Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 207 / Monday, October 27, 2014 / Notices 63919 

Rates for Specific Legislation, ‘‘National 

Health Services Corps Scholarship 

Program (42 U.S.C. 250(B)(1)(A))’’ and 

‘‘National Research Service Award 

Program (42 U.S.C. 288(c)(4)(B)).’’ This 

interest rate will be applied to overdue 

debt until the Department of Health and 

Human Services publishes a revision. 

Dated: October 16, 2014. 

David C. Horn, 

Director, Office of Financial Policy and 

Reporting. 

[FR Doc. 2014–25443 Filed 10–24–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4150–04–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[CMS–1635–N] 

Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s 

Health Insurance Programs; Advisory 

Panel on Clinical Diagnostic 

Laboratory Tests and Request for 

Nominations 

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

establishment of an Advisory Panel on 

Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Tests (the 

Panel) and 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., e.d.t. on November 26, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written 

nominations for membership to the 

following address: Glenn C. McGuirk, 

Designated Federal Official, Center for 

Medicare, Division of Ambulatory 

Services, CMS, 7500 Security 

Boulevard, Mail Stop C4–01–26, 

Baltimore, MD 21244, or email to 

Glenn.McGuirk@cms.hhs.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Glenn C. McGuirk, 410–786–5723, email 

Glenn.McGuirk@cms.hhs.gov, or visit 

the Web site http://www.cms.gov/

Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-ServicePayment/ClinicalLabFeeSched/

index.html?redirect=/

ClinicalLabFeeSched/. 

Press inquiries are handled through 

the CMS Press Office at (202) 690–6145. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

The Advisory Panel on Clinical 

Diagnostic Laboratory Tests is 

authorized by section 1834A(f)(1) of the 

Social Security Act (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 

1395m–1), as established by section 216 

of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act 

of 2014 (PAMA) (Pub L. 113–93, 

enacted April 1, 2014), and is subject to 

the Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. 

Appendix 2), which sets forth standards 

for the formation and use of advisory 

panels. 

II. Provisions of This Notice 

A. Objectives and Scope of the Panel 

Section 1834A of the Act requires the 

establishment of new Medicare payment 

rates for clinical diagnostic laboratory 

tests furnished on or after January 1, 

2017, based on private payor rates, and 

establishes processes for determining 

initial payments for new clinical 

diagnostic laboratory tests (including 

advanced diagnostic laboratory tests). 

As set forth in section 1834A(f)(1) of the 

Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 

Services (the Secretary) will consult 

with an expert outside advisory panel, 

to be established by the Secretary not 

later than July 1, 2015, composed of an 

appropriate selection of individuals 

with expertise in issues related to 

clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. Such 

individuals may include representatives 

of clinical laboratories, molecular 

pathologists, clinical laboratory 

researchers, and individuals with 

expertise in clinical laboratory science 

or economics of clinical laboratory 

services. The Panel will provide input 

to the Secretary and the Administrator 

of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services (CMS) on the following: 

• The establishment of payment rates 

under section 1834A of the Act for new 

clinical diagnostic laboratory tests, 

including whether to use crosswalking 

or gapfilling processes to determine 

payment for a specific new test; and 

• The factors used in determining 

coverage and payment processes for 

new clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. 

In addition, the Panel will provide 

recommendations to the Secretary and 

the Administrator of CMS under section 

1834A of the Act. 

B. Description of Duties 

The Panel will provide input and 

recommendations on the following 

issues: 

• Calculation of weighted median for 

laboratory services using private payor 

rates. 

• Phase-in of reductions from private 

payor rate implementation. 

• Application of market rates. 

• Evaluation and designation of tests 

as advanced diagnostic laboratory tests. 

• Whether to use crosswalking or 

gapfilling to determine payment for a 

specific new test. 

• The factors used in determining 

coverage or payment processes for new 

clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. 

The subject matter before the Panel 

will be limited to these and related 

topics. Unrelated topics will not be 

subjects for discussion. Unrelated topics 

will include, but are not limited to, 

definition of an applicable laboratory for 

purposes of reporting private payor 

data, definition of a data collection 

period, treatment of discounts, reporting 

of more than one payment rate for the 

same payor, certification of data, 

definition of a private payor, civil 

monetary penalties for noncompliance 

with reporting requirements, and 

generally, Medicare conditions of 

payment for clinical diagnostic 

laboratory tests. 

Panel meetings will be held up to 4 

times a year. The Panel will consist of 

up to 15 individuals and a Chair. The 

Panel Chair will be a federal official 

who is designated by the Secretary or 

the Administrator of CMS. The Panel 

Chair will facilitate meetings and the 

Designated Federal Officer (DFO) or 

designee must be present at all 

meetings. Meetings will be open to the 

public except as determined otherwise 

by the Secretary or other official to 

whom the authority has been delegated 

in accordance with the Government in 

the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 

552b(c)) and FACA. Notice of all 

meetings will be published in the 

Federal Register as required by 

applicable laws and Departmental 

regulations. Meetings will be conducted, 

and records of the proceedings kept, as 

required by applicable laws and 

departmental regulations. 

To conduct the business of the Panel, 

a quorum is required. A quorum exists 

when a majority of currently appointed 

members is present at full Panel or 

subcommittee meetings or is 

participating in conference calls. 

Unless renewed by appropriate action 

prior to expiration, the Panel will 

terminate 2 years from the filing date of 

its charter. 

