[Federal Register: March 25, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 57)]
[Notices]               
[Page 15340-15341]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25mr05-65]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1297-N]

 
Medicare Program; Public Meetings in Calendar Year 2005 for All 
New Public Requests for Revisions to the Healthcare Common Procedure 
Coding System (HCPCS) Coding and Payment Determinations

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the dates and location of the Healthcare 
Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) public meetings to be held in 
calendar year 2005 to discuss our preliminary coding and payment 
determinations for all new public requests for revisions to the HCPCS. 
These meetings provide a forum for interested parties to make oral 
presentations or to submit written comments in response to preliminary 
coding and payment determinations. Discussion will be directed toward 
responses to our specific preliminary recommendations and will include 
all items on the public meeting agenda.

DATES: Meeting Dates: Given the expansion of the public meeting 
process, we have scheduled 8 additional meeting times for 2005: 
Tuesday, June 7; Wednesday, June 8; Tuesday, June 14; Wednesday, June 
15; Thursday, June 16; Tuesday, June 21; Wednesday, June 22; and 
Thursday, June 23. We may not need all 8 days. Once the review and 
coding recommendation process is underway, we will have a firmer idea 
of the exact number of days needed to schedule the public meetings. We 
will consider each meeting individually, and we may modify the meeting 
dates and times published in this notice.
    Final confirmation of meeting dates, times, and agenda items will 
be posted 3 weeks in advance of each scheduled meeting on the official 
HCPCS Web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicare/hcpcs. Each meeting day 

will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., E.S.T.

ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held in the auditorium at 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gloria Knight, (410) 786-4598, 
Jennifer Carver, (410) 786-6610.
    Web Site: Additional details regarding the public meeting process 
for all new public requests for revisions to the HCPCS, along with 
information on how to register and guidelines for an effective 
presentation, will be posted at least 1 month before the first meeting 
date on the official HCPCS Web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicare/hcpcs
.

    Individuals who intend to provide a presentation at a public 
meeting need to familiarize themselves with this information. The HCPCS 
Web site will also include ``The Healthcare Common Procedures Coding 
System (HCPCS) Procedures,'' a description of the new HCPCS coding 
process, along with a detailed explanation of the procedures used to 
make coding and payment determinations for all the products, supplies, 
and services that are coded in the HCPCS. A summary of each public 
meeting will be posted on the HCPCS Web site by the end of July 2005.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On December 21, 2000, the Congress passed the Medicare, Medicaid, 
and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA) (Pub. 
L. 106-554). Section 531(b) of BIPA mandated that we 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). The 
procedures and public meetings announced in this notice for new DME are 
in response to the mandate of section 531(b) of BIPA.
    We published a notice in the November 23, 2001 Federal Register (66 
FR 58743) with information regarding the establishment of the public 
meeting process for DME.
    The public meeting process previously limited to DME has been 
expanded to include all new public requests for revisions to the HCPCS. 
This change will provide more opportunities for the public to become 
aware of coding changes under consideration, as well as opportunities 
for CMS to gather public input.

II. Registration

    Registration Procedures: Registration can be completed online at 
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicare/hcpcs. To register by telephone, 

contact Public Meeting Coordinators Gloria Knight at (410) 786-4598 or 
Jennifer Carver at (410) 786-6610. The following information must be 
provided when registering: name, company name and address, telephone 
and fax numbers, e-mail address, and special needs information. 
Registrants must also indicate whether they are the ``primary speaker'' 
for an agenda item. Primary speakers must be designated by the entity 
that submitted the HCPCS coding request. A CMS staff member will 
confirm your registration by mail, e-mail, or fax.
    Registration Deadline: Individuals must register for each date they 
plan either to attend or to provide a presentation. The deadline for 
registration of all the meeting dates is Tuesday, May 17, 2005.

