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[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 241 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78707-78709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31542]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1573-N]

Medicare Program; First Semi-Annual Meeting of the Advisory Panel 
on Ambulatory Payment Classification Groups--February 28, 2011 Through 
March 2, 2011

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health 
and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the first semi-annual meeting of the 
Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Groups (the 
Panel) for 2011. The purpose of the Panel is to review the APC groups 
and their associated weights and to advise the Secretary of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (the Secretary) and the 
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 
(the Administrator) concerning the clinical integrity of the APC groups 
and their associated weights established under the Medicare hospital 
Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS). We will consider the 
Panel's advice as we prepare the proposed rule to update the Medicare 
hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) for CY 2012.

DATES: Meeting Dates: We are scheduling the first semi-annual meeting 
in 2011 for the following dates and times:
 Monday, February 28, 2011, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. eastern standard 
time (e.s.t.)
 Tuesday, March 1, 2011, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (e.s.t.)
 Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 8 a.m. to 12 Noon (e.s.t.)

    Note 1: The times listed in this notice are approximate times; 
consequently, the meetings may last longer than listed in this 
notice, but it will not begin before the posted times.

    Note 2: If the Panel's business concludes by COB on Tuesday (3/
1/2011), there will be no meeting on Wednesday (3/2/2011).

Deadlines

Deadline for Hardcopy Comments (including the comment in electronic 
format)/Suggested Agenda Topics--
    5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Monday, February 7, 2011.
Deadline for Hardcopy Presentations, including the required electronic 
documents as discussed below--
    5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Monday, February 7, 2011.
Deadline for Attendance Registration--
    5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, February 23, 2011.
Deadline for Special Accommodations--
    5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, February 23, 2011.

Submission of Materials to the Designated Federal Officer (DFO)

    Because of staffing and resource limitations, we cannot accept 
written comments and presentations by FAX, nor can we print written 
comments and presentations received electronically for dissemination at 
the meeting.
    Only hardcopy comments and presentations can be reproduced for 
public dissemination. All hardcopy presentations must be accompanied by 
Form CMS-20017 (revised 01/07). The form is now available through the 
CMS Forms Web site. The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for linking to 
this form is as follows: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/cmsforms/downloads/cms20017.pdf.
    Presenters must use the most recent copy of CMS-20017 (updated 01/
07) at the above URL. Additionally, presenters must clearly explain the 
action(s) that they are requesting CMS to take in the appropriate 
section of the form. They must also clarify their relationship to the 
organization that they represent in the presentation.

(Note: Issues that are vague, or that are outside the scope of the APC 
Panel's purpose, will not be considered for presentations and comments. 
There will be no exceptions to this rule. We appreciate your 
cooperation on this matter.)
    We are also requiring electronic versions of the written comments 
and presentations, in addition to the hardcopies.
    In summary, presenters and/or commenters must do the following:
     Send both electronic and hardcopy versions of their 
presentations and written comments by the prescribed deadlines.
     Send electronic transmissions to the e-mail address below.
     Do not send pictures of patients in any of the documents 
unless their faces have been blocked out.
     Do not send documents electronically that have been 
archived.
     Mail (or send by courier) to the DFO all hardcopies, 
accompanied by Form CMS-20017 (revised 01/07), if they are presenting, 
as specified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
notice.
     Commenters are not required to send Form CMS-20017 with 
their written comments.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Auditorium, CMS Central 
Office, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shirl Ackerman-Ross, DFO, CMS, CM, 
HAPG, DOC, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C4-05-17, Baltimore, MD 
21244-1850. Phone: (410) 786-4474. E-mail: SAckermanross@cms.hhs.gov.

(Note:) We recommend that you advise couriers of the following 
information: When delivering hardcopies of presentations to CMS, if no 
one answers at the above phone number, call (410) 786-4532 or (410) 
786-9316.)

    The e-mail address for comments, presentations, and registration 
requests is CMS APCPanel@cms.hhs.gov.

(Note: There is NO underscore in this e-mail address; there is a SPACE 
between CMS and APCPanel.)