C. Request for Nominations 

We are requesting nominations for 

members to serve on the Panel. As noted 

previously, the Panel will consist of up 

to 15 individuals with expertise in 

issues related to clinical diagnostic 

laboratory tests, which may include 

representatives of clinical laboratories, 

molecular pathologists, clinical 

laboratory researchers, and individuals 

with expertise in clinical laboratory 

science or economics of clinical 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
63920 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 207 / Monday, October 27, 2014 / Notices 

laboratory services. Such issues may 

include the development, validation, 

performance, safety, and application of 

such tests. Nominees must demonstrate 

personal experience with clinical 

laboratory tests and services through a 

past or present history of direct 

employment with an organization that 

furnishes clinical diagnostic laboratory 

tests, or in an academic or research 

capacity. For purposes of this Panel, 

consultants or independent contractors 

are not considered to be representatives 

of clinical laboratories. 

All members will serve on a voluntary 

basis, without compensation, pursuant 

to advance written agreement. Members 

of the Panel will be entitled to receive 

reimbursement for travel expenses and 

per diem in lieu of subsistence 

expenses, in accordance with standard 

Federal Travel Regulations. A member 

may serve after the expiration of his/her 

term until a successor has been sworn 

in. 

The nominees will be evaluated based 

on expertise and factors needed to 

maintain a balance of representation on 

the Panel. These factors include, but are 

not limited to, geographic area 

representation, female and minority 

representation, points of view, and areas 

of expertise (for example, medical, 

scientific, financial, technical, or 

administrative). In addition, all 

nominees must have at least 5 years of 

experience with clinical diagnostic 

laboratory tests or genetic testing. 

Nominations will be considered from 

all geographic locations within the 

United States or its territories. Any 

organization or person may nominate 

one or more qualified individuals for 

Panel membership. Self-nominations 

will also be accepted. 

Each nomination must state that the 

nominee has expressed a willingness to 

serve as a Panel member and must be 

accompanied by a curriculum vitae and 

a brief biographical summary of the 

nominee’s experience. All curricula 

vitae must include the following: 

• Title and current position. 

• Professional affiliation. 

• Home and business address. 

• Telephone and fax numbers. 

• Email address. 

• List of areas of expertise. 

In addition, each nomination letter must 

include the reasons why the nominee 

should be considered, as well as a 

written and signed statement that the 

nominee is willing to serve on the Panel 

under the conditions described in the 

notice and further specified in the 

Charter. 

The top nominees will be contacted in 

regard to their interest and availability. 

Phone interviews of nominees may also 

be requested after review of the 

nominations. The CMS Administrator or 

designee will make the final decision 

about who will serve on the Panel. 

Formal letters of invitation to serve on 

the Panel will be extended by the CMS 

Administrator. 

To permit an evaluation of possible 

sources of conflict of interest, potential 

candidates will be asked to provide 

detailed information concerning such 

matters as financial holdings, 

consultancies, and research grants or 

contracts. 

The selected candidates will be 

invited to serve for a term of up to 3 

years, contingent upon the renewal of 

the Panel by appropriate action prior to 

its termination. A member may serve 

after the expiration of that member’s 

term until a successor takes office. Any 

member appointed to fill a vacancy for 

an unexpired term will be appointed for 

the remainder of that term. 

III. Copies of the Charter 

The Secretary’s Charter for the 

Advisory Panel on Clinical Diagnostic 

Laboratory Tests is available on the 

CMS Web site at http://www.cms.gov/ 

FACA/XXXXXXX.asp, or you may 

obtain a copy of the charter by 

submitting a request to the contact listed 

in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section 

of this notice. 

Dated: October 21, 2014. 

Marilyn Tavenner, 

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services. 

[FR Doc. 2014–25401 Filed 10–24–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Administration for Children and 

Families 

Proposed Information Collection 

Activity; Comment Request 

Proposed Projects: Grant Reviewer 

Recruitment. 

Title: Grant Reviewer Recruitment 

Form. 

OMB No.: NEW. 

Description: The Administration for 

Children and Families’ Children’s 

Bureau (CB) is responsible for 

administering the review of eligible 

grant applications submitted in 

response to funding opportunity 

announcements issued by CB. CB 

ensures that the objective review 

process is independent, efficient, 

effective, economical, and complies 

with the applicable statutes, regulations, 

and policies. Applications are reviewed 

by subject experts knowledgeable in 

child welfare and related fields. Review 

findings are advisory to CB; CB is 

responsible for making award decisions. 

This announcement is a request for 

approval of the proposed information 

collection system, the Reviewer 

Recruitment Module (RRM). CB will use 

a web-based data collection form and 

database to gather critical reviewer 

information in drop down menu format 

for data such as: Degree, occupation, 

affiliations with organizations and 

institutions that serve special 

populations, and demographic 

information that may be voluntarily 

provided by a potential reviewer. 

These data elements will help CB find 

and select expert grant reviewers for 

objective review committees. The webbased system will permit reviewers to 

access and update their information at 

will and as needed. The RRM will be 

accessible by the general public via 

https://rrm.grantsolutions.gov/

AgencyPortal/cb.aspx. 

Respondents: Generally, our 

reviewers are current or retired 

professionals with backgrounds in child 

welfare and related fields and in some 

instances current or former foster care 

parents or clients. 

ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES

Instrument Number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses per 

respondent 

Average 

burden hours 

per response 

Total 

burden hours 

Reviewer recruitment module .......................................................................... 500 1 .25 125 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES