[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 178 (Friday, September 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74962-74964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20791]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1822-N]


Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on the Fiscal Year 2026 
Applications for New Medical Services and Technologies Add-On Payments

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a town hall meeting in accordance with 
the Social Security Act (the Act) to discuss fiscal year (FY) 2026 
applications for add-on payments for new medical services and 
technologies under the hospital inpatient prospective payment system 
(IPPS). Interested parties are invited to this virtual meeting to 
present their comments, recommendations, and data regarding whether the 
FY 2026 new medical services and technologies applications meet the 
substantial clinical improvement criterion.

DATES: 
    Meeting Dates: The New Technology Town Hall meeting announced in 
this notice will be held virtually on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, and 
Thursday, December 12, 2024 (the number of presentations will determine 
if a second day for the meeting is necessary; see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for details regarding the second day of the meeting 
and the posting of the final schedule). The New Technology Town Hall 
meeting will begin each day at 9 a.m. eastern standard time (EST) and 
check-in via online platform will begin at 8:30 a.m. EST.
    Deadline for Registration of Presenters at the New Technology Town 
Hall Meeting: The deadline to register to present at the New Technology 
Town Hall meeting is 5 p.m., EST on Monday, November 4, 2024.
    Deadline for Submission of Agenda Item(s) or Written Comments for 
the New Technology Town Hall Meeting: Written comments and agenda items 
(public comments to be delivered at the New Technology Town Hall 
meeting) for discussion at the New Technology Town Hall meeting, 
including agenda items by presenters (presentation slide decks), must 
be received by 5 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
    Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: The deadline to 
submit requests for special accommodations is 5 p.m., EST on Tuesday, 
November 12, 2024.
    Deadline for Submission of Written Comments after the New 
Technology Town Hall Meeting for Consideration in the Fiscal Year (FY) 
2026 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System/Long Term Care PPS 
(IPPS/LTCH PPS) Proposed Rule: Individuals may submit written comments 
after the New Technology Town Hall meeting, as specified in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice, on whether the service or technology 
represents a substantial clinical improvement. These comments must be 
received by 5 p.m. EST on Monday, December 16, 2024, to ensure 
consideration in the FY 2026 IPPS/LTCH PPS proposed rule.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting Location: The New Technology Town Hall meeting will be held 
virtually via live stream technology or webinar and listen-only via 
toll-free teleconference. Live stream or webinar and teleconference 
dial-in information will be provided through an upcoming listserv/email 
notice and will appear on the final meeting agenda, which will be 
posted on the New Technology website when available at: http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/AcuteInpatientPPS/newtech.html. Continue to check the website for 
updates.
    Registration and Special Accommodations: Individuals wishing to 
present at the meeting must follow the instructions located in section 
III. of this notice. Individuals who need special accommodations should 
send an email to [email protected].
    Submission of Agenda Item(s) or Written Comments for the New 
Technology Town Hall Meeting: Each

[[Page 74963]]

presenter must submit at least one agenda item for presentation 
regarding whether a FY 2026 application meets the substantial clinical 
improvement criterion. Other items such as written comments, questions 
or other statements must not exceed three single-spaced typed pages and 
may be sent via email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Drew Kasper, (410) 786-8926, 
[email protected] and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background on the Add-On Payments for New Medical Services and 
Technologies Under the IPPS

    Effective for discharges beginning on or after October 1, 2001, 
section 1886(d)(5)(K)(i) of the Act requires the Secretary to establish 
(after notice and opportunity for public comment) a mechanism to 
recognize the costs of new services and technologies under the hospital 
inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS). In addition, section 
1886(d)(5)(K)(vi) of the Act specifies that a medical service or 
technology will be considered ``new'' if it meets criteria established 
by the Secretary (after notice and opportunity for public comment). For 
further discussion on the new technology add-on payment criteria, we 
refer readers to the new technology add-on payment final rule (66 FR 
46912, September 7, 2001), as well as the FY 2012 IPPS/LTCH PPS final 
rule (76 FR 51572 through 51574), the FY 2020 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule 
(84 FR 42288 through 42300), and the FY 2021 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule 
(85 FR 58736 through 58742).
    As finalized in the FY 2020 and FY 2021 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rules, 
technologies which are eligible for the alternative new technology 
pathway for transformative new devices or the alternative new 
technology pathway for certain antimicrobials do not need to meet the 
requirement under 42 CFR 412.87(b)(1) that the technology represent an 
advance that substantially improves, relative to technologies 
previously available, the diagnosis or treatment of Medicare 
beneficiaries. These medical devices or products will also be 
considered not substantially similar to an existing technology for 
purposes of new technology add-on payment under the IPPS. See the FY 
2020 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (84 FR 42292 through 42297) and the FY 
2021 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (85 FR 58737 through 58739) for 
additional information.
    In the FY 2020 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (84 FR 42289 through 
42292), we codified in our regulations at Sec.  412.87 the following 
aspects of how we evaluate substantial clinical improvement for 
purposes of new technology add-on payments under the IPPS to determine 
if a new technology meets the substantial clinical improvement 
requirement:
     The totality of the circumstances is considered when 
making a determination that a new medical service or technology 
represents an advance that substantially improves, relative to services 
or technologies previously available, the diagnosis or treatment of 
Medicare beneficiaries.
     A determination that a new medical service or technology 
represents an advance that substantially improves, relative to services 
or technologies previously available, the diagnosis or treatment of 
Medicare beneficiaries means--
    ++ The new medical service or technology offers a treatment option 
for a patient population unresponsive to, or ineligible for, currently 
available treatments;
    ++ The new medical service or technology offers the ability to 
diagnose a medical condition in a patient population where that medical 
condition is currently undetectable or offers the ability to diagnose a 
medical condition earlier in a patient population than allowed by 
currently available methods, and there must also be evidence that use 
of the new medical service or technology to make a diagnosis affects 
the management of the patient; or
    ++ The use of the new medical service or technology significantly 
improves clinical outcomes relative to services or technologies 
previously available as demonstrated by one or more of the following:

--A reduction in at least one clinically significant adverse event, 
including a reduction in mortality or a clinically significant 
complication.
--A decreased rate of at least one subsequent diagnostic or therapeutic 
intervention (for example, due to reduced rate of recurrence of the 
disease process).
--A decreased number of future hospitalizations or physician visits.
--A more rapid beneficial resolution of the disease process treatment 
including, but not limited to, a reduced length of stay or recovery 
time; an improvement in one or more activities of daily living; an 
improved quality of life; or a demonstrated greater medication 
adherence or compliance.

