[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 226 (Friday, November 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67876-67877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19804]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1383-N]


Medicare Program; Listening Session on a Plan for Medicare 
Hospital Value-Based Purchasing--January 17, 2007

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a listening session being conducted as 
part of the development of a plan for Medicare hospital value-based 
purchasing, as authorized by the section 5001(b) of the Deficit 
Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005. The purpose of the listening session is to 
solicit comments on the range of design issues being considered for 
plan development. Hospitals, hospital associations, and all interested 
parties are invited to attend and make comments in person. It will also 
be possible to participate by teleconference, although due to time 
constraints, telephone participants will not be able to make verbal 
comments. Written comments are welcomed. The perspectives expressed 
during this session and in writing will assist us in drafting the plan. 
An issues paper outlining the design questions to be discussed and 
further information about the January listening session will be posted 
no later than January 3, 2007 on the CMS Web site, Hospital Center, 
under Spotlights at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/hospital.asp.

DATES: Meeting Date: The listening session will be held on Wednesday, 
January 17, 2007 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., e.s.t.
    Registration and Request for Special Accommodations Deadline: 
Registration must be completed no later than 5 p.m., e.s.t. on 
Wednesday, January 10, 2007. Requests for special accommodations must 
be received by 5 p.m., e.s.t. Wednesday, January 10, 2007.
    Deadline for Submission of Written Comments or Statements: Written 
comments on the design questions posed in the issues paper may be sent 
by mail, fax, or electronically and must be received by 5 p.m., e.s.t. 
on January 24, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The listening session will be held in the 
main auditorium of the central building of the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    Registration and Special Accommodations: Individuals wishing to 
participate or who need special accommodations or both must register 
by--completing the on-line registration located at http://registration.mshow.com/cms2/; contacting Robin Phillips at (410) 786-
3010; e-mailing [email protected]; or regular mail to Robin 
Phillips, Medicare Feedback Group, Center for Medicare Management, 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mail stop C4-13-07, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    Written Comments or Statements: Written comments on design 
questions posed in the issues paper may be sent by mail, fax, or 
electronically and must be received by 5 p.m. January 24, 2007. Please 
send mail to Robin Phillips, Medicare Feedback Group, Center for 
Medicare Management, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mail 
stop C4-13-07, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850; e-
mail to [email protected]; or fax to 410-786-0330.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Phillips, 410-786-3010 or via e-
mail to [email protected]. Press inquiries are handled through 
the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 5001(b) of The Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005, 
specifies that we develop a plan to implement a

[[Page 67877]]

Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program for payments under the Medicare 
program for subsection (d) hospitals (as defined in section 
1886(d)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (the Act)) beginning with 
fiscal year (FY) 2009. Congress specified that the ``plan'' include 
consideration of the following issues:
     The ongoing development, selection, and modification 
process for measures of quality and efficiency in hospital inpatient 
settings.
     The reporting, collection, and validation of quality data.
     The structure of value-based payment adjustments, 
including the determination of thresholds or improvements in quality 
that would substantiate a payment adjustment, the size of such 
payments, and the sources of funding for the value-based payments.
     The disclosure of information on hospital performance.
    In developing the plan, we must consult with relevant affected 
parties and consider experience with demonstrations that are relevant 
to the value-based purchasing program. CMS has created a workgroup that 
is charged with developing the VBP Plan for Medicare hospital services 
provided by subsection (d) hospitals. The Workgroup is organized into 
four subgroups to address each of the required planning issues: (1) 
Measures; (2) data collection and validation; (3) incentive structure; 
and (4) public reporting. The CMS Workgroup is charged with preparing a 
set of design options, narrowing the set of design options to prepare a 
draft plan, and preparing a report on the plan for implementing VBP for 
Medicare hospital services which will be provided to Congress as 
required under section 5001(b)(3) of the DRA. We are hosting two public 
listening sessions in early 2007 to solicit comments from relevant 
affected parties on outstanding design questions associated with 
development of the plan. The first is the listening session scheduled 
for January 17, 2007 to consider design questions posed in the issues 
paper. The second listening session is April 12, 2007 to consider the 
draft plan.

II. Listening Session Format and Agenda

    The January 17, 2007 listening session will begin at 10 a.m. with 
an overview of the objectives for the session and a presentation on the 
background on the Medicare Reporting Hospital Quality Data for Annual 
Payment Update (RHQDAPU) program and the Value-Based Purchasing plan 
development. A brief review of the current state-of-the-art in hospital 
pay for performance will then be presented by consultants from RAND who 
are assisting the CMS Workgroup in plan development. Beginning at 
approximately 11 a.m., the remainder of the meeting will be devoted to 
addressing each of the following issue areas: measures; program and 
data infrastructure; incentives; and public reporting. Each area will 
be considered in turn, with the CMS Subgroup Leads first providing a 
brief presentation on key issues, followed by comments and questions 
from on-site session attendees. A lunch break will occur from 
approximately 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The meeting will conclude by 5 p.m. 
with brief comments on ``next steps.''

III. Registration Instructions

    Persons interested in attending the meeting or listening by 
teleconference must register by the date specified in the DATES section 
of this notice in one of the following ways:
     Completing 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. Please print this page as your registration confirmation.
     Contacting Robin Phillips via regular mail, e-mail or 
phone at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. 
You will receive a registration confirmation with instructions for your 
arrival at the CMS complex. Persons will be notified if the seating 
capacity has been reached.
    Individuals attending the meeting who are hearing or visually 
impaired, or have a condition that requires special assistance or 
accommodations, must submit their request with their registration 
information or to Robin Phillips at the address specified in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date specified in the DATES 
section of this notice.
    Persons wishing to make comments at the meeting must indicate which 
section(s) of the issues paper they wish to address as part of their 
registration. Remarks will be limited to 2 minutes per person per 
section to assure that as many attendees as possible will have the 
opportunity to speak. The registration process will enable CMS to gauge 
relative interest in the four issue areas and to allocate comment time 
accordingly. This feedback on the issues paper will provide important 
input to development of the draft Medicare Hospital Value-based 
Purchasing Plan.
    Individuals may also listen to the session by teleconference. 
Registration is required so that we may provide further communications 
as the plan is developed. The call-in number will be provided upon 
confirmation of registration. Persons participating by phone will not 
be able to make verbal comments due to time constraints. However, 
written comments are welcome.
    An audio download of the listening session will be available 
through the CMS Hospital Center Web site within 72 hours after 
completion of the listening session.

IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines

    Because this meeting will be located on Federal property, for 
security reasons, any persons wishing to attend this meeting must 
register by close of business on January 10, 2007. Individuals who have 
not registered in advance will not be allowed to enter the building to 
attend the meeting. Seating capacity is limited to the first 550 
registrants.
    The on-site check in for visitors will begin at 9 a.m. Please allow 
sufficient time to go through the security checkpoints. It is suggested 
that you arrive at central building by 9 a.m. so that you will have 
enough time to check in before the session begins. Security measures 
will include inspection of vehicles, inside and out, at the entrance to 
the grounds. In addition, all persons entering the building must check 
in by name, provide a government-issued identification, and pass 
through a metal detector. All items brought to CMS, whether personal or 
for the purpose of demonstration or to support a presentation, 
including items such as laptops, cell phones, and palm pilots, are 
subject to physical inspection.

    Authority: Section 5001(b) the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.733, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: November 16, 2006.
Leslie V. Norwalk,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E6-19804 Filed 11-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P