[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29864-29866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13785]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3345-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development 
and Coverage Advisory Committee--August 30, 2017

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 29865]]

SUMMARY: This notice announces that a public meeting of the Medicare 
Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) 
(``Committee'') will be held on Wednesday, August 30, 2017. This 
meeting will specifically focus on obtaining the MEDCAC's 
recommendations regarding the appraisal of the state of evidence for 
health outcomes in the Medicare population for surgical and endoscopic 
procedures for weight loss. This meeting is open to the public in 
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

DATES: Meeting Date: The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, 
August 30, 2017 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time 
(EDT).
    Deadline for Submission of Written Comments: Written comments must 
be received at the address specified in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice by 5:00 p.m., EDT, Monday, July 24, 2017. 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 5:00 p.m., EDT on Monday, July 24, 2017. 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.
    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 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, August 23, 2017. 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 5:00 
p.m., EDT Friday, August 4, 2017.

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, 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

    MEDCAC, formerly known as the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee 
(MCAC), is advisory in nature, with all final coverage decisions 
resting with CMS. MEDCAC is used to supplement CMS' internal expertise. 
Accordingly, the advice rendered by the MEDCAC is most useful when it 
results from a process of full scientific inquiry and thoughtful 
discussion, in an open forum, with careful framing of recommendations 
and clear identification of the basis of those recommendations. MEDCAC 
members are valued for their background, education, and expertise in a 
wide variety of scientific, clinical, and other related fields. (For 
more information on MCAC, see the MEDCAC Charter (http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/Downloads/medcaccharter.pdf) and 
the CMS Guidance Document, Factors CMS Considers in Referring Topics to 
the MEDCAC (http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/medicare-coverage-document-details.aspx?MCDId=10)).

II. Meeting Topic and Format

    This notice announces the Wednesday, August 30, 2017, public 
meeting of the Committee. During this meeting, the Committee will 
discuss recommendations regarding the appraisal of the state of 
evidence for health outcomes in the Medicare population for surgical 
and endoscopic procedures for weight loss. Background information about 
this topic, including panel materials, 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 
organizations with expertise in health outcomes in the Medicare 
population for surgical and endoscopic procedures for weight loss. 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 July 31, 2017. 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. Speakers presenting at the MEDCAC meeting should 
include a full disclosure slide as their second slide in their 
presentation for financial interests (for example, type of financial 
association--consultant, research support, advisory board, and an 
indication of level, such as minor association < $10,000 or major 
association > $10,000) as well as intellectual conflicts of interest 
(for example, involvement in a federal or nonfederal advisory committee 
that has discussed the issue) that may pertain in any way to the 
subject of this meeting. If you are representing an organization, we 
require that you also disclose conflict of interest information for 
that organization. If you do not have a PowerPoint presentation, you 
will need to present the full disclosure information requested 
previously at the beginning of your statement to the Committee.
    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

[[Page 29866]]

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 number(s), fax 
number, 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. The Real ID Act, 
enacted in 2005, establishes minimum standards for the issuance of 
state-issued driver's licenses and identification (ID) cards. It 
prohibits Federal agencies from accepting an official driver's license 
or ID card from a state unless the Department of Homeland Security 
determines that the state meets these standards. Beginning October 
2015, photo IDs (such as a valid driver's license) issued by a state or 
territory not in compliance with the Real ID Act will not be accepted 
as identification to enter Federal buildings. Visitors from these 
states/territories will need to provide alternative proof of 
identification (such as a valid passport) to gain entrance into CMS 
buildings. The current list of states from which a Federal agency may 
accept driver's licenses for an official purpose is found at http://www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief. 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 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.

V. Collection of Information

    This document does not impose information collection requirements, 
that is, reporting, recordkeeping or third-party disclosure 
requirements. Consequently, there is no need for review by the Office 
of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

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

    Dated: June 22, 2017.
Kate Goodrich,
Director, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2017-13785 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P