[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 185 (Friday, September 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48990-48991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22164]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1336-N]


Medicare Program; Medicare Provider Feedback Group Town Hall 
Meeting--October 29, 2009

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

ACTION: Notice.

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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, third-party billers, and 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.

DATES: Meeting Date: The Town Hall meeting announced in this notice 
will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
    Deadlines:
    Deadline for Attendance Registration--Registration will be open 
beginning September 28, 2009 and will close on October 23, 2009. 
Registration after 5 p.m. EDT on October 23, 2009 will not be accepted.
    Deadline for Written Feedback--Written feedback will be accepted 
through November 6, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The Town Hall meeting 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. The 
meeting will also be available by teleconference.
    Web sites:
    Meeting Registration: Individuals must complete the online 
registration at http://registration.intercall.com/go/cms2.
    Meeting Materials: The meeting agenda and discussion material will 
be available to download by October 23, 2009, at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/provider.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Shatto, (410) 786-6932. You 
may also send inquiries about this meeting by e-mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Since 2005, CMS has held five Medicare Provider Feedback Group 
(MPFG) Town Hall meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to capture 
individual provider and supplier feedback on relevant Fee-for-Service 
(FFS) Medicare policy and operational issues. These meetings allow us 
to further advance our efforts to strengthen the Medicare program and 
enhance our relationship with providers and suppliers. The meetings 
also provide a venue to allow us to continue a process of communication 
with individual providers and suppliers through the following year.

II. Meeting Format and Agenda

    The meeting will begin with an overview of the goals and objectives 
of the MPFG efforts to gather feedback from individual Medicare 
providers and suppliers. This meeting will be held on-site at CMS and 
by teleconference. The meeting is open to the public, but on-site 
attendance is limited to space available. The meeting agenda and 
discussion materials will be available to download by October 23, 2009. 
These materials can be located 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. Topics to be discussed include, but 
are not limited to, 5010, ICD-10, Medicare Contracting Reform: Lessons 
Learned from Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Implementations, 
Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), Provider Communications, and Program 
Integrity.
    There will be a discussion session that offers meeting participants 
an opportunity to provide feedback on how CMS services physicians, 
providers, and suppliers, as well as make suggestions on how this 
process can be improved. Time for participants to provide feedback will 
be limited according to

[[Page 48991]]

the number of registered participants; however, written submissions 
will be accepted. Individuals who wish to provide written feedback 
should e-mail their feedback to Colette Shatto at [email protected]. 
Written feedback will be accepted through November 6, 2009. 
Consideration will be given to feedback received on the topics 
discussed at the meeting, but written responses will not be provided.
    Registered participants from the meeting will be included as 
volunteer participants in the MPFG and may be contacted throughout the 
year for follow-up meetings to solicit additional opinions or clarify 
any issues that may arise from the October 29, 2009 meeting.

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 must register to participate both on-site and by 
teleconference. Individuals 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 (for example, names, e-mail addresses, and 
provider and supplier types). Registration will be open beginning 
September 28, 2009 and will close on October 23, 2009. Registration 
after 5 p.m. EDT on October 23, 2009 will not be accepted.
    The on-line registration system will generate a confirmation page 
to indicate the completion of your registration. Participants should 
print this page as his or her registration receipt. Teleconference 
instructions will be issued as part of the confirmation page once 
participants have registered through the on-line registration 
instrument. Seating capacity is limited to the first 250 registrants.
    If seating capacity has been reached for on-site participants, 
notification will be sent that the meeting has reached capacity; 
however, those wishing to participate may still do so by 
teleconference.

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. EDT on October 23, 2009. Individuals who have not 
registered by the registration deadline will not be allowed to enter 
the building to attend the meeting or attend the meeting by 
teleconference.
    The on-site check-in for visitors will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 
1:30 p.m EDT. Participants should allow sufficient time to go through 
the security checkpoints. It is suggested that participants arrive at 
7500 Security Boulevard no later than 1:30 p.m. EDT in order to arrive 
promptly at the meeting by 2 p.m.
    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 
the building, whether personal or for the purpose of the meeting, are 
subject to inspection. In order to gain access to the building, 
participants will be required to show a government-issued photo 
identification (for example, driver's license or passport), and must be 
listed on an approved security list before persons are permitted 
entrance. Persons not registered in advance will not be permitted into 
the CMS building and will not be permitted to attend the meeting.
    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 the purpose of presentation.
    Individuals requiring sign language interpretation or other special 
accommodation must contact the Designated Federal Officer specified in 
the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section of this notice by 
October 23, 2009.

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

    Dated: September 3, 2009.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E9-22164 Filed 9-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P