[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 22991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09289]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1466-N]


Medicare Program: Notice of Two 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 two new membership appointments to the 
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (the Panel). The two new 
appointments to the Panel will each serve a 4-year period. The new 
members will have terms that begin on February 16, 2014 and continue 
through February 15, 2018. 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 relative payment weights. The Panel 
also addresses and makes recommendations regarding supervision of 
hospital 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/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPaymentClassificationGroups.html. For other 
information regarding the Panel, contact Carol Schwartz, the Designated 
Federal Officer (DFO) at CMS, Center for Medicare, Hospital and 
Ambulatory Policy Group, Division of Outpatient Care, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Mail Stop C4-05-17, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, phone (410) 
786-3985.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    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 relative payment weights, which are major 
elements of the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System 
(OPPS), and the appropriate supervision level for hospital outpatient 
services. 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 OPPS 
for the following 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.

 Edith Hambrick, M.D., J.D., Chair, CMS Medical Officer.
 Karen Borman, M.D., FACS.
 Kari S. Cornicelli, C.P.A., FHFMA.
 Brian D. Kavanagh, M.D., MPH.
 Scott Manaker, M.D., Ph.D.
 John Marshall, CRA, RCC, CIRCC, RT(R), FAHRA.
 Jim Nelson, M.B.A., C.P.A., FHFMA.
 Leah Osbahr, M.A., MPH.
 Jacqueline Phillips.
 Traci Rabine.
 Michael Rabovsky, M.D.
 Marianna V. Spanaki-Varela, MD, Ph.D., M.B.A.
 Gale Walker.
 Kris Zimmer.

II. Provisions of the Notice

    We published a notice in the Federal Register on November 1, 2013, 
entitled ``Medicare Program; Solicitation of Five Nominations to the 
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (HOP, the Panel)'' (78 FR 
65660). The notice solicited nominations for five new members to fill 
the vacancies on the Panel beginning September 30, 2013. As a result of 
that notice, we are announcing two new members to the Panel. The Panel 
currently consists of 15 members. The two new Panel members 
appointments are for 4-year terms beginning on February 16, 2014.

New Appointments to the Panel

    The two new members of the Panel with terms beginning on February 
16, 2014 and continuing through February 15, 2018 are as follows:

 Wendy Resnick, FHFMA.
 Johnathan Pregler, 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).

    Dated: April 17, 2014.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-09289 Filed 4-24-14; 8:45 am]
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