[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64203-64205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25132]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1760-N]


Medicare Program; Virtual Public Meetings in December 2021 for 
New Revisions to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) 
Code Set

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the dates and times of virtual 
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) public meetings to be 
held in December 2021 to discuss our preliminary coding recommendations 
for new revisions to the HCPCS Level II code set, as well as how to 
register for those meetings.

DATES: 
    Virtual meeting dates: Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m.,

[[Page 64204]]

eastern standard time (e.s.t.), Thursday, December 2, 2021, 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m., e.s.t.
    Deadline for primary speaker registrations and presentation 
materials: The deadline for primary speakers to register and submit any 
supporting PowerPoint presentation, as well as any relevant studies 
published after the date the applicant submitted its HCPCS code 
application, is 5 p.m., e.s.t., Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
    Deadline for 5-minute speaker registrations: The deadline for 
registering to be a 5-minute speaker is 5 p.m., e.s.t., Wednesday, 
November 17, 2021.
    Deadline for registration for all other attendees: All individuals 
who plan to attend the virtual public meetings to listen, but do not 
plan to speak, must register to attend. Attendees can attend more than 
one meeting. Except for individuals who require special assistance, the 
deadline to register for each public meeting is the date of that public 
meeting. Individuals who plan to attend one or both of the virtual 
public meetings and require special assistance must register and 
request special assistance services by 5 p.m., e.s.t., Wednesday, 
November 17, 2021.
    Registration Link: The registration link is posted on the CMS 
website at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings. The same website also contains detailed 
information on how attendees can join the virtual public meetings using 
Zoom, including dial-in information for primary speakers, 5-minute 
speakers, and all other attendees.
    Deadline for submission of written comments: In addition to primary 
speaker presentation materials noted above, CMS will accept written 
comments from any stakeholder pertaining to a HCPCS code application 
scheduled for discussion at the public meetings. The deadline for 
submission of written comments pertaining to a specific HCPCS code 
application is 5 p.m., e.s.t., on the date of the virtual public 
meeting at which the applicable HCPCS code application is scheduled for 
discussion. As part of CMS' response to the COVID-19 public health 
emergency (PHE), written comments will only be accepted when emailed to 
[email protected].

ADDRESSES: Virtual meeting location: The December 1 and 2, 2021 HCPCS 
public meetings will be held virtually via Zoom only. The public 
meeting agendas (including the specific HCPCS code applications that 
will be discussed), meetings guidelines and the information to join 
these meetings are published at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberlee Combs, (410) 786-6707, or 
[email protected]; Irina Akelaitis, (410) 786-4602, or 
[email protected]; Felicia Kyeremeh, (410) 786-1898, or 
[email protected]; William Walker, (410) 786-5023, or 
[email protected]; Constantine Markos, (410) 786-0911, 
[email protected], or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On December 21, 2000, Congress enacted the Medicare, Medicaid, and 
SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA) (Pub. L. 
106-554). Section 531(b) of BIPA mandated that the Secretary establish 
procedures that permit public consultation for coding and payment 
determinations for new durable medical equipment (DME) under Medicare 
Part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (the Act). In the 
November 23, 2001, Federal Register (66 FR 58743), we published a 
notice providing information regarding the establishment of the annual 
public meeting process for DME.
    In 2020, we implemented changes to our HCPCS coding procedures, 
including the establishment of quarterly coding cycles for drugs and 
biological products and bi-annual coding cycles for non-drug and non-
biological items and services.

II. Virtual Meeting Registration

    Because of the ``Notice of the Continuation of the National 
Emergency Concerning the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic'' 
\1\ issued on February 24, 2021, there will not be an in-person 
meeting. The December 1 and 2, 2021 HCPCS public meetings will be 
virtual and available for remote audio attendance and participation 
only via Zoom.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/24/notice-on-the-continuation-of-the-national-emergency-concerning-the-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Required Information for Registration

    The following information must be provided when registering online 
to attend:
     Name;
     Company name and address (if applicable);
     Direct-dial telephone;
     Email address;
     Any special assistance requests (which, as stated above, 
will be considered if the registration is submitted by 5:00 p.m., 
e.s.t., Wednesday, November 17, 2021); and
     Whether the registrant is a primary speaker or a 5-minute 
speaker for an agenda item.

