This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

50103 

Vol. 74, No. 187 

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[CMS–1508–N] 

Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting 

on End-Stage Renal Disease 

Prospective Payment System 

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

date, time, and location of the town hall 

meeting to discuss the Medicare EndStage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective 

Payment System (PPS) proposed rule. 

This meeting provides a forum for 

interested parties including, but not 

limited to beneficiaries, caregivers, 

providers, and other industry 

representatives to make oral statements 

in response to the ESRD PPS proposed 

rule. The meeting is open to the public, 

but registration is required and 

attendance is limited to space available. 

DATES: Meeting Date: The town hall 

meeting will be held on Wednesday, 

October 23, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 12 

p.m., eastern daylight time (e.d.t.). 

Deadline for Registrations: 

Registrations must be received by 

October 2, 2009 by 5 p.m., e.d.t. 

Deadline for Special 

Accommodations: Special 

accommodations must be made by 

October 5, 2009. Special arrangements 

for medical equipment or medical 

devices must be made by October 9, 

2009. 

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The 

meeting will be held in the main 

auditorium at the Centers for Medicare 

and Medicaid Services, 7500 Security 

Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244. 

Meeting Registration: All individuals 

interested in attending the meeting must 

register at the following Web site: http:// 

www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/events/

upcomingevents.asp?strOrderBy=1&

type=3. Scroll down to the town hall 

meeting for the ESRD PPS Proposed 

Rule and select the register button to 

complete the required registration. 

Individuals interested in making oral 

presentations at the meeting must also 

register as attendees and register at the 

following Web site: http://www.cms.

hhs.gov/esrdpayment/20_town_hall_

speaker.asp. Scroll down to the town 

hall meeting for the ESRD PPS Proposed 

Rule and select the town hall speaker 

register URL link to complete the 

required registration. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jean-Marie Moore or Brenda Hudson at 

410–786–8974. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

The Medicare Improvements for 

Patients and Providers Act of 2008 

(MIPPA) was enacted on July 15, 2008. 

Section 153(b) of MIPPA amended 

section 1881(b) of the Social Security 

Act to require the implementation of an 

end-stage renal disease (ESRD) bundled 

payment system effective January 1, 

2011 (herein referred to as the ‘‘ESRD 

PPS’’). 

The ESRD PPS proposed rule, which 

appears elsewhere in this Federal 

Register, would implement a case-mix 

adjusted bundled prospective payment 

system (PPS) for Medicare outpatient 

ESRD dialysis facilities beginning 

January 1, 2011, in compliance with 

section 153(b) of MIPPA. The proposed 

ESRD PPS would replace the current 

basic case-mix adjusted composite 

payment system and the methodologies 

for the reimbursement of separately 

billable outpatient ESRD services. 

II. Meeting Format 

The meeting will begin with a brief 

overview of the ESRD PPS proposed 

rule. The majority of the time allotted 

will be reserved for oral presentations 

from registered speakers. 

Individuals who wish to make an oral 

presentation must not only register to 

attend, but must also register to speak at 

the town hall meeting. In general, 

speaker registration will be accepted on 

a first come, first served basis. However, 

in the event, the number of speaker 

requests exceed the allotted timeframe 

for the town hall meeting, we reserve 

the right to select those speakers that 

will offer the broadest array of topics 

and viewpoints. 

The CMS meeting host will establish 

the sequencing order in which 

presentations will be delivered. All 

speakers will be working with a 

compact time limitation that will be 

enforced to permit as many 

presentations as possible. Registered 

speakers may not assign time to, or 

accept time from another speaker or 

attendee at the meeting. Speakers that 

choose to use handouts must bring 500 

paper copies of any handout to the 

meeting. 

III. Registration Instructions 

The Division of Chronic Care 

Management in the Center for Medicare 

Management is coordinating the town 

hall meeting registration. While there is 

no registration fee, for security 

purposes, individuals are required to 

register to attend. We note that 

prospective speakers are required to 

register separately as an attendee and 

speaker as specified in the ADDRESSES

section of this notice by the date 

specified in the DATES section of this 

notice. 

Once seating capacity has been 

reached, individuals attempting to 

register will be notified that the meeting 

has reached capacity and given the 

option to listen to the proceedings by a 

toll-free phone line (as available slots 

permit). 

Registrants will receive separate 

confirmations regarding acceptance as 

an attendee and as a speaker. Speaker 

confirmations will also indicate the time 

allocations for speaking (anticipate 

approximately 5 minutes). In the event 

that a registered speaker becomes 

unable to attend, we request that the 

individual notify CMS as soon as 

possible using the contact listed in the 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section of this notice so that their time 

may be reallocated. 

IV. Security, Building, and Parking 

Guidelines 

This meeting is being held in a 

Federal government facility; therefore, 

in planning your arrival, we recommend 

allowing additional time to clear 

security. In order to gain access to the 

building and grounds, participants must 

have with them a government issued 

photo identification (for example, 

driver’s license or passport), and a copy 

of their written meeting registration 

mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES2

50104 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 187 / Tuesday, September 29, 2009 / Notices 

confirmation(s). In addition, 

participants must be listed on an 

approved security list before persons are 

permitted entrance. Persons without 

proper identification will be denied 

access. 

Individuals who are not registered in 

advance will not be permitted to enter 

the facility and will be unable to attend 

the meeting. Registered participants 

may not enter the building earlier than 

7 a.m., e.d.t. on October 23, 2009. 

However, we encourage individuals to 

arrive no later than 8:15 a.m., e.d.t. to 

allow sufficient time to go through the 

security checkpoints at the gate to the 

compound, and to the Central Building 

lobby. 

Security measures will 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, including personal 

items such as desktops, cell phones, and 

palm pilots, are subject to physical 

inspection. 

CMS 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. 

Individuals requiring sign language 

interpretation or other special 

accommodation must contact the 

Designated Federal Office specified in 

the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section of this notice by the date 

specified in the DATES section of this 

notice. 

It is possible that requests made in 

advance of the public meeting may be 

denied because of unique safety, 

security or handling concerns. 

Parking permits and instructions are 

issued upon arrival by guards at the 

Security Boulevard main entrance. 

All visitors must be escorted in areas 

other than the lower level lobby, 

cafeteria, auditorium and first-floor 

lobby in the Central Building. All 

visitors are responsible for making their 

own travel arrangements for both arrival 

at and departure from the town hall 

meeting. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program No. 93.773, Medicare—Hospital 

Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, 

Medicare—Supplementary Medical 

Insurance Program) 

Dated: September 3, 2009. 

Charlene Frizzera, 

Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare 

& Medicaid Services. 

[FR Doc. E9–22484 Filed 9–15–09; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES2