[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 188 (Friday, September 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55224-55225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18113]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1378-N]


Medicare Program; Medicare Provider Feedback Group Town Hall 
Meeting--October 16, 2007

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the annual Medicare Provider Feedback 
Group (MPFG) Town Hall meeting. This meeting is open to all Medicare 
fee-for-service (FFS) providers and suppliers that participate in the 
Medicare program, including physicians, hospitals, home health 
agencies, other third-party billers and other interested parties, to 
present their individual views and opinions on selected FFS Medicare 
topics. In addition, we will be soliciting input on how we can improve 
communications to better serve the Medicare providers and suppliers. 
The meeting agenda and discussion materials will be available by 
October 12, 2007. The public can access these materials at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/provider.asp.
    The feedback provided during this meeting will assist us as we 
evaluate FFS Medicare policy, operational issues and CMS' provider and 
supplier communication activities. The meeting is open to the public, 
but attendance is limited to space available. Registered participants 
from the meeting will be included in the Medicare Provider Feedback 
Group and may be contacted throughout the year for follow-up meetings 
to solicit additional opinions and clarify any issues that may arise 
from the October 16, 2007 meeting.

DATES: Meeting Date: The Town Hall meeting announced in this notice 
will be held on Tuesday, October 16, 2007, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The Town Hall meeting will be held in the main auditorium of 
the central building of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 
7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Written Questions or Statements: Any interested party may send 
written comments electronically. We will give consideration to feedback 
received on the topics discussed at the Town Hall meeting, but written 
responses will not be provided. We will accept and take into 
consideration written feedback, questions, or other statements about 
the town hall meeting and agenda topics before the meeting, and up 
until October 26, 2007. Send written feedback, questions, or other 
statements to Colette Shatto at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Shatto, 410-786-6932. You may 
also send inquires about this meeting by [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    CMS has held three Medicare Provider Feedback Group Town Hall 
Meetings beginning in 2005. The purpose of these meetings is to capture 
individual provider and supplier feedback on relevant FFS Medicare 
policy and operational issues. As a result, we are able to further 
advance our efforts to strengthen the Medicare program and enhance our 
relationship with providers and suppliers. The Town Hall meetings also 
provide a venue to allow us to continue a process of communicating with 
individual providers and suppliers through the following year.

II. Meeting Format

    The meeting will begin with an overview of the goals and objectives 
of the MPFG efforts to gather feedback

[[Page 55225]]

from individual Medicare physicians, providers, and suppliers. Topics 
to be discussed during the meeting include, but are not limited to, FFS 
Medicare implementation of the National Provider Identifier (NPI), 
Medicare contractor provider satisfaction survey (MCPSS): ``Relevancy 
of questions in the business functions of appeals and medical review'', 
Medicare contracting reform, and value based purchasing.
    There will be 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. The time for participants to ask 
questions and provide feedback will be limited according to the number 
of registered participants; however, written submissions will be 
accepted. Individuals who wish to provide written feedback should e-
mail Colette Shatto at [email protected]. We will give consideration to 
feedback received on the topics discussed at the Town Hall meeting, but 
written responses will not be provided.

III. Registration Instructions

    The Division of Provider Relations and Evaluations, Provider 
Communications Group, Center for Medicare Management, is coordinating 
the meeting registration. While there is no registration fee, 
individuals, providers, and suppliers must register to participate. 
Individuals interested in attending the meeting in person or by 
teleconference must complete the on-line registration located at http://registration.intercall.com/go/cms2.
    The on-line registration system will capture contact information 
and practice characteristics, such as names, e-mail addresses, and 
provider and supplier types. Registration will be open on September 28, 
2007 and close on October 12, 2007. Registration after 5 p.m. e.s.t. on 
October 12, 2007 will not be accepted.
    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. Teleconference instructions will be 
issued once participants have registered by using the on-line 
registration tool. If seating capacity has been reached, you will be 
notified that the meeting has reached capacity.
    Special Accommodations: Individuals requiring sign language 
interpretation or other special accommodations must contact Colette 
Shatto by e-mail at [email protected].

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 5 p.m. e.s.t. on October 12, 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 250 
registrants.
    The on-site check-in for visitors will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 
1:30 p.m. e.s.t. Please allow sufficient time to go through the 
security checkpoints. It is suggested that you arrive at 7500 Security 
Boulevard no later than 1:30 p.m. e.s.t. so that you will be able to 
arrive promptly at the meeting by 2 p.m. e.s.t. All items brought to 
the building, whether personal or for the purpose of demonstration or 
to support a presentation, are subject to inspection.
    Security measures will include inspection of vehicles, inside and 
out, at the entrance to the grounds. In addition, all persons entering 
the building must pass through a metal detector. All items brought to 
CMS, including personal items such as desktops, cell phones, and palm 
pilots, are subject to physical inspection.

    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: September 6, 2007.
Kerry Weems,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E7-18113 Filed 9-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P