[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11448-11449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04382]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3427-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's fundamental purpose is to 
support the principles of an evidence-based determination process for 
Medicare's coverage policies. MEDCAC panels provide advice to CMS on 
the strength of the evidence available for specific medical treatments 
and technologies through a public, participatory, and accountable 
process.

DATES: Nominations must be received by Monday, March 28, 2022.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth McKesson, MEDCAC Coordinator, 
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. McKesson by phone (410) 
786-8611 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 
website at: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/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, 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

[[Page 11449]]

ensure adequate representation of those enrolled in the Medicare 
program including but not limited to, racial and ethnic groups, 
individuals with disabilities, and from across the gender spectrum. 
Therefore, we encourage nominations of qualified candidates who can 
represent these lived experiences.
    The MEDCAC consists of a pool of 100 appointed members including: 
90 at-large standing members (10 of whom are patient advocates), and 10 
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, health disparities, medical ethics, those with an 
understanding of sociodemographic bias and resulting limitations of 
scientific evidence, 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 2022, there will be 23 membership terms expiring. Of the 
23 memberships expiring, 3 are patient advocates and the remaining 20 
membership openings are for the at-large standing MEDCAC membership.
    All nominations must be accompanied by curricula vitae. Nomination 
packages should be sent to Ruth McKesson 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
 Health disparities
 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 health disparities, 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, 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:

 Title and current position
 Professional affiliation
 Home and business address
 Telephone
 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 may be 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 are encouraged to include a 
letter of support from the organization or interest group they would 
represent.

III. 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. 3501 et seq.).
    The Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Center for Clinical 
Standards and Quality for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
(CMS), Lee A. Fleisher, having reviewed and approved this document, 
authorizes Evell J. Barco Holland, who is the Federal Register Liaison, 
to electronically sign this document for purposes of publication in the 
Federal Register.

Evell J. Barco Holland,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2022-04382 Filed 2-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P