[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 51 (Thursday, March 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15372-15373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6309]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3261-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development 
and Coverage Advisory Committee--May 16, 2012

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that a public meeting of the Medicare 
Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) 
(``Committee'') will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. The Committee 
generally provides advice and recommendations concerning the adequacy 
of scientific evidence needed to determine whether certain medical 
items and services can be covered under the Medicare statute. This 
meeting will focus on the desirable characteristics of evidence 
appropriate for Coverage with Evidence Development. This meeting is 
open to the public in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)).

DATES: Meeting Date: The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 
16, 2012 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Daylight Saving Time (DST).
    Deadline for Submission of Written Comments: Written comments must 
be received at the address specified in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice by 5 p.m. DST, Monday, April 16, 2012. Once submitted, all 
comments are final.
    Deadlines for Speaker Registration and Presentation Materials: The 
deadline to register to be a speaker and to submit PowerPoint 
presentation materials and writings that will be used in support of an 
oral presentation is 5 p.m., DST on Monday, April 16, 2012. Speakers 
may register by phone or via email by contacting the person listed in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. 
Presentation materials must be received at the address specified in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice.

[[Page 15373]]

    Deadline for All Other Attendees Registration: Individuals may 
register online at http://www.cms.gov/apps/events/upcomingevents.asp?strOrderBy=1&type=3 or by phone by contacting the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
notice by 5 p.m. DST, Friday, May 11, 2012.
    We will be broadcasting the meeting live via Webcast at http://www.cms.gov/live/.
    Deadline for Submitting a Request for Special Accommodations: 
Persons attending the meeting who are hearing or visually impaired, or 
have a condition that requires special assistance or accommodations, 
are asked to contact the Executive Secretary as specified in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice no later than 5 
p.m., DST Friday, May 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The meeting will be held in the main 
auditorium of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Submission of Presentations and Comments: Presentation materials 
and written comments that will be presented at the meeting must be 
submitted via email to [email protected] or by regular 
mail to the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this notice by the date specified in the DATES section of 
this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Ellis, Executive Secretary for 
MEDCAC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Clinical 
Standards and Quality, Coverage and Analysis Group, S3-02-01, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244 or contact Ms. Ellis by phone 
(410-786-0309) or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    MEDCAC, formerly known as the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee 
(MCAC), provides advice and recommendations to CMS regarding clinical 
issues. (For more information on MCAC, see the December 14, 1998 
Federal Register (63 FR 68780). This notice announces the Wednesday, 
May 16, 2012, public meeting of the Committee. During this meeting, the 
Committee will discuss desirable characteristics of evidence 
appropriate for Coverage with Evidence Development. Background 
information about this topic, including panel ma- terials, is available 
at http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/medcac-meetings-index.aspx?bc=BAAAAAAAAAAA&. We will no longer be providing 
paper copies of the handouts for the meeting. Electronic copies of all 
the meeting materials will be on the CMS Web site no later than 2 
business days before the meeting. We encourage the participation of 
appropriate organizations with expertise in the desirable 
characteristics of evidence appropriate for Coverage with Evidence 
Development.

II. Meeting Format

    This meeting is open to the public. The Committee will hear oral 
presentations from the public for approximately 45 minutes. Time 
allotted for each presentation may be limited. If the number of 
registrants requesting to speak is greater than can be reasonably 
accommodated during the scheduled open public hearing session, we may 
conduct a lottery to determine the speakers for the scheduled open 
public hearing session. The contact person will notify interested 
persons regarding their request to speak by April 19, 2012. Your 
comments should focus on issues specific to the list of topics that we 
have proposed to the Committee. The list of research topics to be 
discussed at the meeting will be available on the following Web site 
prior to the meeting: http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/medcac-meetings-index.aspx?bc=BAAAAAAAAAAA&. We require that 
you declare at the meeting whether you have any financial involvement 
with manufacturers (or their competitors) of any items or services 
being discussed.
    The Committee will deliberate openly on the topics under 
consideration. Interested persons may observe the deliberations, but 
the Committee will not hear further comments during this time except at 
the request of the chairperson. The Committee will also allow a 15-
minute unscheduled open public session for any attendee to address 
issues specific to the topics under consideration. At the conclusion of 
the day, the members will vote and the Committee will make its 
recommendation(s) to CMS.

III. Registration Instructions

    CMS' Coverage and Analysis Group is coordinating meeting 
registration. While there is no registration fee, individuals must 
register to attend. You may register online at http://www.cms.gov/apps/events/upcomingevents.asp?strOrderBy=1&type=3 or by phone by contacting 
the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this notice by the deadline listed in the DATES section of this notice. 
Please provide your full name (as it appears on your state-issued 
driver's license), address, organization, telephone, fax number(s), and 
email address. You will receive a registration confirmation with 
instructions for your arrival at the CMS complex or you will be 
notified that the seating capacity has been reached.

IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines

    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 prior to 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 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.


    Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a).

    Dated: March 8, 2012.
Patrick Conway,
CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director, Office of Clinical Standards 
and Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2012-6309 Filed 3-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P