B. Additional Information

1. Primary Speakers
    Each applicant that submitted a HCPCS code application that will be 
discussed at the virtual public meetings is permitted to designate a 
primary speaker. As stated above, we will accept PowerPoint 
presentations and relevant studies if those materials are emailed to 
[email protected] by 5 p.m., e.s.t., 
Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Due to the timeframe needed for planning 
and coordination of the HCPCS virtual public meetings, materials that 
are not submitted in accordance with these deadlines cannot be 
accommodated.
    All PowerPoint presentation materials must not exceed 10 pages 
(each side of a page counts as 1 page). Newly relevant studies are not 
subject to this page limit.
    Fifteen minutes is the total time interval for each presentation. 
In establishing the public meeting agenda, we may group multiple, 
related code requests under the same agenda item.
    On the day of the virtual meeting that the primary speaker attends 
and speaks on a HCPCS code application, before 5 p.m., e.s.t., the 
primary speaker must email a brief written summary (one paragraph) of 
their comments and conclusions to 
[email protected].
    Every primary speaker must also declare at the beginning of their 
presentation at the meeting, as well as in their written summary, 
whether they have any financial involvement with the manufacturer of 
the item that is the subject of the HCPCS code application that the 
primary speaker presented, or any competitors of that manufacturer with 
respect to the item. This includes any payment, salary, remuneration, 
or benefit provided to that speaker by the applicant.
2. 5-Minute Speakers
    As noted above, the deadline for registering to be a 5-minute 
speaker is 5 p.m., e.s.t., Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
    On the day of the virtual meeting that the 5-minute speaker attends 
and speaks on a HCPCS code application, before 5 p.m., e.s.t., the 5-
minute speaker must

[[Page 64205]]

email a brief written summary of their comments and conclusions to 
[email protected]. CMS will not accept any 
other written materials from a 5-minute speaker.
    Every 5-minute speaker must also declare at the beginning of their 
presentation at the meeting, as well as in their written summary, 
whether they have any financial involvement with the manufacturer of 
the item that is the subject of the HCPCS code application that the 5-
minute speaker presented, or any competitors of that manufacturer with 
respect to the item. This includes any payment, salary, remuneration, 
or benefit provided to that speaker by the applicant.

C. Additional Virtual Meeting/Registration Information

    Prior to registering to attend a virtual public meeting, all 
potential participants and other stakeholders are advised to review the 
public meeting agendas at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings which identify our preliminary 
coding recommendations, and the date each item will be discussed. All 
potential participants and other stakeholders are also encouraged to 
regularly check the HCPCS section of the CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings for 
publication of the draft agendas, including a summary of each HCPCS 
code application and our preliminary recommendations.
    The HCPCS section of the CMS website also includes details 
regarding the public meeting process for new revisions to the HCPCS 
code set, including information on how to join the meeting remotely, 
and guidelines for an effective presentation. The HCPCS section of the 
CMS website also contains a document titled ``Healthcare Common 
Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II Coding Procedures,'' which is 
a description of the HCPCS coding process, including a detailed 
explanation of the procedures CMS uses to make HCPCS coding 
determinations.

III. Written Comments From Meeting Attendees Who Are Not Speakers

    Written comments from anyone who is not a primary speaker or 5-
minute speaker will only be accepted when emailed to 
[email protected] before 5 p.m., e.s.t., on 
the date of the virtual public meeting at which the HCPCS code 
application that is the subject of the comments is discussed.
    The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
(CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, having reviewed and approved this 
document, authorizes Lynette Wilson, who is the Federal Register 
Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Dated: November 12, 2021.
Lynette Wilson,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2021-25132 Filed 11-15-21; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P