[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19303-19304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-07943]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1836-N]
Medicare Program; Public Meeting for New Revisions to the
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Coding
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the first Healthcare Common Procedure
Coding System (HCPCS) public meeting of 2025 to discuss the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services preliminary coding, Medicare benefit
category, and Medicare payment determinations, if applicable, for new
revisions to the HCPCS Level II code set for non-drug and non-
biological items and services, as well as how to register for the
meeting.
DATES:
Primary date: Monday, June 2, 2025, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time
(ET).
Overflow date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET (virtual
only).
ADDRESSES: The HCPCS Level II public meeting will be a hybrid event
held:
In-person: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS), 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.
Virtual: Live stream via Zoom (link will be posted on the
HCPCS Level II website).
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 of the annual public meeting process for
DME.
In 2020, we implemented changes to our HCPCS Level II 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. Public Meeting Agendas
The list of topics for discussion, which will become available in
the upcoming weeks at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings, identify the Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services (CMS) preliminary coding, Medicare benefit
category, and Medicare payment determinations, if applicable. In
establishing the public meeting agendas, CMS may group multiple,
related code applications under the same agenda item. While both days
will have virtual access via Zoom, the public meeting agenda order will
be based on prioritizing speakers who attend in person first, followed
by agenda items whose speakers are all attending virtually. While the
list of topics will already be made available, the public meeting
agenda order will become available on the CMS website sometime shortly
after the speaker registration deadline. We will only be discussing
those topics listed on the CMS website.
Overflow Procedures
If all of the agenda items are not addressed on June 2, 2025, CMS
will hold a virtual-only session on June 3, 2025 at 9 a.m. ET. We will
proceed in the order of the HCPCS public meeting agenda, only
discussing those that were not addressed, until complete. We will not
go back and discuss any prior agenda items. Original registration will
apply to the overflow date. The link to the live stream of the public
meeting will be posted in the Guidelines for Participation in HCPCS
Public Meetings document on the CMS website.
III. Participation Categories
Every speaker must declare at the beginning of their presentation
during the meeting, as well as in their written summary, whether they
have any financial involvement with the applicant and manufacturer, if
different, of the item that is the subject of the HCPCS Level II
application, or with any competitors of that manufacturer with respect
to the item. This includes any payment, salary, remuneration, or
benefit provided to the speaker by the applicant, manufacturer, or any
such competitors.
A. Primary Speakers
Each applicant that submitted a HCPCS Level II code application
that will be discussed at the public meeting is permitted to designate
a primary speaker. Fifteen minutes is the total time interval for a
primary speaker per agenda item. Any unused time from the primary
speaker will be forfeited and cannot be delegated to another speaker.
Primary speakers must register as a speaker and submit any supporting
PowerPoint presentation by the stated deadline. CMS will accept
PowerPoint presentations (maximum of 10 slides in PowerPoint
presentation format, not PDF) that are emailed to [email protected] by
the stated deadline. We will not play videos, transitions, or
animations during the public meeting session and request the speakers
exclude these materials from their PowerPoint presentation and instead
submit any relevant video or animation materials along with the written
comments. We request that speakers ensure the presentation does not
include any inappropriate or confidential content before submission.
Due to the timeframe needed for the
[[Page 19304]]
planning and coordination of the HCPCS public meetings, materials that
are not submitted appropriately and in accordance with this deadline
cannot be accommodated.
B. 5-Minute Speakers
Any individual related to the public meeting agenda item, including
but not limited to an employee, competitor, insurer, public consumer,
or other interested party, may register as a 5 minute speaker by the
stated deadline. Depending on the availability of time, CMS may limit
the number of 5-minute speakers; however, we will ensure an array of
interested parties are represented if registered by the stated
deadline. We will not accept any other written materials, outside of
the written comments, from a 5-minute speaker (that is, 5-minutes
speakers are not allowed to present a PowerPoint presentation).
C. All Other Attendees
All individuals who plan to attend the public meetings to listen
and do not plan to speak may access the public meeting using the live
stream link posted on the HCPCS Level II website. Alternatively,
attendees can register online by the stated deadline and attend the
public meeting in-person at CMS.
Individuals who require special assistance must register and
request special assistance services by the stated deadline in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
IV. Registration Requirements
The registration instructions for the HCPCS public meeting will be
posted in the Guidelines for Participation in HCPCS Public Meetings
document on the CMS website. All individuals who plan to speak (15 or 5
minutes) at the public meeting or attend the meeting in person must
register by 5 p.m. ET on May 14, 2025. The following information must
be provided when registering by the stated deadline:
Name;
Company name (if applicable);
Email address;
Topic item and application number (for speakers only);
Whether the registrant will be attending in person or
virtually;
Whether the registrant is a foreign national (for in-
person attendees only);
Any special assistance requests;
Whether the registrant is a primary speaker or a 5-minute
speaker for an agenda item; and
Whether the primary speaker will use a PowerPoint
presentation.
V. In-Person Information
All in-person attendees should monitor the website at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings for
additional information about accessing the building, as information is
subject to change. Only registered attendees with a valid government-
issued photo ID that meets the Real ID standards may enter the
building. For reference, visit https://www.dhs.gov/real-id. All foreign
national attendees must identify themselves at the time of
registration, as additional documentation may be required.
Vehicle screening is conducted and all persons in the vehicle must
present a valid ID. Visitors may only enter from Security Boulevard,
using the far-right entrance lane to the campus. Parking on campus is
increasingly limited and visitors are not guaranteed a parking space
with registration. Visitors are encouraged to consider alternate means
of arrival, such as public transportation, taxi, or other ride-share
arrangements. Visitors will be required to go through x-ray screening
similar to screening at a United States airport, or alternate
arrangements as instructed and permitted by security. A cafeteria is
available at CMS.
VI. Written Comments
The primary and 5-minute speaker(s) must email a brief, written
summary (one paragraph) of their comments and conclusions. Written
comments from anyone, including the primary and 5-minute speaker(s),
will only be accepted when emailed to: [email protected] before 5 p.m.
ET on June 4, 2025.
VII. Additional Information
All participants should regularly check the CMS website for updates
and final agenda information at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings.
The HCPCS section of the CMS website also includes details
regarding the public meeting process for new revisions to the HCPCS
Level II code set, including guidelines for an effective presentation.
The HCPCS section of the CMS website also contains a document titled
``HCPCS Level II Coding Procedures (PDF),'' which is a description of
the HCPCS Level II coding process, including a detailed explanation of
the procedures CMS uses to make HCPCS Level II coding determinations.
When CMS refers to a HCPCS code or HCPCS Level II 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. 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.
This hybrid format ensures maximum accessibility while maintaining
the integrity of the HCPCS public meeting process. However, we are
exploring the possibility of moving towards in-person only public
meetings in the future.
VIII. Collection of Information Requirements
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.).
Signing Authority
The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS), Mehmet Oz, 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. 2025-07943 Filed 5-2-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P