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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62415-62416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26040]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-8049-N]

Medicare Program; Establishment of the Medicare Economic Index 
Technical Advisory Panel and Request for Nominations for Members

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the establishment of the Medicare 
Economic Index Technical Advisory Panel and discusses the group's 
purpose and

[[Page 62416]]

charter. It also requests nominations for individuals to serve on the 
panel.

DATES: Nominations will be considered if we receive them at the 
appropriate address, provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, 
no later than 5 p.m., eastern day light time on November 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send nominations to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore Maryland 21244-1850, 
Office of the Actuary, Mail stop N3-02-02, Attention: John Poisal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Poisal, (410) 786-6397. Press 
inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In the calendar year (CY) 2011 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) 
proposed and final rules (75 FR 40095 and 75 FR 73274), we solicited 
and responded to comments regarding the convening of a technical 
advisory panel to review all aspects of the Medicare Economic Index 
(MEI), including the inputs, input weights, price-measurement proxies, 
and productivity adjustment. We noted that we would ask the panel to 
assess the relevance and accuracy of these inputs to current physician 
practices. The panel's analysis and recommendations will be considered 
for future rulemaking to ensure that the MEI accurately and 
appropriately meets its intended statutory purpose. We also solicited 
comments from the physician community and other interested members of 
the public on any other specific issues that should be considered by 
the technical panel.
    The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the 
Secretary) is establishing a Medicare Economic Index Technical Advisory 
Panel under Public Law 92-463, Federal Advisory Committee Act, to 
conduct a technical review of the MEI.

II. Charter, General Responsibilities, and Composition of the Medicare 
Economic Index Technical Advisory Panel

A. Charter Information and General Responsibilities

    On September 28, 2011, the Secretary signed the charter 
establishing the Medicare Economic Index Technical Advisory Panel (the 
Panel). The Panel will conduct a technical review of the MEI, including 
the inputs, input weights, price-measurement proxies, and productivity 
adjustment. The Panel will be asked to assess the relevance and 
accuracy of these inputs to current physician practices. Following the 
technical review meeting(s), the Panel shall issue a report that 
summarizes its recommendations for the MEI.
    Meetings will be open to the public except when closure is 
specifically required by statute, and after all statutory and 
regulatory requirements for doing so have been met. The Secretary or 
other official to whom the authority has been delegated will make such 
determinations. Notice of all meetings will be given to the public via 
a Federal Register notice.
    The Secretary will request that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services (CMS) consider the Panel's recommendations for future 
rulemaking to ensure that the MEI accurately and appropriately meets 
its intended statutory purpose. The Panel will not consider issues such 
as replacing the price index with a cost index, or other issues that 
lie outside the limits of CMS' statutory authority, such as replacing 
the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula with the MEI.
    The Panel, as chartered under the legal authority of section 222 of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a), is also governed by the 
provisions of the Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. appendix 2), 
which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory 
committees, and the provisions of the Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 
U.S.C. 552b(b).
    The Panel will terminate 30 days after the date of submission of 
the final report to the Secretary, but no later than September 28, 
2012.
    You may view and obtain a copy of the Secretary's charter for the 
Panel at https://www.cms.gov/FACA/.

B. Composition of the Panel

    The Panel will consist of not more than seven members, including 
the chair(s). The Panel may be composed of, but is not necessarily 
limited to, representatives of other government agencies (such as the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Economic Analysis), 
members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, researchers, and 
other independent experts.

III. Submission of Nominations

    We are requesting nominations for individuals to serve as members 
on the Panel. We will consider qualified individuals who are self-
nominated or are nominated by agency officials, members of Congress, 
the general public, professional societies, trade associations, or 
other organizations. Non-federal employee members of the Panel will be 
appointed as Special Government Employees and will be required to go 
through an ethics review. The Secretary or the Secretary's designee 
will appoint members to serve on the Panel from amongst the candidates 
that we determine have the technical expertise to meet specific agency 
needs in a manner to ensure an appropriate balance of membership.
    Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified 
individuals. Each nomination must include the name and contact 
information for both the nominator and nominee (if not the same).
    To ensure that a nomination is considered, we must receive the 
nomination information by the date specified in the DATES section of 
this notice. Nominations should be mailed to the address specified in 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C 217a, section 222 of the Public Health 
Service Act.

    Dated: September 29, 2011.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-26040 Filed 10-6-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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