[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 209 (Friday, October 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 66931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27963]



[[Page 66931]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1585-N]


Medicare Program: Notice of Two Membership Appointments to the 
Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces two new membership appointments to the 
Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Groups (the 
Panel). The two appointments are for 4-year periods through January 31, 
2016. 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 (the Secretary) and the Administrator of the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (the Administrator) concerning 
the clinical integrity of the APC groups and their weights. The advice 
provided by the Panel will be considered as CMS prepares its annual 
updates of the hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Smith, the Designated Federal 
Officer. CMS, Center for Medicare Mail Stop C4-05-13, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, Phone (410) 786-4709.
    Web site: For additional information on the APC meeting dates, 
agenda topics, copy of the charter, as well as updates to the Panel's 
activities, search the CMS Web site at: https://www.cms.gov/FACA/05_AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPaymentClassificationGroups.asp#TopOfPage. 
(Note: There is an UNDERSCORE after FACA/05--; there is no space.)
    Advisory Committees' Information Lines: The phone numbers for the 
CMS Federal Advisory Committee Hotlines are 1-(877) 449-5659 (toll 
free) and (410) 786-9379 (local).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Secretary is required by section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social 
Security Act (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)(9)(A)) to consult with an 
expert outside advisory panel on the clinical integrity of the 
Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) groups and their associated 
weights. The Advisory Panel on APC Groups (the Panel) meets up to three 
times annually. We will consider the technical advice provided by the 
Panel as we prepare the proposed and final rules to update the 
outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) for the next calendar 
year.
    The Panel shall consist of up to 15 representatives of Medicare 
providers that are subject to the OPPS, plus a Chair. The Secretary or 
a designee selects the Panel membership based upon either self-
nominations or nominations submitted by Medicare providers and other 
interested organizations. The Panel presently consists of the following 
members and a Chair: (The asterisk [*] indicates a Panel member whose 
term expires on September 30, 2011.)
     Edith 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.
     Patrick A. Grusenmeyer, Sc.D., FACHE.*
     David A. Halsey, M.D.
     Brian D. Kavanagh, M.D., MPH.
     Judith T. Kelly, R.H.I.T., R.H.I.A., C.C.S.
     Scott Manaker, M.D., Ph.D.
     John Marshall, CRA, RCC, CIRCC, RT(R), FAHRA.
     Agatha Nolan, D.Ph., M.S., FASHP.*
     Randall A. Oyer, M.D.
     Daniel J. Pothen, M.S., RHIA, CHPS.
     Gregory Przybylski, M.D.
     Neville B. Sarkari, M.D., FACP.

II. Provisions of This Notice

    On March 25, 2011, a notice appeared in the Federal Register (76 FR 
16788), entitled ``Medicare Program; Solicitation of Two Nominations to 
the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups'' 
requesting nominations to the Panel replacing Panel members whose terms 
would expire on September 30, 2011. As a result of that Federal 
Register notice, we are announcing two new members to the Panel. Both 
appointments are for 4-year terms commencing on February 1, 2012.
    New Appointments/Reappointments to the Panel--The following are the 
two new Panel members:
     Marianna V. Spanaki-Varelas, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.
     Jacqueline Phillips.

III. 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. 35).

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

    Dated: September 15, 2011.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-27963 Filed 10-27-11; 8:45 am]
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