[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 226 (Friday, November 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 67875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19761]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1326-N]


Medicare Program; Rechartering of the Advisory Panel on 
Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of 
Health and Human Services (DHHS).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the rechartering of the Advisory Panel 
on Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Groups (the Panel) by the 
Secretary of DHHS (the Secretary) for a 2-year period with the new 
Charter effective until November 21, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shirl Ackerman-Ross, Designated 
Federal Official (DFO), Advisory Panel on APC Groups; Center for 
Medicare Management, Hospital and Ambulatory Policy Group, Division of 
Outpatient Care; 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C4-05-17; 
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. You may also contact the DFO by phone at 410-
786-4474 or by e-mail at CMS-- [email protected].
    For additional information on the APC Panel and updates to the 
Panel's activities, please search our Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/05_AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPaymentClassificationGroups.asp#TopOfPage. You may also refer to the CMS Federal Advisory Committee 
Hotline at 1-877-449-5659 (toll-free) or call 410-786-9379 (local) for 
additional information. 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) to consult with an expert, outside advisory 
panel on the ambulatory payment classification (APC) groups established 
under the Medicare hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System 
(OPPS).
    The purpose of the Panel is to review the APC groups and their 
associated weights and to advise the Secretary and the Administrator, 
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 
OPPS through rulemaking.
    The Panel membership must be fairly balanced in terms of the points 
of view represented and the functions to be performed. The Panel 
consists of up to 15 members. Each Panel member must be employed full-
time by a hospital or other Medicare provider subject to the OPPS; have 
technical expertise to enable him or her to fully participate in the 
work of the Panel; and have a minimum of 5 years experience in his/her 
area(s) of expertise. For purposes of this Panel, consultants or 
independent contractors are not considered to be full-time employees of 
providers.
    A Federal official serves as the Chair and facilitates the Panel 
meetings. A DFO is appointed to the Panel as provided by the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
    Meetings are held up to three times a year at the call of the DFO, 
and are open to the public, except as determined otherwise by the 
Secretary or other official to whom the authority has been delegated in 
accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(c)). 
Advance notice of all meetings is published in the Federal Register, as 
required by applicable laws and Departmental regulations, stating 
reasonably accessible and convenient locations and times.

II. Provisions of this Notice

    The effective date of the APC Panel Charter renewal is November 21, 
2006. The Charter will terminate on November 21, 2008, unless 
rechartered by the Secretary before the expiration date.

III. Copies of the Charter

    You may obtain a copy of the APC Panel's Charter by submitting a 
request to the DFO at the street or e-mail addresses listed above or by 
calling her at 410-786-4474.

    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 Public 
Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2).

    The Panel was established by statute and has functions that are of 
a continuing nature. Therefore, its duration is not governed by section 
14(a) of FACA, but rather it is otherwise provided by law. The Panel is 
rechartered in accordance with section 14(b)(2) of FACA.

    Dated: October 31, 2006.
Leslie V. Norwalk,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
 [FR Doc. E6-19761 Filed 11-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P