62056 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2004 / Notices 

The agenda for the November 30, 

2004 meeting will include the 

following: 

• Recap of the previous (September 9, 

2004) meeting. 

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services Update. 

• Medicare Modernization Act: 

Outreach and Education. 

• Public Comment. 

• Listening Session with CMS 

Leadership. 

• Next Steps. 

Individuals or organizations that wish 

to make a 5-minute oral presentation on 

an agenda topic must submit a written 

copy of the oral presentation to Lynne 

Johnson, Health Insurance Specialist, 

Division of Partnership Development, 

Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers 

for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 

Security Boulevard, Mail stop S2–23–

05, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850 or by 

email at ljohnson3@cms.hhs.gov no later 

than 12 noon, e.s.t., November 23, 2004. 

The number of oral presentations may 

be limited by the time available. 

Individuals not wishing to make a 

presentation may submit written 

comments to Ms. Johnson by 12 noon, 

(e.s.t.), November 23, 2004. The meeting 

is open to the public, but attendance is 

limited to the space available. 

Special Accommodation: Individuals 

requiring sign language interpretation or 

other special accommodations must 

contact Ms. Johnson at least 15 days 

before the meeting.

Authority: Sec. 222 of the Public Health 

Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a) and sec. 10(a) 

of Pub. L. 92–463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10(a) 

and 41 CFR 102–3).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program No. 93.733, Medicare—Hospital 

Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774, 

Medicare—Supplementary Medical 

Insurance Program.)

Dated: September 22, 2004. 

Mark B. McClellan, 

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services.

[FR Doc. 04–23441 Filed 10–21–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[CMS–1484–N] 

Medicare Program; November 22, 2004, 

Meeting of the Practicing Physicians 

Advisory Council

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: In accordance with section 

10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee 

Act, this notice announces a meeting of 

the Practicing Physicians Advisory 

Council (the Council). The Council will 

be meeting to discuss certain proposed 

changes in regulations and carrier 

manual instructions related to 

physicians’ services, as identified by the 

Secretary of the Department of Health 

and Human Services (the Secretary). 

This meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for 

Monday, November 22, 2004, from 8:30 

a.m. until 5 p.m. e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in 

Room 505A, 5th floor, in the Hubert H. 

Humphrey Building, 200 Independence 

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201.

MEETING REGISTRATION: Persons wishing 

to attend this meeting must contact John 

Lanigan, the Designated Federal Official 

(DFO), by e-mail at 

Jlanigan@cms.hhs.gov or by telephone 

at (410) 786–2312, at least 72 hours in 

advance of the meeting to register. 

Persons not registered in advance will 

not be permitted into the Humphrey 

Building and will not be permitted to 

attend the Council meeting. Persons 

attending the meeting will be required 

to show a photographic identification, 

preferably a valid driver’s license, 

before entering the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kenneth Simon, M.D., Executive 

Director, Practicing Physicians Advisory 

Council, 7500 Security Blvd., Mail Stop 

C4–10–07, Baltimore, MD 21244–1850, 

telephone (410) 786–2312, or e-mail 

Ksimon@cms.hhs.gov. News media 

representatives must contact the CMS 

Press Office, (202) 690–6145. Please 

refer to the CMS Advisory Committee’s 

Information Line (1–877–449–5659 toll 

free)/(410–786–9379 local) or the 

Internet at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/

faca/ppac/default.asp for additional 

information and updates on committee 

activities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The Secretary of the Department of 

Health and Human Services (the 

Secretary) is mandated by section 1868 

(a) of the Social Security Act (the Act) 

to appoint a Practicing Physicians 

Advisory Council (the Council) based 

on nominations submitted by medical 

organizations representing physicians. 

The Council meets quarterly to discuss 

certain proposed changes in regulations 

and carrier manual instructions related 

to physicians’ services, as identified by 

the Secretary. To the extent feasible and 

consistent with statutory deadlines, the 

consultation must occur before 

publication of the proposed changes. 

The Council submits an annual report 

on its recommendations to the Secretary 

and the Administrator of the Centers for 

Medicare & Medicaid Services not later 

than December 31 of each year. 

The Council consists of 15 physicians, 

each of whom must have submitted at 

least 250 claims for physicians’ services 

under Medicare in the previous year. 

Members of the Council include both 

participating and nonparticipating 

physicians, and physicians practicing in 

rural and underserved urban areas. At 

least 11 members of the Council must be 

physicians as described in section 

1861(r)(1) of the Act; that is, Statelicensed doctors of medicine or 

osteopathy. The remaining 4 members 

may include dentists, podiatrists, 

optometrists and chiropractors. 

Members serve for overlapping 4-year 

terms; terms of more than 2 years are 

contingent upon the renewal of the 

Council by appropriate action prior to 

its termination. Section 1868(a) of the 

Act provides that nominations to the 

Secretary for Council membership must 

be made by medical organizations 

representing physicians. 

The Council held its first meeting on 

May 11, 1992. The current members 

are—Jose Azocar, M.D.; James Bergeron, 

M.D.; Ronald Castellanos, M.D.; Rebecca 

Gaughan, M.D.; Peter Grimm, D.O.; 

Carlos R. Hamilton, M.D.; Dennis K. 

Iglar, M.D.; Joe Johnson, D.C.; 

Christopher Leggett, M.D.; Barbara 

McAneny, M.D.; Geraldine O’Shea, 

D.O.; Laura B. Powers, M.D.; Michael T. 

Rapp, M.D. (Chairperson); Anthony 

Senagore, M.D.; and Robert L. Urata, 

M.D. 

The meeting will commence with a 

status report and our response to 

recommendations made by the Council 

at the August 30, 2004 meeting and 

prior meeting recommendations. 

Additionally, an update will be 

provided on the Physicians Regulatory 

Issues Team and Part ‘‘D’’ Benefits. 

In accordance with the Council 

charter we are requesting assistance 

with the following agenda topics: 

• Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule; 

• Outpatient Final Rule; 

• Medicare Coverage Process; 

• Medicare Preventive Benefits & 

Welcome to Medicare Exam Visit; and 

• Quality Initiative Projects: Doctor 

Office Quality—Information Technology 

Project (DOQ–IT). 

For additional information and 

clarification on these topics, contact the 

Executive Director, listed under the FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 

this notice. Individual physicians or 

medical organizations that represent 

physicians wishing to make a 5-minute 

oral presentation on agenda issues must 

contact the Executive Director by 12 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 204 / Friday, October 22, 2004 / Notices 62057

noon, November 1, 2004, to be 

scheduled. Testimony is limited to 

agenda topics only. 

The number of oral presentations may 

be limited by the time available. A 

written copy of the presenter’s oral 

remarks must be submitted to John 

Lanigan, Designated Federal Official, by 

e-mail at Jlanigan@cms.hhs.gov no later 

than 12 noon, November 1, 2004, for 

distribution to Council members for 

review prior to the meeting. Physicians 

and medical organizations not 

scheduled to speak may also submit 

written comments to the Designated 

Federal Officer for distribution. 

The meeting is open to the public, but 

attendance is limited to the space 

available. 

Special Accommodations: Individuals 

requiring sign language interpretation or 

other special accommodation must 

contact John Lanigan by e-mail at 

Jlanigan@cms.hhs.gov or by telephone 

at (410) 786–2312 at least 10 days before 

the meeting.

Authority: (Section 1868 of the Social 

Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ee) and section 

10(a) of Pub. L. 92–463 (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: October 7, 2004. 

Mark B. McClellan, 

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services.

[FR Doc. 04–23442 Filed 10–21–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[CMS–1302–N] 

Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting 

on the Medicare Provider Feedback 

Group (MPFG) November 16, 2004

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice announces a town 

hall meeting. The purpose of the 

meeting is to solicit the opinions of 

individual Medicare providers and 

suppliers to educate CMS on how we 

can better serve Medicare providers and 

suppliers. Providers, physicians, home 

health agencies, industry billing staff 

representatives, and other Medicare 

billers are invited to attend this meeting. 

