[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 122 (Friday, June 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37121-37123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15903]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1584-N]
Medicare Program; Second Semi-Annual Meeting of the Advisory
Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups--August 10, 2011
Through August 12, 2011
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health
and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the second semi-annual meeting of the
Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Groups (the
Panel) for 2011. The purpose of the Panel is to review the APC groups
and their associated weights and to advise the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (the Secretary) and the
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
(the Administrator) concerning the clinical integrity of the APC groups
and their associated weights. We will consider the Panel's advice as we
prepare the final rule that would update the hospital Outpatient
Prospective Payment System (OPPS) for CY 2012.
DATES: Meeting Dates: We are scheduling the second semi-annual meeting
in 2011 for the following dates and times:
Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. eastern
standard time (e.s.t.) \1\
Thursday, August 11, 2011, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (e.s.t.) \1\
Friday, August 12, 2011, 8 a.m. to 12 Noon (e.s.t.) \2\
Note: \1\ The times listed in this notice are approximate times;
consequently, the meetings may last longer than listed in this
notice, but will not begin before the posted times.
\2\ If the Panel's business concludes on Thursday, August, 11,
2011, there will be no meeting on Friday, August, 12, 2011.
Deadlines
Deadline for Hardcopy Comments and electronic format suggested
agenda topics--5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Friday, July 15, 2011.
Deadline for Hardcopy Presentations, including the required
electronic documents as discussed below--5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Friday, July
15, 2011.
Deadline for Attendance Registration--5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday,
July 27, 2011.
Deadline for Special Accommodations--5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday,
July 27, 2011.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Auditorium, the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Central Office, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Smith, Designated Federal
Officer (DFO), CMS, CMM, HAPG, DOC, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop
C4-05-17, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Phone: (410) 786-3985.
Note: We recommend that you advise couriers of the following
information: When
[[Page 37122]]
delivering hardcopies of presentations to CMS, if no one answers at
the above phone number, please call (410) 786-4532 or (410) 786-
7267.
The e-mail address for comments, presentations, and registration
requests is [email protected].
News media representatives must contact our Public Affairs Office
at (202) 690-6145.
Advisory Committees' Information Lines: The phone numbers for the
CMS Federal Advisory Committee Hotline are 1-877-449-5659 (toll free)
and (410) 786-9379 (local).
Web Sites: For additional information on the APC Panel and updates
to the Panel's activities, we refer readers to our Web site available
at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/05_AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPaymentClassificationGroups.asp#TopOfPage.
Note: There is an UNDERSCORE after FACA/05; there is no space
between the underscore and the capital A. You may also search
information about the APC Panel and its membership in the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA) database at the following URL: https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
Submission of Materials to the Designated Federal Officer (DFO)
We require electronic versions of the written comments and
presentations, in addition to hardcopies. Because of staffing and
resource limitations, we cannot accept written comments and
presentations by FAX, nor can we print written comments and
presentations received electronically for dissemination at the meeting.
Only hardcopy comments and presentations can be reproduced for public
dissemination. All hardcopy presentations must be accompanied by Form
CMS-20017 (revised May 2011). The form is now available through the CMS
Forms Web site. To download Form CMS-20017, visit the following Web
site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/cmsforms/downloads/cms20017.pdf.
Additionally, presenters must clearly explain the action that they are
requesting CMS to take in the appropriate section of the form. They
must also state their relationship to the organization that they are
representing in the presentation.
Note: Issues that are vague, or that are outside the scope of
the APC Panel's purpose, will not be considered for presentations
and comments. There will be no exceptions to this rule. We
appreciate your cooperation on this matter.
In summary, presenters and/or commenters must do the following:
Send both electronic and hardcopy versions of their
presentations and written comments by the prescribed deadlines.
Send electronic transmissions to the e-mail address below.
Mail (or send by courier) to the Designated Federal
Officer (DFO) all hardcopies, accompanied by Form CMS-20017 (revised
01/07), if they are presenting, as specified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
Commenters not presenting at the APC panel meeting are not
required to send Form CMS-20017 with their written comments.
Do not send images of patients in any of the documents
unless their faces have been covered.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Secretary is required by section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social
Security Act (the Act) to consult with an expert, outside advisory
panel on the clinical integrity of the APC groups and weights
established under the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment
System (OPPS).
The APC Panel meets up to three times annually. The Panel consists
of up to 15 members, who are representatives of providers, and a Chair.
Each Panel member must be employed full-time by a hospital,
hospital system, or other Medicare provider subject to payment under
the OPPS. The Secretary or Administrator selects the Panel membership
based upon either self-nominations or nominations submitted by Medicare
providers and other interested organizations.
All members must have technical expertise to enable them to
participate fully in the Panel's work. The expertise encompasses
hospital payment systems; hospital medical care delivery systems;
provider billing systems; APC groups; Current Procedural Terminology
(CPT) codes; and alpha-numeric Health Care Common Procedure Coding
System (HCPCS) codes; and the use of, and payment for, drugs, medical
devices, and other services in the outpatient setting, as well as other
forms of relevant expertise. Details regarding membership requirements
for the APC Panel are found on the FACA and CMS Web sites as listed
above.
The Panel presently consists of the following members: (Note: The
asterisk [*] indicates the Panel members whose terms end on September
30, 2011.)
E. L. Hambrick, M.D., J.D., Chair, CMS Medical Officer.
Ruth L. Bush, M.D., M.P.H.
Kari S. Cornicelli, C.P.A., FHFMA.
