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[Federal Register: September 24, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 185)]
[Notices]               
[Page 58411-58412]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24se10-99]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-3233-N]

 
Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on the Physician Compare Web 
Site, October 27, 2010

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: Section 10331 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
Act of 2010, ``Public Reporting of Performance Information'' requires 
CMS to establish a Physician Compare Web site by January 1, 2011. This 
notice announces a Town Hall meeting to discuss the Physician Compare 
Web site. The purpose of this Town Hall meeting is to solicit input 
from stakeholders on the Physician Compare Web site. The opinions and 
alternatives provided during this meeting will assist us in future 
expansion of the Physician Compare Web site. The meeting is open to the 
public, but attendance is limited to space available.

DATES: Meeting Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 from 1 to 5 p.m., 
eastern daylight time (e.d.t.).
    Timeframe for Meeting Registration: Monday, September 27, 2010 
through Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 5 p.m., e.d.t.
    Deadline for Special Accommodations Requests: Wednesday, October 
13, 2010 at 5 p.m., e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The Town Hall meeting will be held in the 
main auditorium of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
single site, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.
    Registration and Special Accommodations: Persons interested in 
attending the meeting or participating by teleconference must register 
by completing the online registration via the Web site at http://www.usqualitymeasures.org/qm/. Individuals who require special 
accommodations should send a request via e-mail or regular mail to the 
contact specified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this notice.

[[Page 58412]]

    Written Comments or Statements: Written comments or statements may 
be sent via e-mail to physiciancompare@cms.hhs.gov or sent via regular 
mail to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, Mail Stop S3-02-01, Attn: 
Physician Compare Town Hall Meeting Comments. All persons planning to 
make a statement in person at the listening session are urged to submit 
statements in writing during the Town Hall meeting and should 
subsequently submit the information electronically by the timeframe 
specified in the DATES section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regina Chell, Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Mailstop 
S3-02-01, Attn: Physician Compare Town Hall Meeting, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244 or contact Ms. Chell by phone at 410-
786-6551, or via e-mail at Regina.Chell@cms.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 10331 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 
2010 (the Affordable Care Act) requires CMS to establish a Web site, 
which will be known as Physician Compare, containing information on 
physicians enrolled in the Medicare program and other eligible 
professionals who participate in the Physician Quality Reporting 
Initiative (PQRI) by January 1, 2011. Section 10331 of the Affordable 
Care Act also requires CMS to implement a plan to make information on 
physician performance publicly available through the Physician Compare 
Web site no later than January 1, 2013 (and for reporting periods 
beginning no earlier than January 1, 2012).
    In implementing section 10331 of the Affordable Care Act, the law 
requires establishing processes, to the extent practicable, to ensure 
the following:
     The data made public are statistically valid and reliable, 
and provide an accurate and robust portrayal of performance.
     Appropriate attribution of care.
     Timely statistical performance feedback.
     The data reflects the care provided to all patients 
including Medicare and other payers where such data would more 
accurately portray performance.
     Physicians and other eligible professionals have a 
reasonable opportunity to review their individual data prior to 
publication.
    The Affordable Care Act also requires the assurance of patient 
privacy, input from multi-stakeholder groups, and taking into 
consideration the plan to transition to value-based purchasing. Section 
10331 of the Affordable Care Act also requires CMS to submit a Report 
to Congress on the Physician Compare Web site by January 15, 2015, and 
authorizes CMS to establish a demonstration program by January 1, 2019, 
to provide financial incentives to Medicare beneficiaries who are 
furnished services by high quality physicians. The Affordable Care Act 
requires that the measures include, to the extent practicable, the 
following:
     Measures collected under the PQRI;
     An assessment of patient health outcomes and the 
functional status of patients;
     An assessment of the continuity and coordination of care 
and care transitions, including episodes of care and risk-adjusted 
resource use;
     An assessment of efficiency;
     An assessment of patient experience and patient, 
caregiver, and family engagement;
     An assessment of the safety, effectiveness, and timeliness 
of care; and
     Other information as determined appropriate by the 
Secretary.

II. Town Hall Format

    The Town Hall meeting will begin with an overview of the objectives 
for the session. The remainder of the meeting will be devoted to 
presenting and receiving input on possible key Web site design issues.
    Following each presentation, the meeting agenda will provide 
opportunities for brief 2-minute comments on each of the key issues 
from on-site session attendees. As time allows, telephone participants 
will also have the opportunity to provide brief 2-minute comments on 
each of the key issues. Written submissions will also be accepted 
through the timeframe specified in the DATES section of this notice.

III. Registration Instructions

    There is no registration fee. For security reasons, any persons 
wishing to attend this meeting must register by the date listed in the 
DATES section of this notice. Persons interested in attending the 
meeting or participating by teleconference must register by completing 
the online registration via the Web site at http://www.usqualitymeasures.org/qm/. The online registration system will 
generate a confirmation page to indicate the completion of your 
registration. Please print this page as your registration receipt. If 
seating capacity has been reached, you will be notified that the 
meeting has reached capacity.
    Individuals may also participate in the Town Hall meeting by 
teleconference. Registration is required as the number of call-in lines 
will be limited. The call-in number will be provided upon confirmation 
of registration.
    We anticipate posting an audio download and/or transcript of the 
Town Hall meeting on the CMS Web site after completion of the listening 
session at http://www.usqualitymeasures.org/qm/.

IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines

    Because this meeting will be located on Federal property, for 
security reasons, any persons wishing to attend this meeting must 
register by the deadline specified in the DATES section of this notice 
at the address specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. 
Individuals who have not registered in advance will not be allowed to 
enter the building to attend the meeting. Seating capacity is limited 
to the first 250 registrants.
    The on-site check-in for visitors will begin 45 minutes prior to 
the start of the meeting. Please allow sufficient time to go through 
the security checkpoints. It is suggested that you arrive no later than 
30 minutes before the start of the meeting so that you will be able to 
arrive at the meeting on time. All items brought to the building, 
whether personal or for the purpose of demonstration or to support a 
presentation, are subject to inspection.
    Security measures will include inspection of vehicles, inside and 
out, at the entrance to the grounds. In addition, all persons entering 
the building must pass through a metal detector. All items brought to 
CMS, including personal items such as laptops, cell phones, and 
P.D.A's, are subject to physical inspection.

    Authority:  Section 10331 of the Affordable Care Act.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93-773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Insurance Program)

    Dated: September 16, 2010.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-23792 Filed 9-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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