[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 164 (Friday, August 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48652-48654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16825]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3184-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development 
and Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC)--October 22, 2007

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the Medicare 
Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC)

[[Page 48653]]

(``Committee'') entitled CMS Evidentiary Priorities for Medicare. The 
Committee generally provides advice and recommendations about whether 
scientific evidence is adequate to determine if certain medical items 
and services are reasonable and necessary under the Medicare statute.
    Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)).

DATES: The public meeting will be held on Monday, October 22, 2007 from 
7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., d.s.t.
    Deadline for Presentations and Written Comments: Send written 
comments and presentations to the address specified in the ADDRESSES 
section by 5 p.m., d.s.t. on September 17, 2007.
    Deadline for Meeting Registration: For security reasons, 
individuals wishing to attend this meeting must register by 5 p.m. 
d.s.t. on October 15, 2007.
    Deadline for Submitting Request for Special Accommodations: Persons 
attending the meeting who are hearing or visually impaired, or have a 
condition that requires special assistance or accommodations, are asked 
to notify the Executive Secretary as specified in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The meeting will be held in the main 
auditorium of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 
Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Registration: Register by contacting Maria Ellis 410-786-0309, or 
[email protected]; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 
OCSQ-Coverage and Analysis Group,C1-09-06, 7500 Security Blvd., 
Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Presentation and Comment Submission: Submit presentations and 
comments to Michelle Atkinson, at [email protected].
    Web Site: You may access up-to-date information on this meeting at 
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/02_aspTopOfPage.
    Submission of Presentations and Comments: Interested persons may 
present data, information, or views orally or in writing on issues 
pending before the Committee. Please submit written comments and 
presentations to the Executive Secretary at the address specified in 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Presentations once submitted are 
final. No further changes to the presentation will be accepted after 
submission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Atkinson, Executive Secretary 
for MedCAC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, OCSQ-Coverage and 
Analysis Group, C1-09-06, 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21244. 
410-786-2881; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Meeting Topic

    On December 14, 1998, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
(63 FR 68780) to describe the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee 
(MCAC), which provides advice and recommendations to CMS about clinical 
issues. The MCAC was subsequently rechartered as the Medicare Evidence 
Development and Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC).
    This notice announces the October 22, 2007 public meeting of the 
Committee. This meeting is to assist CMS in developing priorities for 
evidence development for issues of major importance to the Medicare 
program and the Medicare population to provide a framework for the 
scientific community advancement of research projects that concern 
Medicare beneficiaries. Certain disease processes account for a large 
percentage of services provided to our beneficiaries and specific 
treatments and healthcare delivery processes have a great impact on 
beneficiary outcomes. The end product of the MedCAC is a priority list 
of research topics with the most potential impact on Medicare and 
Medicare beneficiaries to contribute to the body of medical evidence 
specific to the Medicare populations. Background information about this 
topic, including panel materials, is available at http://www.cms.gov/coverage.

II. Meeting Procedures

    This meeting is open to the public. The Committee will hear oral 
presentations from the public for approximately 30 minutes. The 
Committee may limit the number and duration of oral presentations to 
the time available. If you wish to make formal presentations, you must 
do the following:
     Notify the Executive Secretary as specified in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of the notice.
     Submit the following to the address specified in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date specified in the DATES 
section of this notice:
     A brief statement of the general nature of the evidence or 
arguments you wish to present.
     The names and addresses of proposed participants.
     A written copy of your presentation. Your presentation 
should consider the questions we have posed to the Committee and focus 
on the issues specific to the topic. The questions will be available on 
the following Web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/02_aspTopOfPage.
    We require that you declare at the meeting whether you have any 
financial involvement with manufacturers of any items or services being 
discussed (or with their competitors).
    After the public and CMS presentations, the Committee will 
deliberate openly on the topic. Interested persons may observe the 
deliberations, but the Committee will not hear further comments during 
this time except at the request of the chairperson. The Committee will 
also allow a 15 minute unscheduled open public session for any attendee 
to address issues specific to the topic. At the conclusion of the day, 
the members will vote and the Committee will make its recommendation.

III. Registration Instructions

    The Coverage and Analysis Group is coordinating meeting 
registration. While there is no registration fee, individuals must 
register to attend. Register by contacting Maria Ellis as specified in 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date as specified in the 
DATES section of this notice. Please provide your name (as it appears 
on your government-issued identification), address, organization, 
telephone, and fax numbers, and e-mail address.
    You will receive a registration confirmation with instructions in 
preparation for your arrival at the CMS complex. You will be notified 
if the seating capacity has been reached.
    This meeting is located on Federal property; therefore, for 
security reasons, any individuals wishing to attend this meeting must 
register by the date specified in the DATES section of this notice.

IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines

    This meeting will be held in a Federal government building; 
therefore, Federal security measures are applicable. In planning your 
arrival time, we recommend allowing additional time to clear security.
    Security measures include the following:
     Presentation of government-issued photographic 
identification to the Federal Protective Service or Guard Service 
personnel.
     Interior and exterior inspection of vehicles (this 
includes engine and trunk inspection) at the entrance to the grounds. 
Parking permits and

[[Page 48654]]

instructions will be issued after the vehicle inspection.
     Passing through a metal detector and inspection of items 
brought into the building. We note that all items brought to CMS, 
whether personal or for the purpose of demonstration or to support a 
demonstration, are subject to inspection. We cannot assume 
responsibility for coordinating the receipt, transfer, transport, 
storage, set-up, safety, or timely arrival of any personal belongings 
or items used for demonstration or to support a demonstration.

    Note: Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be 
permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the 
meeting. The public may not enter the building earlier than 30 to 45 
minutes prior to the convening of the meeting.

    All visitors must be escorted in areas other than the lower and 
first floor levels in the Central Building.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a).

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

    Dated: August 20, 2007.
Barry M. Straube,
Chief Medical Officer and Director, Office of Clinical Standards and 
Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E7-16825 Filed 8-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P