    News media representatives must contact our Public Affairs Office 
at (202) 690-6145.
    Advisory Committees' Information Lines: The phone numbers for the 
CMS Federal Advisory Committee Hotline are 1-877-449-5659 (toll free) 
and (410) 786-9379 (local).
    Web Sites: Access the CMS Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/05_AdvisoryPanelonAmbulatoryPaymentClassificationGroups.asp#TopOfPage 
to obtain the following information:
(Note: There is an UNDERSCORE after FACA/05(like this--); there is no 
space.)

[[Page 78708]]

 Additional information on the APC meeting agenda topics.
     Updates to the Panel's activities.
     Copies of the current Charter.
     Membership requirements.
    You may also search information about the APC Panel and its 
membership in the FACA database at the following URL: https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Secretary is required by section 1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social 
Security Act (the Act) to consult with an expert, outside advisory 
panel on the clinical integrity of the Ambulatory Payment 
Classification (APC) groups and their associated weights established 
under the Medicare hospital OPPS.
    The APC Panel meets up to three times annually. The Charter 
requires that the Panel must be fairly balanced in its membership in 
terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be 
performed. The Panel consists of up to 15 members who are 
representatives of providers and a Chair.
    Each Panel member must be employed full-time by a hospital, 
hospital system, or other Medicare provider subject to payment under 
the OPPS. The Secretary or Administrator selects the Panel membership 
based upon either self-nominations or nominations submitted by Medicare 
providers and other interested organizations.

    All members must have technical expertise to enable them to 
participate fully in the Panel's work. Such expertise encompasses 
hospital payment systems; hospital medical care delivery systems; 
provider billing and accounting systems; APC groups; Current Procedural 
Terminology codes; Health Care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) 
codes; the use of, and payment for, drugs, medical devices, and other 
services in the outpatient setting; and other forms of relevant 
expertise. Details regarding membership requirements for the APC Panel 
are found on the FACA and CMS Web sites as listed above.
    The Panel presently consists of the following members:

 E. L. Hambrick, M.D., J.D., Chair, Medical Officer, CMS.
 Ruth L. Bush, M.D., M.P.H.
 Kari S. Cornicelli, C.P.A., F.H.F.M.A.
 Dawn L. Francis, M.D., M.H.S.
 Kathleen Graham, R.N., M.S.H.A., C.P.H.Q., A.C.M.
 Patrick A. Grusenmeyer, Sc.D., F.A.C.H.E.
 David A. Halsey, M.D.
 Brian D. Kavanagh, M.D., M.P.H.
 Judith T. Kelly, R.H.I.T., R.H.I.A., C.C.S.
 Scott Manaker, M.D., Ph.D.
 John Marshall, C.R.A., F.A.H.R.A., R.C.C., R.T.[supreg]
 Agatha L. Nolen, D.Ph., M.S., F.A.S.H.P.
 Randall A. Oyer, M.D.
 Daniel J. Pothen, M.S., R.H.I.A., C.H.P.S., C.P.H.I.M.S., 
C.C.S.-P.
 Gregory Przybylski, M.D.
 Neville B. Sarkari, M.D., F.A.C.P.

II. Agenda

    The agenda for the August 2010 meeting will provide for discussion 
and comment on the following topics as designated in the Panel's 
Charter:
     Addressing whether procedures within an APC group are 
similar both clinically and in terms of resource use.
     Reconfiguring APCs (for example, splitting of APCs, moving 
HCPCS codes from one APC to another, and moving HCPCS codes from new 
technology APCs to clinical APCs).
     Evaluating APC group weights.
     Reviewing packaging the cost of some items and services, 
including drugs and devices, into procedures and services, including 
the methodology and the impact on APC group structure and payment.
     Removing procedures from the inpatient list for payment 
under the OPPS.
     Using claims and cost report data for CMS' determination 
of APC group costs.
     Addressing other technical issues concerning APC group 
structure.
(Note: The subject matter before the Panel will be limited to these and 
related topics. Unrelated topics are not subjects for discussion. 
Unrelated topics include, but are not limited to, the conversion 
factor, charge compression, revisions to the cost report, pass-through 
payments, correct code usage, and provider payment adjustments. 
Therefore, these issues will not be considered for presentations and/or 
comments. There will be no exceptions to this rule. We appreciate your 
cooperation on this matter.)