Dawn L. Francis, M.D., M.H.S.
Kathleen Graham, R.N., M.S.H.A., C.P.H.Q., A.C.M.
Patrick A. Grusenmeyer, Sc.D., F.A.C.H.E.*
David Halsey, M.D.
Brian D. Kavanagh, M.D., M.P.H.
Judith T. Kelly, B.S.H.A., R.H.I.T., R.H.I.A., C.C.S.
Scott Manaker, M.D., PhD
John Marshall, CRA, RCC, RT.
Agatha L. Nolen, PhD, M.S., F.A.S.H.P.*
Randall A. Oyer, M.D.
Daniel Pothen, M.S., R.H.I.A., C.P.H.I.M.S., C.C.S.P,
C.H.C.
Gregory Przybylski, M.D.
Neville B. Sarkari, M.D., FACP.
II. Agenda
The agenda for the August 2011 meeting will provide for discussion
and comment on the following topics as designated in the Panel's
Charter:
Addressing whether procedures within an APC group are
similar both clinically and in terms of resource use.
Evaluating APC group weights.
Reviewing packaging the cost of items and services,
including drugs and devices, into procedures and services, including
the methodology for packaging and the impact of packaging the cost of
those items and services on APC group structure and payment.
Removing procedures from the inpatient list for payment
under the OPPS.
Using claims and cost report data for CMS' determination
of APC group weights.
Addressing other technical issues concerning APC group
structure.
Note: The subject matter before the Panel will be limited to
these and related topics. Issues related to calculation of the OPPS
conversion factor, charge compression, revisions to the cost report,
pass-through payments, payment adjustments, or correct code usage
are not within the scope of the Panel's purpose. Therefore, these
issues will not be considered for presentations or comments. There
will be no exceptions to this rule. We appreciate your cooperation
on this matter.
The Panel may use data collected or developed by entities and
organizations other than the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS) and CMS in conducting its review. We recommend that
organizations submit data for the Panel's and CMS' review.
III. Written Comments and Suggested Agenda Topics
Hardcopy and electronic written comments and suggested agenda
topics should be sent to the DFO as specified
[[Page 37123]]
in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The DFO must receive these
items by 5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Friday, July 15, 2011. We appreciate your
cooperation on this matter.
IV. Oral Presentations
Individuals or organizations wishing to make 5-minute oral
presentations must submit hardcopy and electronic versions of their
presentations to the DFO by 5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Friday, July 15, 2011.
The number of oral presentations may be limited by the time
available. Oral presentations cannot exceed 5 minutes in length for an
individual or an organization.
The Chair may further limit time allowed for presentations due to
the number of oral presentations, if necessary. Presentation times
listed in the public agenda are approximate and presenters should be
prepared to present earlier and later than indicated.
V. Presenter and Presentation Information
All presenters must submit Form CMS-20017 (Revised 05/11) that is
required for all oral presentations. The DFO must receive the following
information from those wishing to make oral presentations:
The Form CMS-20017 (Revised 05/11) with all pertinent
information completed.
One hardcopy of presentation.
Electronic copy of presentation.
Personal registration information as described in the
``Meeting Attendance'' section below.
Those persons wishing to submit written comments only (and
not make a 5 minute oral presentation at the Panel meeting) must send
hardcopy and electronic versions of their comments, but they are not
required to submit the Form CMS-20017 (Revised 05/11).
VI. Oral Comments
In addition to formal oral presentations, there will be opportunity
during the meeting for public oral comments, which will be limited to 1
minute for each individual and a total of 3 minutes per organization.
VII. Meeting Attendance
The meeting is open to the public; however, attendance is limited
to space available. Attendance will be determined on a first-come,
first-served basis.
Persons wishing to attend this meeting, which is located on Federal
property, must e-mail the DFO to register in advance no later than 5
p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 27, 2011. A confirmation will be sent to
the requester(s) by return e-mail.
The following personal information must be e-mailed to the DFO by
the date and time above:
Name(s) of attendee(s).
Title(s).
Organization including address(es).
E-mail address(es).
Telephone number(s).
VIII. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines
The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the
space available. Persons wishing to attend this meeting must register
by contacting the DFO at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of
this notice or by telephone at the number listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice by the date specified in the
DATES section of this notice.
This meeting will be held in a Federal government building;
therefore, Federal security measures are applicable. We recommend that
confirmed registrants arrive reasonably early, but no earlier than 45
minutes before the start of the meeting, to allow 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.
Inspection of vehicle's interior and exterior (this
includes engine and trunk inspection) at the entrance to the grounds.
Parking permits and instructions will be issued after the vehicle
inspection.
Inspection, via metal detector or other applicable means
of all persons brought entering the building. We note that all items
brought into CMS, whether personal or for the purpose of presentation
or to support a presentation, 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 presentation or to support a presentation.
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 before the convening of the meeting.
All visitors must be escorted in areas other than the lower and
first floor levels in the Central Building.
IX. Special Accommodations
Individuals requiring sign-language interpretation or other special
accommodations must send a request for these services to the DFO by 5
p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, July 27, 2011.
X. Panel Recommendations and Discussions
The Panel's recommendations at any APC Panel meeting generally are
not final until they have been reviewed and approved by the Panel on
the last day before the final adjournment.
XI. Collection of Information Requirements
This document does not impose information collection and
recordkeeping requirements. Consequently, it need not be reviewed by
the Office of Management and Budget under the authority of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program).
Dated: June 15, 2011.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-15903 Filed 6-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P