[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66723-66724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26699]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3298-N]


Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for Members for the 
Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the request for nominations for 
membership on the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory 
Committee (MEDCAC). Among other duties, the MEDCAC provides advice and 
guidance to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human 
Services (the Secretary) and the Administrator of the Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) concerning the adequacy of 
scientific evidence available to CMS in making coverage determinations 
under the Medicare program. The MEDCAC reviews and evaluates medical 
literature and technology assessments, and hears public testimony on 
the evidence available to address the impact of medical items and 
services on health outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries.

DATES: Nominations must be received by Monday, December 8, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may mail nominations for membership to the following 
address: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Center for Clinical 
Standards and Quality, Attention: Maria Ellis, 7500 Security Boulevard, 
Mail Stop: S3-02-01, Baltimore, MD 21244 or send via email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Ellis, Executive Secretary for 
the MEDCAC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Center for 
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

    The Secretary signed the initial charter for the Medicare Coverage 
Advisory Committee (MCAC) on November 24, 1998. A notice in the Federal 
Register (63 FR 68780) announcing establishment of the MCAC was 
published on December 14, 1998. The MCAC name was updated to more 
accurately reflect the purpose of the committee and on January 26, 
2007, the Secretary published a notice in the Federal Register (72 FR 
3853), announcing that the Committee's name changed to the Medicare 
Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC). The 
charter for the committee can be accessed at http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/MEDCAC.html.
    The MEDCAC is governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), which 
sets forth standards for the formulation and use of advisory 
committees, and is authorized by section 222 of the Public Health 
Service Act as amended (42 U.S.C. 217A).
    We are requesting nominations for candidates to serve on the 
MEDCAC. Nominees are selected based upon their individual 
qualifications and not solely as representatives of professional 
associations or societies. We wish to ensure adequate representation of 
the interests of both women and men, members of all ethnic groups, and 
physically challenged individuals. Therefore, we encourage nominations 
of qualified candidates who can represent these interests.
    The MEDCAC consists of a pool of 100 appointed members including: 
94 at-large standing members (6 of whom are patient advocates), and 6 
representatives of industry interests. Members generally are recognized 
authorities in clinical medicine including subspecialties, 
administrative

[[Page 66724]]

medicine, public health, biological and physical sciences, epidemiology 
and biostatistics, clinical trial design, health care data management 
and analysis, patient advocacy, health care economics, medical ethics 
or other relevant professions.
    The MEDCAC works from an agenda provided by the Designated Federal 
Official. The MEDCAC reviews and evaluates medical literature and 
technology assessments, and hears public testimony on the evidence 
available to address the impact of medical items and services on health 
outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries. The MEDCAC may also advise the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of Medicare's 
``coverage with evidence development'' initiative.

II. Provisions of the Notice

    As of June 2015, there will be 16 membership terms expiring. Of the 
16 memberships expiring, 2 are industry representatives, 1 is a patient 
advocate, and the remaining 13 membership openings are for the at-large 
standing MEDCAC membership.
    We wish to ensure adequate representation of the interests of both 
women and men, members of all ethnic groups and physically challenged 
individuals. Therefore, we encourage nominations of qualified 
candidates from these groups.
    All nominations must be accompanied by curricula vitae. Nomination 
packages should be sent to Maria Ellis at the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Nominees are selected based upon 
their individual qualifications. Nominees for membership must have 
expertise and experience in one or more of the following fields:

 Clinical medicine including subspecialties
 Administrative medicine
 Public health
 Biological and physical sciences
 Epidemiology and biostatistics
 Clinical trial design
 Health care data management and analysis
 Patient advocacy
 Health care economics
 Medical ethics
 Other relevant professions

    We are looking particularly for experts in a number of fields. 
These include cancer screening, genetic testing, clinical epidemiology, 
psychopharmacology, screening and diagnostic testing analysis, and 
vascular surgery. We also need experts in biostatistics in clinical 
settings, dementia treatment, minority health, observational research 
design, stroke epidemiology, and women's health.
    The nomination letter must include a statement that the nominee is 
willing to serve as a member of the MEDCAC and appears to have no 
conflict of interest that would preclude membership. We are requesting 
that all curricula vitae include the following:

 Date of birth
 Place of birth
 Social security number
 Title and current position
 Professional affiliation
 Home and business address
 Telephone and fax numbers
 Email address
 List of areas of expertise

    In the nomination letter, we are requesting that nominees specify 
whether they are applying for a patient advocate position, for an at-
large standing position, or as an industry representative. Potential 
candidates will be asked to provide detailed information concerning 
such matters as financial holdings, consultancies, and research grants 
or contracts in order to permit evaluation of possible sources of 
financial conflict of interest. Department policy prohibits multiple 
committee memberships. A federal advisory committee member may not 
serve on more than one committee within an agency at the same time.
    Members are invited to serve for overlapping 2-year terms. A member 
may continue to serve after the expiration of the member's term until a 
successor is named. Any interested person may nominate one or more 
qualified persons. Self-nominations are also accepted. Individuals 
interested in the representative positions must include a letter of 
support from the organization or interest group they would represent. 
The current Secretary's Charter for the MEDCAC is available on the CMS 
Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/Downloads/medcaccharter.pdf, 
or you may obtain a copy of the charter by submitting a request to the 
contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
notice.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2).

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

    Dated: November 4, 2014.
Patrick Conway,
Deputy Administrator for Innovation and Quality and CMS Chief Medical 
Officer, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-26699 Filed 11-7-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P