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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13418-13420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5679]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3246-N]

Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development 
and Coverage Advisory Committee, May 11, 2011

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that a public meeting of the Medicare 
Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) 
(``Committee''). The Committee generally provides advice and 
recommendations concerning the adequacy of scientific evidence needed 
to determine whether certain medical items and services can be covered 
under the Medicare statute. This meeting will focus on the currently 
available evidence regarding the outcomes associated with the use of 
unilateral and bilateral cochlear implant technology for hearing loss. 
This meeting is open to the public in accordance with 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, May 
11, 2011 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., eastern daylight time 
(e.d.t.).
    Deadline for Submission of Written Comments: Written comments must 
be received at the address specified in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice by 5 p.m. e.d.t., Monday, April 11, 2011. Once submitted, all 
comments are final.
    Deadlines for Speaker Registration and Presentation Materials: The

[[Page 13419]]

deadline to register to be a speaker and to submit power point 
presentation materials and writings that will be used in support of an 
oral presentation, is 5 p.m., e.d.t. on Monday, April 11, 2011. 
Speakers may register by phone or via e-mail by contacting the person 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. 
Presentation materials must be received at the address specified in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    Deadline for All Other Attendees Registration: To attend the 
meeting in person, individuals may register online at http://www.cms.gov/apps/events/ or by phone by contacting the person listed in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice by 5 p.m. 
e.d.t, Friday, May 6, 2011. We will be broadcasting the meeting via 
Webinar. To attend via Webinar, you must register at https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/cochlearimplant/event/registration.html by 5 p.m. 
e.d.t, Friday, May 6, 2011.
    Deadline for Submitting a 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 5 
p.m., e.d.t. Friday, April 29, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The meeting will be held in the main 
auditorium of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Submission of Presentations and Comments: Presentation materials 
and written comments that will be presented at the meeting must be 
submitted via 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 by the date specified in the DATES 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, S3-02-01, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244 or contact Ms. Ellis by phone 
(410-786-0309) or via e-mail at Maria.Ellis@cms.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    MEDCAC, formerly known as the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee 
(MCAC), provides advice and recommendations to CMS regarding clinical 
issues. (For more information on MCAC, see the December 14, 1998 
Federal Register (63 FR 68780).) This notice announces the May 11, 2011 
public meeting of the Committee. During this meeting, the Committee 
will discuss the currently available evidence regarding the outcomes 
associated with the use of unilateral and bilateral cochlear implant 
technology for hearing loss. Background information about this topic, 
including panel materials, is available at http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/medcac-meetings-index.aspx?bc=BAAAAAAAAAAA&. 
CMS will no longer be providing paper copies of the handouts for the 
meeting. Electronic copies of all the meeting materials will be on the 
CMS Web site no later than 2 business days before the meeting. We 
encourage the participation of appropriate organizations with expertise 
in the use of cochlear implant technology for hearing loss.

II. Meeting Format

    This meeting is open to the public. The Committee will hear oral 
presentations from the public for approximately 45 minutes. Time 
allotted for each presentation may be limited. If the number of 
registrants requesting to speak is greater than can be reasonably 
accommodated during the scheduled open public hearing session, CMS may 
conduct a lottery to determine the speakers for the scheduled open 
public hearing session. The contact person will notify interested 
persons regarding their request to speak by April 15, 2011. Your 
comments should focus on issues specific to the list of topics that we 
have proposed to the Committee. 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.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/medcac-meetings-index.aspx?bc=BAAAAAAAAAAA&. We require that 
you declare at the meeting whether you have any financial involvement 
with manufacturers (or their competitors) of any items or services 
being discussed.
    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.

III. Registration Instructions

    CMS' Coverage and Analysis Group is coordinating meeting 
registration. While there is no registration fee, individuals must 
register to attend. To attend in person, you may register online at 
http://www.cms.gov/apps/events/ or by phone 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 or you will be notified the seating capacity 
has been reached. To attend via Webinar, you must register for the 
Webinar portion of the meeting at https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/cochlearimplant/event/registration.html by the deadline listed in the 
DATES section of this notice.

IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines

    This meeting will be held in a Federal government building; 
therefore, Federal security measures are applicable. We recommend that 
confirmed registrants arrive reasonably early, but no earlier than 45 
minutes prior to the start of the meeting, 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.
     Inspection of vehicle's interior and exterior (this 
includes engine and trunk inspection) at the entrance to the grounds. 
Parking permits and instructions will be issued after the vehicle 
inspection.
     Inspection, via metal detector or other applicable means 
of all persons brought entering the building. We note that all items 
brought into 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 45 
minutes prior to the

[[Page 13420]]

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: March 7, 2011.
Dennis Wagner,
Acting Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-5679 Filed 3-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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