We will consider facts and opinions 

provided by individuals during this 

meeting. The information gathered will 

be used as feedback on CMS provider 

and supplier communication activities 

and related topics. The meeting is open 

to the public, but attendance is limited 

to space available.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for 

Tuesday, November 16, 2004, from 2 

p.m. until 3 p.m. e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in 

the auditorium at the Centers for 

Medicare and Medicaid Services, 7500 

Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 

Maryland 21244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robin Magwood, (410) 786–1999. You 

may also send e-mail inquiries about 

this meeting to 

RMagwood@cms.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On November 16, 2004, we will 

convene a town hall meeting to solicit 

the opinions of individual Medicare 

providers and suppliers on how CMS 

can better serve Medicare providers and 

suppliers through communication 

education materials and other means. 

This meeting will provide the Agency 

with a venue that allows Agency 

managers an opportunity to interact 

with individual Medicare providers and 

suppliers and obtain their opinions on 

various topics. We will have follow-up 

meetings to solicit additional opinions 

and clarify any issues that may arise 

during the November 16, 2004 meeting. 

At the November 16th meeting, we 

will explain CMS’s design for gathering 

individual provider and supplier 

information, and then ask for opinions 

on how CMS can better serve the 

Medicare provider and supplier 

community. An on-line registration is 

available for interested individuals who 

wish to participate in the meeting in 

person or by teleconference. The on-line 

registration will capture contact 

information and practice characteristics, 

such as names, email addresses, and 

provider and supplier types. 

Meeting Format: The meeting will 

begin with an overview of the goals and 

objectives of the initiative, including a 

discussion of our efforts to gather 

feedback from individual Medicare 

providers and suppliers. The meeting 

moderator will be introduced, and, 

along with members of the Provider 

Communications Group, Centers for 

Medicare Management, will provide 

background information on the 

initiative. We will then hold a question 

and answer session that offers meeting 

attendees an opportunity to provide 

feedback on how CMS serves Medicare 

providers and suppliers, as well as make 

suggestions regarding how this process 

can be improved. 

Attending the Meeting: The Provider 

Communication Group, Centers for 

Medicare Management, Division of 

Provider Relations and Evaluation, is 

the coordinator for this meeting. This 

meeting will be held in a Federal 

Government building, and persons 

attending the meeting will be required 

to show a photographic identification, 

preferably a valid driver’s license, and 

be listed on an approved security list 

before entering. Persons interested in 

attending the meeting and providing 

feedback must complete the on-line 

registration located at http://

registration.intercall.com/go/cms.

Registration will open on October 25, 

2004 and close November 23, 2004. The 

on-line registration system will generate 

a confirmation page to indicate the 

completion of your registration. Please 

print this page as your registration 

receipt. Registration after 12 p.m. on 

November 15, 2004 will delay 

confirmation and individuals may not 

be permitted entrance to the building. 

However, registrations received after 

November 16 will enable individuals to 

listen to a digital recording of the 

meeting. 

Individuals may participate in the 

public meeting by teleconference. The 

dial-in number is 877–357–7851, and 

you should reference conference 

identification number 1040512. 

Physicians and other interested parties 

may speak or ask questions during the 

question and answer period facilitated 

by the moderator. Parties may also 

submit written comments to the point of 

contact named in this Federal Register

Notice. 

Special Accommodations: Individuals 

requiring sign language interpretation or 

other special accommodations must 

contact Keri Boston by e-mail at 

Kboston@cms.hhs.gov.

Authority: Section 1811 and 1831 of the 

Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c and 

1395j).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program No. 93.774, Medicare—

Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

Dated: October 14, 2004. 

Mark B. McClellan, 

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services.

[FR Doc. 04–23443 Filed 10–21–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P