consultant positions, 
research grants, and contracts. Consideration will be given to each 
nominee with regard to his or her leadership credentials, geographic 
and demographic factors, and projected Practicing Physicians Advisory 
Council needs. Final selections will incorporate the above criteria to 
maintain a committee membership that is fairly balanced in terms of 
points of view represented and the committee's function. Selections 
will be made by February 2007 with new members sworn in during the May 
2007 meeting. All nominating organizations will be notified in writing 
of those candidates selected for committee membership.
    Nominations to fill vacancies will be considered if received at the 
appropriate address, no later than 5 p.m. e.d.t., September 15, 2006. 
Mail or deliver nominations to the following address: Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services, Center for Medicare Management, 
Division of Provider Relations and Evaluations, Attention: Kelly 
Buchanan, Designated Federal Official, Practicing Physicians Advisory 
Council, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C4-11-07, Baltimore, 
Maryland 21244-1850.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Buchanan, (410) 786-6132, or e-
mail [email protected]. News media representatives must contact the CMS 
Press Office, (202) 690-6145. Please refer to the CMS Advisory 
Committees' Information Line (1-877-449-5659 toll free), (410) 786-9379 
local) or the Internet at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/regsguidance.asp 
for additional information and updates on committee activities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with section 10(a) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces the quarterly 
meeting of the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (the Council). 
The Secretary is mandated by section 1868(a)(1) of the Social Security 
Act (the Act) to appoint a Practicing Physicians Advisory Council based 
on nominations submitted by medical organizations representing 
physicians. The Council meets quarterly to discuss certain proposed 
changes in regulations and manual instructions related to physicians' 
services, as identified by the Secretary. To the extent feasible and 
consistent with statutory deadlines, the Council's consultation must 
occur before Federal Register publication of the proposed changes. The 
Council submits an annual report on its recommendations to the 
Secretary and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services (CMS) not later than December 31 of each year.
    The Council consists of 15 physicians, including the Chair. Members 
of the Council include both participating and nonparticipating 
physicians, and physicians practicing in rural and underserved urban 
areas. At least 11 members of the Council must be physicians as 
described in section 1861(r)(1) of the Act; that is, State-licensed 
doctors of medicine or osteopathy. The remaining 4 members may include 
dentists, podiatrists, optometrists and chiropractors. Members serve 
for overlapping 4-year terms; terms of more than 2 years are contingent 
upon the renewal of the Council by appropriate action before its 
termination.
    Section 1868(a)(2) of the Act provides that the Council meet 
quarterly to discuss certain proposed changes in regulations and manual 
issuances that relate to physicians' services, identified by the 
Secretary. Section 1868(a)(3) of the Act provides for payment of 
expenses and per diem for Council members in the same manner as members 
of other advisory committees appointed by the Secretary. In addition to 
making these payments, the Department of Health and Human Services and 
CMS provide management and support services to the Council. The 
Secretary will appoint new members to the Council from among those 
candidates determined to have the expertise required to meet specific 
agency needs in a manner to ensure appropriate balance of the Council's 
membership.
    The Council held its first meeting on May 11, 1992. The current 
members are: Anthony Senagore, M.D., Chairperson; Jose Azocar, M.D.; M. 
Leroy Sprang, M.D.; Karen S. Williams, M.D.; Peter Grimm, D.O.; Carlos 
R. Hamilton, M.D.; Dennis K. Iglar, M.D.; Joe Johnson, D.C.; Vincent J. 
Bufalino, M.D.; Tye J. Ouzounian, M.D.; Geraldine O'Shea, D.O.; Laura 
B. Powers, M.D.; Gregory J. Przybylski, M.D.; Jeffrey A. Ross, DPM, 
M.D.; and Robert L. Urata, M.D.
    The meeting will commence with the Council's Executive Director 
providing a status report, and the CMS responses to the recommendations 
made by the Council at the May 22, 2006 meeting, as well as prior 
meeting recommendations. Additionally, an update will be provided on 
the Physician Regulatory Issues Team. In accordance with the Council 
charter, we are requesting assistance with the following agenda topics:
     Medicare Pricing for Fee-for-Service and Medicare 
Advantage Plans
     Pay for Performance: Cost Measurement Development
     Practice Expense Update
     Medically Unbelievably Edits (MUEs): Update
     5-Year Review and Physician Fee Schedule
    For additional information and clarification on these topics, 
contact the DFO as provided in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this notice. Individual physicians or medical organizations 
that represent physicians wishing to make a 5-minute oral presentation 
on agenda issues must contact the DFO by 12 noon, e.d.t., August 11, 
2006, to be scheduled. Testimony is limited to agenda topics only. The 
number of oral presentations may be limited by the time available. A 
written copy of the presenter's oral remarks must be submitted to Kelly 
Buchanan, DFO, no later than 12 noon, e.d.t., August 11, 2006, for 
distribution to Council members for review before the meeting. 
Physicians and medical

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organizations not scheduled to speak may also submit written comments 
to the DFO for distribution no later than 12 noon, e.d.t., August 11, 
2006. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to 
the space available.
    Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring sign language 
interpretation or other special accommodation must contact the DFO by 
e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (410) 786-6132 at least 
10 days before the meeting.

    Authority: (Section 1868 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395ee) and section 10(a) of Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, 
section 10(a)).)

    Dated: July 14, 2006.
Mark B. McClellan
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E6-11948 Filed 7-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P