[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78247-78249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31301]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3236-N]


Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on Physician Quality 
Reporting System

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the 
Physician Quality Reporting System (previously known as the Physician 
Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)). The purpose of the Town Hall 
Meeting is to solicit input from participating stakeholders on the 
individual quality measures and measures groups being considered for 
possible inclusion in the proposed set of quality measures for use in 
the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System and key components of the 
design of the Physician Quality Reporting System. Measure developers, 
eligible professionals, professionals associations, such as medical 
specialty societies, and other interested stakeholders are invited to 
participate, in person or by teleconference. The meeting is open to the 
public, but attendance is limited to space and teleconference lines 
available.

DATES: Meeting Date: The Town Hall Meeting will be held on February 9, 
2011, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. eastern standard time (e.s.t).
    Deadline for Registration of Presenters of the Town Hall Meeting: 
All presenters for the Town Hall meeting must register and submit their 
discussion item(s) by 5 p.m. e.s.t. on January 18, 2011.
    Deadline for Registration of All Other Participants for the Town 
Hall Meeting and Request for Special Accommodations: Registration opens 
on December 20, 2010. All other participants must register no later 
than 5 p.m. e.s.t. on January 28, 2011. Requests for special 
accommodations must be received by 5 p.m. e.s.t. on January 28, 2010.
    Deadline for Submission of Comments on Key Issues for the Town Hall 
Meeting: Written comments on key issues for discussion at the Town Hall 
Meeting must be received by 5 p.m. e.s.t. on January 21, 2011.
    Deadline for Submission of Other Written Comments or Statements: 
Written comments or statements on issues that were discussed at this 
Town Hall Meeting or other comments, may be sent via regular mail, fax, 
or electronically to the address specified in

[[Page 78248]]

the ADDRESSES section of this notice and must be received by 5 p.m. 
e.s.t. on February 25, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: 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 21244-1850.
    Registration and Special Accommodations: Persons interested in 
attending the meeting or participating by teleconference must register 
by completing the on-line registration via the Web site at http://www.usqualitymeasures.org. Individuals who require special 
accommodations should send a request via email or regular mail to the 
contact specified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this 
notice.
    Submission of Written Comments or Statements: Written comments or 
statements may be sent via e-mail to [email protected]. or sent via regular mail to: Attn: 2012 Physician 
Quality Reporting System Town Hall Meeting Comments, Office of Clinical 
Standards and Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mail 
Stop S3-02-01, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacquelyn Kosh-Suber, (410).786-6889 
via e-mail at [email protected]. or via regular mail as 
specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Physician Quality Reporting System is a voluntary reporting 
program in which eligible professionals and group practices report data 
on quality measures. An eligible professional who satisfactorily 
reports data on quality measures may qualify to earn a Physician 
Quality Reporting System incentive payment based on a percentage of the 
eligible professional's (or, in the case of a group practice, the 
group's) total estimated allowed Medicare Part B charges for covered 
professional services furnished during a specified reporting period. 
Under section 1848(k)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (the Act), the 
term ``eligible professional'' means any of the following:
     A physician.
     A practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the 
Act.
     A physical or occupational therapist or a qualified 
speech-language pathologist or qualified audiologist.
    Detailed information about the Physician Quality Reporting System 
is available on the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI.
    Our goals for the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System include 
increasing participation in light of a payment adjustment that begins 
in 2015, leveraging the benefits of alternative reporting mechanisms, 
such as registry-based reporting, EHR-based reporting, and the group 
practice reporting option, and increasing alignment with other 
programs, such as the EHR Incentive Program.
    This Town Hall meeting will be hosted to solicit input from 
eligible professionals and other interested parties on the individual 
quality measure and measures group suggestions received in response to 
the ``2012 Physician Quality Reporting System Call for Measures'' and 
on other changes being considered for the future with regard to the key 
components of the Physician Quality Reporting System described in this 
notice.

II. Town Hall Meeting Format

    The Town Hall meeting will begin with an overview of the objectives 
for the session. The remainder of the meeting will be devoted to 
presenting and receiving input on each of the major components of the 
Physician Quality Reporting System including the following:
     The individual quality measures and measures group 
suggestions received in response to the ``2012 Physician Quality 
Reporting System Call for Measures'' (for more information, see the CMS 
Measures Management System Web site at http://www.cms.gov/MMS/13_Call%20for%20Measures.asp#TopOfPage).
     Reporting mechanism.
     Reporting period.
     Criteria for satisfactory reporting.
     The group practice reporting option.
     The Maintenance of Certification Program Incentive.
    Following each presentation, the meeting agenda will provide 
opportunities for brief comments on each of the key issues from on-site 
session attendees. The time for each presenter's comments will be 
approximately 2 minutes and will be based on the number of registered 
presenters. As time allows, telephone participants will also have the 
opportunity to provide brief comments of no more than 2 minutes on each 
of the key issues. Presenters will be scheduled to speak in the order 
in which they register. Therefore, individuals who would like to 
present must register and submit their comment(s) to the address 
specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date specified 
in the DATES section of this notice. All other written submissions will 
be accepted and presented at the meeting if they are received at the 
address specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date 
specified in the DATES section of this notice.
    We anticipate posting an audio download and/or transcript of the 
Town Hall meeting on the CMS PQRI Web site after completion of the 
meeting. See Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI. The opinions and 
alternatives provided during this meeting will assist us as we develop 
the Physician Quality Reporting System for 2012. We anticipate posting 
a summary of the individual quality measures and measures groups for 
possible inclusion in the proposed set of quality measures, as well as 
possible program design options under consideration for use in the 2012 
Physician Quality Reporting System on the Physician Quality Reporting 
System section of the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI by 
January 21, 2011.

III. Registration Instructions

    While there is no registration fee, for security reasons, any 
persons wishing to attend this meeting must register by the date listed 
in the DATES section of this notice. Persons interested in attending 
the meeting or participating by teleconference must register by 
completing the online registration via the Web site at http://www.usqualitymeasures.org. The online registration system will generate 
a confirmation page to indicate the completion of your registration. 
Please print this page as your registration receipt. If seating 
capacity has been reached, you will be notified that the meeting has 
reached capacity. Individuals may also participate in the Town Hall 
meeting by teleconference. Registration is required as the number of 
call-in lines will be limited. The call-in number will be provided upon 
confirmation of registration. Individuals may also register via 
telephone by calling the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
section of this notice or via regular mail to the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES 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 you to arrive at the central

[[Page 78249]]

building no later than 9 a.m. e.s.t. to allow for enough time to clear 
security and to check in before the meeting begins. The on-site check-
in for visitors will begin at 9:30 a.m. e.s.t. All items brought to the 
building, 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.
    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 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, setup, 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 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. Seating capacity is limited to the first 250 
registrants.


    Authority: Section 503 of Public Law 108-173.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program).

    Dated: December 7, 2010.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-31301 Filed 12-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P