    ++ The totality of the circumstances otherwise demonstrates that 
the new medical service or technology substantially improves, relative 
to technologies previously available, the diagnosis or treatment of 
Medicare beneficiaries.
     Evidence from the following published or unpublished 
information sources from within the United States or elsewhere may be 
sufficient to establish that a new medical service or technology 
represents an advance that substantially improves, relative to services 
or technologies previously available, the diagnosis or treatment of 
Medicare beneficiaries: Clinical trials, peer reviewed journal 
articles; study results; meta-analyses; consensus statements; white 
papers; patient surveys; case studies; reports; systematic literature 
reviews; letters from major healthcare associations; editorials and 
letters to the editor; and public comments. Other appropriate 
information sources may be considered.
     The medical condition diagnosed or treated by the new 
medical service or technology may have a low prevalence among Medicare 
beneficiaries.
     The new medical service or technology may represent an 
advance that substantially improves, relative to services or 
technologies previously available, the diagnosis or treatment of a 
subpopulation of patients with the medical condition diagnosed or 
treated by the new medical service or technology.
    Section 1886(d)(5)(K)(viii) of the Act requires that as part of the 
process for evaluating new medical services and technology 
applications, the Secretary shall do the following:
     Provide for public input regarding whether a new service 
or technology represents an advance in medical technology that 
substantially improves the diagnosis or treatment of Medicare 
beneficiaries before publication of a proposed rule.
     Make public and periodically update a list of all the 
services and technologies for which an application is pending.
     Accept comments, recommendations, and data from the public 
regarding whether the service or technology represents a substantial 
improvement.
     Provide for a meeting at which organizations representing 
hospitals, physicians, manufacturers, and any other interested party 
may present comments, recommendations, and data to the clinical staff 
of CMS as to whether the service or technology represents a substantial 
improvement before publication of a proposed rule.

[[Page 74964]]

    The opinions and presentations provided during this meeting will 
assist us as we evaluate the new medical services and technology 
applications for FY 2026.

II. New Technology Town Hall Meeting Format and Conference Call 
Information

A. Format of the Town Hall Meeting

    As noted in section I. of this notice, we are required to provide 
for a meeting at which organizations representing hospitals, 
physicians, manufacturers, and any other interested party may present 
comments, recommendations, and data to the clinical staff of CMS 
concerning whether the service or technology represents a substantial 
clinical improvement. This meeting will allow for a discussion of the 
substantial clinical improvement criterion for the FY 2026 applications 
for new technology add-on payments. Information regarding the 
applications can be found on our website at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/AcuteInpatientPPS/newtech.html.
    The majority of the meeting will be reserved for presentations of 
comments, recommendations, and data from registered presenters. The 
time for each presentation will be approximately 10 minutes, with 
additional time reserved for questions, and will be based on the number 
of presentations. Individuals who would like to present must register 
and submit their agenda item(s) via email to [email protected] by the 
dates specified in the DATES section of this notice.
    Depending on the number of presentations, we will determine if a 
second meeting day is necessary. The final schedule for the New 
Technology Town Hall meeting will be posted on the CMS website at 
http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/AcuteInpatientPPS/newtech.html by November 25, 2024 to inform the 
public of the number of days of the meeting.
    In addition, written comments will also be accepted and presented 
at the meeting if they are received via email to [email protected] by 
the date specified in the DATES section of this notice. Written 
comments may also be submitted after the meeting for our consideration. 
If the comments are to be considered before the publication of the FY 
2026 IPPS/LTCH PPS proposed rule, the comments must be received via 
email to [email protected] by the date specified in the DATES section 
of this notice.

B. Conference Call and Webinar Information

    As noted previously, the New Technology Town Hall meeting will be 
held virtually. There will be an option to participate in the New 
Technology Town Hall Meeting via webinar and a toll-free teleconference 
phone line. Information on the option to participate via webinar and a 
teleconference dial-in will be provided through an upcoming listserv/
email notice to registrants and will appear on the final meeting 
agenda, which will be posted on the New Technology website at: http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/AcuteInpatientPPS/newtech.html. Continue to check the website for 
updates.

C. Disclaimer

    We cannot guarantee reliability for a webinar.

III. Registration Instructions

    The Division of New Technology in CMS is coordinating the meeting 
registration for the New Technology Town Hall meeting on substantial 
clinical improvement. While there is no registration fee, individuals 
planning to present at the New Technology Town Hall meeting must 
register to present.
    Registration for presenters may be completed by sending an email to 
[email protected], by the date specified in the DATES section of this 
notice. Please include the name and email address of the presenter(s), 
as well as address, telephone number, and the name of the technology 
for which they will be presenting.
    Registration for attendees not presenting at the meeting is not 
required.

IV. 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).
    The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
(CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, having reviewed and approved this 
document, authorizes Chyana Woodyard, who is the Federal Register 
Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of 
publication in the Federal Register.

Chyana Woodyard,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2024-20791 Filed 9-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P