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[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76471-76472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30761]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3234-N]

Medicare Program; Renewal of the Medicare Evidence Development & 
Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC)

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the renewal of the Medicare Evidence 
Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC).

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Charter: To obtain a copy of the Secretary's 
Charter for the MEDCAC submit a request to: See FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

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, C1-09-06, 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

    On December 14, 1998, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
(63 FR 68780) announcing the establishment of the Medicare Coverage 
Advisory Committee (MCAC). The Secretary signed the initial charter for 
the MCAC on November 24, 1998. The MCAC was originally established to 
provide independent guidance and expert advice to CMS on specific 
clinical topics. In 2007 the Charter was renewed and the name MCAC was 
modified to Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory 
Committee (MEDCAC) to more accurately reflect the Committee's role. The 
MEDCAC is advisory, with the final decision on all issues resting with 
CMS. Under the current charter, the MEDCAC advises the Secretary of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Administrator of 
the CMS, on the quality of evidence on clinical topics under review by 
CMS.
    The MEDCAC consists of a pool of 100 appointed members. Members are 
selected from authorities in clinical medicine of all specialties, 
administrative medicine, public health, biologic and physical sciences, 
health care data and information management and analysis, patient 
advocacy, the economics of health care, medical ethics and other 
related professions such as epidemiology and biostatistics, and 
methodology of trial design. There are 94 at-large standing voting 
members. Six of the members are patient advocates and six are nonvoting 
members representing the industry interest.

II. Provisions of this Notice

    This notice announces the signing of the MEDCAC charter renewal by 
the Secretary on November 23, 2010. The new charter makes the following 
changes:
     There are 4-8 meetings per year.
     A period of service for the Chair and Vice-Chair of no 
more than 4 years.
    The MEDCAC functions on a committee basis. The MEDCAC--(1) Hears 
public testimony; (2) reviews medical literature, technology 
assessments and other relevant evidence and advises CMS on the strength 
and weaknesses of that evidence; (3) advises CMS of any evidence gaps 
that may exist and recommends the types of evidence that should be 
developed to fill those evidentiary gaps. The Committee may be asked to 
develop recommendations about specific clinical issues under review and 
to review and comment upon proposed or existing Medicare coverage 
policies. The Committee may also be asked to comment on pertinent 
aspects of

[[Page 76472]]

proposals being considered and other policies. The Committee works from 
an agenda provided by the designated Federal official that lists 
specific issues.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program).

    Dated: November 16, 2010.
Barry M. Straube,
CMS Chief Medical Officer, Director, Office of Clinical Standards and 
Quality, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-30761 Filed 12-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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