[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 151 (Friday, August 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51915-51916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18545]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3335-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 Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

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 
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 section of this notice.
    The MEDCAC is governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, Pub. L. 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 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 January 2017, there will be 31 membership terms expiring. Of 
the 31 memberships expiring, 3 are industry representatives, 1 is a 
patient advocate, and the remaining 27 membership openings are for the 
at-large standing MEDCAC membership.
    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

[[Page 51916]]

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.

    Dated: July 26, 2016.
Kate Goodrich,
Director, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2016-18545 Filed 8-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P