[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 209 (Monday, October 31, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65593-65595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23640]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1790-N]


Medicare Program; Public Meeting for New Revisions to the 
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Coding--November 29-
December 1, 2022

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the dates and times of the virtual 
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) public meetings to be 
held November 29, 2022 through December 1, 2022 to discuss our 
preliminary coding, Medicare benefit category, and payment 
determinations for new revisions to the HCPCS Level II code set, as 
well as how to register for those meetings.

DATES: 
    Virtual Meeting Dates: Tuesday, November 29, 2022, 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m., eastern standard time (e.s.t.), Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 9 
a.m. to 5 p.m. e.s.t., and Thursday, December 1, 2022, 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., Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
    Deadline for 5-Minute Speaker Registrations: The deadline for 
registering to be a 5-minute speaker is 5 p.m., e.s.t., Tuesday, 
November 15, 2022.
    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 more of the virtual 
public meetings and require special assistance must register and 
request special assistance services by Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
    Registration Link: The registration link will be posted in the 
Guidelines for Participation in HCPCS Public Meetings document on the 
CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings and in an announcement on the HCPCS General 
Information page at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo. 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 the 
primary speaker presentation materials noted above, CMS will accept 
written comments from any stakeholder pertaining to a HCPCS code 
application or agenda item scheduled for discussion at the public 
meetings. The deadline for submission of written comments pertaining to 
a specific HCPCS code application or agenda item is 5 p.m., e.s.t., on 
the date of the virtual public meeting at which the applicable HCPCS 
code application or agenda item is scheduled for discussion. Written 
comments will only be accepted when emailed to: [email protected].

ADDRESSES: Virtual Meeting Location: The November 29, 2022 through 
December 1, 2022 HCPCS public meetings will be held virtually via Zoom 
only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sundus Ashar, (410) 786 0750, 
[email protected], or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On December 21, 2000, Congress enacted the Medicare, Medicaid, and 
State Children's Health Insurance Program (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

[[Page 65594]]

of the annual public meeting process for DME.
    In 2020, we implemented changes to our Healthcare Common Procedure 
Coding System (HCPCS) coding procedures, including the establishment of 
quarterly coding cycles for drugs and biological products and biannual 
coding cycles for non-drug and non-biological items and services.
    In the December 28, 2021 Federal Register (86 FR 73860), we 
published a final rule that established procedures for making Medicare 
benefit category and payment determinations for new items and services 
that are DME, prosthetic devices, orthotics and prosthetics, 
therapeutic shoes and inserts, surgical dressings, or splints, casts, 
and other devices used for reductions of fractures and dislocations 
under Medicare Part B.

II. Virtual Meeting Registration

    The November 29, 2022 through December 1, 2022 HCPCS public 
meetings will be virtual and available for remote audio attendance and 
participation only via Zoom.

A. Required Information for Registration

    The following information must be provided when registering online 
to attend:
     Name;
     Company name (if applicable);
     Email address;
     Any special assistance requests (which, as stated above, 
will be considered if the registration is submitted by 5 p.m., e.s.t., 
Tuesday, November 15, 2022);
     Whether the registrant is a primary speaker or a 5-minute 
speaker for an agenda item;
     Agenda item and Application number;
     Whether the primary speaker will use a PowerPoint 
presentation; and
     Whether the registrant will participate in a practice Zoom 
session, to be held on Monday, November 28, 2022.

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 published after the date the 
applicant submitted its HCPCS code application if those materials are 
emailed to: [email protected] by 5 p.m., e.s.t., Tuesday, November 15, 
2022. Due to the timeframe needed for the 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. 
Relevant studies that were published after the date the applicant 
submitted its HCPCS code application 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., Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
    On the day of the virtual meeting that the 5-minute speaker attends 
and speaks on a HCPCS code application or agenda item, before 5 p.m., 
e.s.t., the 5-minute speaker must 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 or agenda 
item 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, Medicare benefit category, and payment determinations, 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, our 
preliminary coding, Medicare benefit category, and payment 
determinations.
    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.
    When CMS refers to HCPCS code or HCPCS coding application above, 
CMS may also be referring to circumstances when a HCPCS code has 
already been issued but a Medicare benefit category and/or payment has 
not been determined. At this meeting, CMS may or may not be able to 
provide preliminary Medicare benefit category and payment 
determinations for HCPCS codes that were effective October 1, 2022 or 
earlier, or that will be considered during this public meeting for 
coding actions. CMS is working diligently to address Medicare benefit 
category and payment determinations for new items and services that may 
be DME, prosthetic devices, orthotics and prosthetics, therapeutic 
shoes and inserts, surgical dressings, or splints, casts, and other 
devices used for reductions of fractures and dislocations under 
Medicare Part B. Please check the CMS website listed above for the 
final agenda.

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.

[[Page 65595]]

    The Administrator of 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: October 26, 2022.
Lynette Wilson,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2022-23640 Filed 10-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P