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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10690-10691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04175]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1636-N]

Medicare Program: Notice of Four Membership Appointments to the 
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces four new membership appointments to the 
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (the Panel). The four new 
appointments to the Panel will each serve a four-year period. The new 
members have terms that began on January 14, 2015 and continue through 
January 31, 2019. The purpose of the Panel is to advise the Secretary 
of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of 
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services concerning the clinical 
integrity of the Ambulatory Payment Classification groups and their 
relative payment weights. The Panel also addresses and makes 
recommendations regarding supervision of hospital outpatient services. 
The advice provided by the Panel will be considered as we prepare the 
annual updates for the hospital outpatient prospective payment system.

DATES: March 30, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Web site: For additional information on the Panel meeting 
dates, agenda topics, copy of the charter, and updates to the Panel's 
activities, we refer readers to our Web site at the following address: 
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPaymentClassificationGroups.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Designated Federal Official (DFO): 
Carol Schwartz, DFO, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop: C4-04-25, 
Woodlawn, MD 21244-1850. Phone: (410) 786-3985. Email: 
APCPanel@cms.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the 
Secretary) is required by section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social Security 
Act (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)(9)(A)) and is allowed by section 222 
of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) (42 U.S.C. 217(a)) to 
consult with an expert outside advisory panel on the clinical integrity 
of the Ambulatory Payment Classification groups and relative payment 
weights, which are major elements of the Medicare Hospital Outpatient 
Prospective Payment System (OPPS), and the appropriate supervision 
level for hospital outpatient services. The Panel is governed by the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-
463), as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for 
the formation and use of advisory panels. The Panel Charter provides 
that the Panel shall meet up to three times annually. We consider the 
technical advice provided by the Panel as we prepare the proposed and 
final rules to update the OPPS for the following calendar year.
    The Panel shall consist of a chair and up to 15 members who are 
full-time employees of hospitals, hospital systems, or other Medicare 
providers. The Secretary or a designee selects the Panel membership 
based upon either self-nominations or nominations submitted by Medicare 
providers and other interested organizations. New appointments are made 
in a manner that ensures a balanced membership under the FACA 
guidelines.
    The Panel presently consists of the following members and a Chair.

 Edith Hambrick, M.D., J.D., Chair, CMS Medical Officer
 Karen Borman, M.D., F.A.C.S.
 Jim Nelson, M.B.A., C.P.A., F.H.F.M.A.
 Leah Osbahr, M.A., M.P.H.
 Jacqueline Phillips
 Johnathan Pregler, M.D.
 Traci Rabine
 Michael Rabovsky, M.D.
 Wendy Resnick, F.H.F.M.A.
 Marianna V. Spanaki-Varelas, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.
 Gale Walker
 Kris Zimmer

II. Provisions of the Notice

    We published a notice in the Federal Register on September 23, 
2014, entitled ``Medicare Program; Solicitation of Nominations to the 
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (79 FR 56808). The notice 
solicited nominations for up to four new members to fill the vacancies 
on the

[[Page 10691]]

Panel beginning September 30, 2014. As a result of that notice, we are 
announcing four new members to the Panel. The Panel currently consists 
of 11 members. The four new Panel members appointments are for four-
year terms beginning on January 14, 2015.

New Appointments to the Panel

    The four new members of the Panel with terms beginning on January 
14, 2015 and continuing through January 31, 2019 are as follows:

 Dawn L. Francis, M.D.
 Ruth Lande
 Michael K. Schroyer
 Norman B. Thomson III, M.D.

III. Collection of Information Requirements

    This document does not impose information collection requirements, 
that is, reporting, recordkeeping or third-party disclosure 
requirements. Consequently, there is no need for review by the Office 
of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 35).

    Dated: February 18, 2015.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-04175 Filed 2-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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