[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9255-9256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3643]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1594-N]


Medicare Program: Notice of Six Membership Appointments to the 
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces six new membership appointments to the 
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (HOP, the Panel). The six 
appointments to the 19 member Panel will each serve a 4-year period. 
Five of the new members will have terms that begin on February 1, 2012 
and continuing through January 31, 2016. The sixth member's term will 
begin on August 1, 2012 and continuing through July 31, 2016. The 
purpose of the Panel is to advise the Secretary of the Department of 
Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services concerning the clinical integrity of the 
Ambulatory Payment Classification groups and their weights. The Panel 
also addresses and makes recommendations regarding supervision of 
outpatient services. The advice provided by the Panel will be 
considered as we prepare the annual updates for the hospital outpatient 
prospective payment system.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the 
Panel meeting dates, agenda topics, copy of the charter, as well as 
updates to the Panel's activities, search our Internet Web site: 
https://www.cms.gov/FACA/05_AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPaymentClassificationGroups.asp#TopOfPage. 
(Note: There is an UNDERSCORE after FACA/05--; there is no space.)
    For other information regarding the Panel, contact Paula Smith, the 
Designated Federal Officer at CMS, Center for Medicare, Hospital and 
Ambulatory Policy Group, Division of Outpatient Care, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Mail Stop C4-05-13, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, phone (410) 
786-4709. Information can also be obtained by contacting the CMS 
Advisory Committees' Information Line at 1-877-449-5659 (toll free) and 
(410) 786-9379 (local).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (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)) and section 222 of the Public 
Health Service Act (PHS Act) (42 U.S.C. 217a) to consult with an expert 
outside advisory panel on the clinical integrity of the Ambulatory 
Payment Classification groups and weights. The Advisory Panel on 
Hospital Outpatient Payment (HOP, the Panel) is governed by the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-
463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for 
the formation and use of advisory panels. The Panel Charter provides 
that the Panel shall meet up to 3 times annually. We consider the 
technical advice provided by the Panel as we prepare the proposed and 
final rules to update the outpatient prospective payment system for the 
next calendar year.
    The Panel shall consist of a chair and up to 19 members who are 
full-time employees of hospitals, hospital systems, or other Medicare 
providers. The Secretary or a designee selects the Panel membership 
based upon either self-nominations or nominations submitted by Medicare 
providers and other interested organizations. New appointments are made 
in a manner that ensures a balanced membership under the FACA 
guidelines.
    The Panel presently consists of the following members and a Chair: 
(The asterisk [*] indicates a Panel member whose term expires on July 
31, 2012).
     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.*
     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.
     Jacqueline Phillips.
     Randall A. Oyer, M.D.
     Daniel J. Pothen, M.S., RHIA, CHPS.
     Gregory Przybylski, M.D.
     Marianna V. Spanaki-Varela, MD, Ph.D., M.B.A.

II. Provisions of the Notice

    We published a notice in the Federal Register on November 25, 2011, 
entitled ``Medicare Program; Renaming and Other Changes to the Advisory 
Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment Charter (Formerly the Advisory 
Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups) and Request for 
Nominations'' (76 FR 72708). The notice requested nominations to be 
added to the Panel by replacing one Panel member whose term expires on 
July 31, 2012; replacing one Panel member who resigned; and by adding 
four new Panel members (two of these designated as Critical Access 
Hospital representatives (see the November 30, 2011 final rule, (76 FR 
74363)) to address appropriate supervision level for hospital 
outpatient services. As a result of that November 25, 2012 notice and 
the November 30, 2011 final rule, we are announcing six new members to 
the Panel. Their appointments are for 4-year terms commencing on 
February 1, 2012 and August 1, 2012.
    New Appointments to the Panel--The new members of the Panel with 
terms beginning on February 1, 2012 and continuing through January 31, 
2016 are as follows:
     Lanny Copeland, M.D.,
     Jim Nelson,
     Leah Osbahr,
     Traci Rabine; and
     Gale Walker
    The new member of the Panel with a term beginning on August 1, 
2012, and continuing through July 31, 2016 is:
     Karen Borman, M.D.

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 Program; and No. 93.774,

[[Page 9256]]

Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)(9)(A)). The 
Panel is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2).

    Dated: February 8, 2012.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2012-3643 Filed 2-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P