III. Presentations and Comment Format

A. Primary Speaker Presentations

    The entity that requested revisions to the HCPCS coding system for 
a particular agenda item may designate one ``primary speaker'' to make 
a presentation for a maximum of 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes is the 
total time interval for the presentation, and must incorporate the 
demonstration, set-up, and distribution of material. In establishing 
the public meeting agenda, we may group multiple, related requests 
under the same agenda item. In that case, we will decide whether 
additional time will be allotted, and may opt to increase the amount of 
time allotted to

[[Page 15341]]

the speaker by increments of less than 15 minutes. In other words, the 
amount of time allotted to aggregate proposals might not be expanded 
exponentially by the number of requests.
    We will post ``Guidelines for Participation in Public Meetings for 
All New Public Requests for Revisions to the Healthcare Common 
Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Coding and Payment Determinations'' on 
the official HCPCS Web site at least a month before the first public 
meeting in 2005 for all new public requests for revisions to the HCPCS. 
Individuals designated to be the primary speaker must register to 
attend the meeting using the registration procedures described above 
and, at least 15 days before the meeting, contact one of the Public 
Meeting Coordinators, Gloria Knight at (410) 786-4598 or Jennifer 
Carver at (410) 786-6610. At the time of registration, primary speakers 
must provide a brief, written statement regarding the nature of the 
information they intend to provide, and advise the meeting coordinator 
regarding needs for audio/visual Support. In order to avoid disruption 
of the meeting and ensure compatibility with our systems, tapes and 
disk files are tested and arranged in speaker sequence well in advance 
of the meeting. We will accommodate tapes and disk files that are 
received by the Public Meeting Coordinators 7 or more calendar days 
before the meeting.

B. ``5-Minute'' Speaker Presentations

    Meeting attendees can sign up at the meeting, on a first-come, 
first-served basis, to make 5-minute presentations on individual agenda 
items. Based on the number of items on the agenda and the progress of 
the meeting, a determination will be made at the meeting by the meeting 
coordinator and the meeting moderator regarding how many 5-minute 
speakers can be accommodated. In order to offer the same opportunity to 
all attendees, there is no pre-registration for 5-minute speakers. 
Attendees can sign up only on the day of the meeting to do a 5-minute 
presentation. They must provide their name, company name and address, 
contact information as specified on the sign-up sheet, and identify the 
specific agenda item that will be addressed.

C. Speaker Declaration

    On the day of the meeting, prior to the end of the meeting, all 
primary speakers and 5-minute speakers must provide a brief written 
summary of their comments and conclusions to the Public Meeting 
Coordinator.
    The primary speakers and the 5-minute speakers must declare in 
their presentations at the meeting, as well as in their written 
summaries, whether they have any financial involvement with the 
manufacturers or competitors of any items or services being discussed; 
this includes any payment, salary, remuneration, or benefit provided to 
that speaker by the manufacturer or the manufacturer's representatives.

D. Written Comments From Meeting Attendees

    Written comments are welcome from all persons in attendance at a 
public meeting, regardless of whether they make an oral presentation. 
Written comments can be submitted either at the meeting or before the 
meeting via e-mail to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicare/hcpcs or via 

regular mail to the HCPCS Coordinator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C5-08-27, Baltimore, MD 
21244. Written comments to this address are also accepted from the 
general public anytime up to the date of the public meeting at which a 
request is discussed. Due to the close timing of the public meetings, 
subsequent workgroup reconsiderations, and final decisions, we are able 
to consider only those comments received in writing by the close of the 
public meeting at which the request is discussed.

IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines

    The meetings are held in a Federal government building; therefore, 
Federal security measures are applicable. In planning your arrival 
time, we recommend allowing additional time to clear security. In order 
to gain access to the building and grounds, participants must bring 
government-issued photo identification and a copy of your written 
meeting registration confirmation. Persons without proper 
identification may be denied access.
    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 each day.
    Security measures also include inspection of vehicles, inside and 
out, at the entrance to the grounds. In addition, all persons entering 
the building must pass through a metal detector. All items brought to 
CMS, whether personal or for the purpose of demonstration 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 demonstration or to support a presentation.
    Parking permits and instructions are issued upon arrival by the 
guards at the main entrance.
    All visitors must be escorted in areas other than the lower and 
first-floor levels in the Central Building.

V. Special Accommodations

    Individuals attending a meeting who are hearing or visually 
impaired and have special requirements, or a condition that requires 
special assistance or accommodations, must provide this information 
when registering for the meeting.

    Authority:  Sections 1102 and 1871 of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1302 and 42 U.S.C. 139hh).

    Dated: March 8, 2005.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-5029 Filed 3-24-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P