Meetings: Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee
Federal Register: February 29, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 41)
Notices
Page 11120-11121
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr29fe08-83
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
CMS-3196-N
Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting of the Medicare Evidence
Development and Coverage Advisory Committee--April 30, 2008
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the Medicare
Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC)
(``Committee''). We are soliciting comments from the scientific community and the public on prioritizing research topics of importance to the Medicare population. This meeting is a follow up to the CMS
Evidentiary Priorities MedCAC meeting, which was held on October 22, 2007 to establish a list of evidentiary priorities for research to improve the health of Medicare beneficiaries.
The Committee generally provides advice and recommendations about whether scientific evidence is adequate to determine whether certain medical items and services are reasonable and necessary under the
Medicare statute.
Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)).
DATES: Meeting Date: The public meeting will be held on Wednesday,
April 30, 2008 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., e.s.t.
Deadline for Written Comments: Written comments must be received at the address specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice by April 2, 2008, 5 p.m., e.s.t. Once submitted, comments are final. The meeting will not include PowerPoint presentations.
Deadline for Meeting Registration: Individuals may register by phone or e-mail by contacting the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice by close of business on
Monday April 21, 2008.
Deadline for Submitting Request for Special Accommodations: Persons attending the meeting who are hearing or visually impaired, or have a condition that requires special assistance or accommodations, are asked to contact the Executive Secretary as specified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice no later than April 23, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The meeting will be held in the main auditorium of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 7500
Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21244.
Submission of Presentations and Comments: Written comments and those that will be presented verbally at the meeting must be submitted by e-mail to MedCACpresentations@cms.hhs.gov or by regular mail to the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Ellis, Executive Secretary for
MedCAC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Clinical
Standards and Quality, Coverage and Analysis Group, C1-09-06, 7500
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244 or contact Ms. Ellis via phone
(410-786-0309) or e-mail at Maria.Ellis@cms.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Background
On December 14, 1998, we published a notice in the Federal Register
(63 FR 68780) to describe the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee
(MCAC), now known as the MedCAC, which provides advice and recommendations to CMS about clinical issues.
The purpose of the MedCAC meeting is to discuss the priorities for research topics that are important for the Medicare program and the
Medicare population and to make recommendations to CMS. This public discussion may also provide useful information for researchers in the scientific community who are interested in developing research projects concerning Medicare beneficiaries. This meeting is a follow up to the
CMS Evidentiary Priorities MedCAC meeting which was held on October 22, 2007. The purpose of the October 22, 2007 meeting was to establish a list of evidentiary priorities for research to improve the health of
Medicare beneficiaries. Details on the October 22, 2007 meeting and the
CMS Evidentiary Priorities can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/ viewmcac.asp?where=index&mid=41.
The Committee generally provides advice and recommendations about whether scientific evidence is adequate to determine whether certain medical items and services are reasonable and necessary and thus eligible for coverage under the Medicare statute.
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Meeting Format
This meeting is open to the public. The Committee will hear oral presentations from the public for approximately 30 minutes. The
Committee may limit the number and
Page 11121
duration of oral presentations to the time available. Your comments should consider the list of topics that we have proposed to the
Committee and should focus on issues specific to those topics. The list of research topics to be discussed at the meeting will be available on the following Web site prior to the meeting: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ mcd/index_list.asp?list--type=mcac. We require that you declare at the meeting whether you have any financial involvement with manufacturers of any items or services being discussed (or with their competitors).
The Committee will deliberate openly on the topics under consideration. Interested persons may observe the deliberations, but the Committee will not hear further comments during this time except at the request of the chairperson. The Committee will also allow a 15- minute unscheduled open public session for any attendee to address issues specific to the topics under consideration. At the conclusion of the day, the members will vote and the Committee will make its recommendation(s) to CMS.
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Registration Instructions
The Coverage and Analysis Group is coordinating meeting registration. While there is no registration fee, individuals must register to attend. You may register by contacting the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice by the deadline listed in the DATES section of this notice. Please provide your full name (as it appears on your state issued driver's license), address, organization, telephone, fax number(s), and e-mail address.
You will receive a registration confirmation with instructions for your arrival at the CMS complex. You will be notified if the seating capacity has been reached.
This meeting is located on Federal property; therefore, for security reasons, any individuals wishing to attend this meeting must register by the date as specified in the DATES section of this notice.
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Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines
This meeting will be held in a Federal government building; therefore, Federal security measures are applicable. In planning your arrival time, we recommend that you arrive reasonably early to allow additional time to clear security. Security measures include the following:
Presentation of government-issued photographic identification to the Federal Protective Service or Guard Service personnel.
Interior and exterior inspection of vehicles (this includes engine and trunk inspection) at the entrance to the grounds.
Parking permits and instructions will be issued after the vehicle inspection.
Passing through a metal detector and inspection of items brought into the building. We note that all items brought to CMS, whether personal or for the purpose of presentation or to support a presentation, are subject to inspection. We cannot assume responsibility for coordinating the receipt, transfer, transport, storage, set-up, safety, or timely arrival of any personal belongings or items used for presentation or to support a presentation.
Note: Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the meeting. The public may not enter the building earlier than 30 to 45 minutes prior to the convening of the meeting.
All visitors must be escorted in areas other than the lower and first floor levels in the Central Building.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program).
Dated: February 14, 2008.
Barry M. Straube,
Chief Medical Officer and Director, Office of Clinical Standards and
Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
FR Doc. E8-3829 Filed 2-28-08; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