    The Panel may use data collected or developed by entities and 
organizations, other than the Department of Health and Human Services 
(DHHS) and CMS, in conducting its review. We recommend organizations to 
submit data for the Panel's and CMS staff's review.

III. Written Comments and Suggested Agenda Topics

    Hardcopy and electronic written comments and suggested agenda 
topics should be sent to the DFO as specified in the ADDRESSES section 
of this notice. The DFO must receive these items by 5 p.m. (e.s.t.), 
Monday, February 7, 2011. There will be no exceptions. We appreciate 
your cooperation on this matter.
    The written comments and suggested agenda topics submitted for the 
winter 2011 APC Panel meeting must fall within the subject categories 
outlined in the Panel's Charter and as listed in the Agenda section of 
this notice.

IV. Oral Presentations

    Individuals or organizations wishing to make 5-minute oral 
presentations must submit hardcopy and electronic versions of their 
presentations to the DFO by 5 p.m. (e.s.t.), Monday, February 7, 2011, 
for consideration.
    The number of oral presentations may be limited by the time 
available. Oral presentations should not exceed 5 minutes in length for 
an individual or an organization.
    The Chair may further limit time allowed for presentations due to 
the number of oral presentations, if necessary. Presentation times 
listed in the public agenda are approximate and presenters should be 
prepared to present earlier and later than indicated.

V. Presenter and Presentation Information

    All presenters must submit Form CMS-20017 (revised 01/07). 
Hardcopies are required for oral presentations; however, electronic 
submissions of Form CMS-20017 are optional. The DFO must receive the 
following information from those wishing to make oral presentations:
     Form CMS-20017 completed with all pertinent information 
identified on the first page of the presentation.
     One hardcopy of presentation.
     Electronic copy of presentation.
     Personal registration information as described in the 
``Meeting Attendance'' section below.
     Those persons wishing to submit comments only must send 
hardcopy and electronic versions of their comments, but they are not 
required to submit Form CMS-20017.

VI. Collection of Information Requirements

    This document does not impose any information collection and 
recordkeeping requirements. Consequently, it need not be reviewed by 
the Office of Management and Budget under the authority of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 35).

VII. Oral Comments

    In addition to formal oral presentations, there will be opportunity

[[Page 78709]]

during the meeting for public oral comments, which will be limited to 1 
minute for each individual and a total of 3 minutes per organization.

VIII. Meeting Attendance

    The meeting is open to the public; however, attendance is limited 
to space available. Attendance will be determined on a first-come, 
first-served basis.
    Persons wishing to attend this meeting, which is located on Federal 
property, must e-mail the DFO to register in advance no later than 5 
p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, February 23, 2011. A confirmation will be 
sent to the requester(s) by return e-mail.
    The following personal information must be e-mailed to the DFO by 
the date and time above:
     Name(s) of attendee(s).
     Title(s).
     Organization.
     E-mail address(es).
     Telephone number(s).

IX. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines

    The following are the security, building, and parking guidelines:
     Persons attending the meeting including presenters must be 
registered and on the attendance list by the prescribed date.
     Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be 
permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the 
meeting.
     Attendees must present photographic identification to the 
Federal Protective Service or Guard Service personnel before entering 
the building.
     Security measures include inspection of vehicles, inside 
and out, at the entrance to the grounds.
     All persons entering the building must pass through a 
metal detector.
     All items brought into CMS including personal items, such 
as laptops, cell phones, and palm pilots, are subject to physical 
inspection.
     The public may enter the building 30 to 45 minutes before 
the meeting convenes each day.
     All visitors must be escorted in areas other than the 
lower and first-floor levels in the Central Building.
     The main-entrance guards will issue parking permits and 
instructions upon arrival at the building.

X. Special Accommodations

    Individuals requiring sign-language interpretation or other special 
accommodations must send a request for these services to the DFO by 5 
p.m. (e.s.t.), Wednesday, February 23, 2011.

XI. Panel Recommendations and Discussions

    The Panel's recommendations at any APC Panel meeting generally are 
not final until they have been reviewed and approved by the Panel on 
the last day prior to final adjournment.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: December 2, 2010.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-31542 Filed 12-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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