[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50432-50433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13379]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1528-N]


Medicare Program; Medicare Provider Feedback Group (MPFG) Town 
Hall Meeting September 20, 2006

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 the opinions of individual Medicare physicians, providers, and 
suppliers on selected policies and operational issues that affect 
providers that participate in the Medicare program. In addition, we 
will be soliciting input on how we can better serve the Medicare 
providers and suppliers. 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 physicians, providers, and suppliers. We will use 
the information obtained during the meeting as feedback on selected 
policy issues and on CMS provider and supplier communication activities 
and related topics.
    The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to 
space available. Registered participants from the meeting may be 
contacted for follow-up meetings to solicit additional opinions and 
clarify any issues that may arise from the September 20, 2006 meeting.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for September 20, 2006 from 2 p.m. 
until 4 p.m. e.d.t.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Shatto, 410-786-6932. 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 opinions of individual Medicare 
physicians, providers, and suppliers. Topics discussed during the 
November 16 meeting included Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Chronic 
Care Improvement Programs, CMS electronic medical records, CMS Provider 
Outreach, and consolidated billing. Subsequent to the meeting, we 
conducted follow-up meetings to clarify information received and 
solicited additional opinions. The information gathered from the town 
hall and subsequent meetings was used as feedback on our provider and 
supplier communication activities and related topics.
    On September 12, 2005, we convened the second town hall meeting to 
solicit the opinions of individual Medicare physicians, providers, and 
suppliers on how we could better serve Medicare physicians, providers, 
and suppliers through communications, educational material, and other 
means. This meeting also focused on our design for gathering individual 
physician, provider, and supplier information, presented topics for 
provider and supplier input, and then solicited opinions on how we can 
better serve the Medicare physician, provider, and supplier community.

II. 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 physicians, providers, and suppliers. 
The meeting moderator will be introduced, and, along with members of 
the Provider Communications Group, the Center for Medicare Management 
of CMS, will provide background information on the initiative. Topics 
to be discussed during the meeting include, but are not limited to the 
implementation of the National Provider Identifier (NPI), the Pay for 
Performance initiative, Part D Compliance, Durable Medical Equipment 
(DME) Accreditation and Medicare Contracting. This meeting will provide 
the Agency with an open and public venue to interact with individual 
Medicare physicians, providers and suppliers and obtain their feedback 
on Medicare policy and operational issues. We will then hold a question 
and answer session that offers meeting attendees an opportunity to 
provide feedback on how CMS serves physicians, providers, and 
suppliers, as well as make suggestions on how this process can be 
improved.
    Attending the Meeting: The Provider Communications Group, Center 
for Medicare Management, Division of Provider Relations and 
Evaluations, 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.mshow.com/cms2/.

III. Registration Instructions

    Registration will open on August 25, 2006 and close on September 
18, 2006. 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 5 p.m. on 
September 18, 2006 will delay confirmation and individuals may not be 
permitted entrance to the building.
    Individuals may participate in the public meeting by 
teleconference. The dial-in number is 877-357-7851 and the conference 
identification number is 2323964. 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 Colette Shatto at [email protected].
    An on-line registration tool is available for interested 
individuals who wish to participate in the meeting in person or by 
teleconference. The on-line registration system will capture contact 
information and practice characteristics, such as names, e-mail 
addresses, and provider and supplier types.
    Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring sign language 
interpretation or other special accommodations must contact Colette 
Shatto by e-mail at [email protected].


[[Page 50433]]


    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 3, 2006.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E6-13379 Filed 8-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P