101606 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 241 / Monday, December 16, 2024 / Notices 

including at the clinician-patient level, 

practice level, and health-system level. 

Additionally, the Task Force benefits 

from members with expertise in the 

following areas: 

D Public Health 

D Health Equity and The Reduction of 

Health Disparities 

D Application of Science to Health 

Policy 

D Decision modeling 

D Dissemination and Implementation 

D Behavioral Medicine/Clinical Health 

Psychology 

D Communication of Scientific Findings 

to Multiple Audiences Including 

Health Care Professionals, Policy 

Makers, and the General Public. 

Candidates with experience and skills 

in any of these areas should highlight 

them in their nomination materials. 

Applicants must have no substantial 

conflicts of interest, whether financial, 

professional, or intellectual, that would 

impair the scientific integrity of the 

work of the USPSTF and must be 

willing to complete regular conflict of 

interest disclosures. 

Applicants must have the ability to 

work collaboratively with a team of 

diverse professionals who support the 

mission of the USPSTF. Applicants 

must have adequate time to contribute 

substantively to the work products of 

the USPSTF. 

Nominee Selection 

Nominated individuals will be 

selected for the USPSTF on the basis of 

how well they meet the required 

qualifications, and the current expertise 

needs of the USPSTF. It is anticipated 

that new members will be invited to 

serve on the USPSTF beginning in 

January, 2026. All nominated 

individuals will be considered; 

however, strongest consideration will be 

given to individuals with demonstrated 

training and expertise in the areas of 

Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Behavioral 

Medicine, and Obstetrics and 

Gynecology. AHRQ will retain and may 

consider for future vacancies 

nominations received this year and not 

selected during this cycle. 

Some USPSTF members without 

primary health care clinical experience 

may be selected based on their expertise 

in methodological issues such as metaanalysis, analytic modeling, or clinical 

epidemiology. For individuals with 

clinical expertise in primary health care, 

additional qualifications in 

methodology would enhance their 

candidacy. 

Background 

Under title IX of the Public Health 

Service Act, AHRQ is charged with 

enhancing the quality, appropriateness, 

and effectiveness of health care services 

and access to such services. 42 U.S.C. 

299(b). AHRQ accomplishes these goals 

through scientific research and 

promotion of improvements in clinical 

practice, including clinical prevention 

of diseases and other health conditions. 

See 42 U.S.C. 299(b). 

The USPSTF, a body of experts in 

prevention and evidence-based 

medicine, works to improve the health 

of people nationwide by making 

evidence-based recommendations about 

the effectiveness of clinical preventive 

services and health promotion. The 

recommendations made by the USPSTF 

address clinical preventive services for 

adults and children, and include 

screening tests, counseling services, and 

preventive medications. 

The USPSTF was first established in 

1984 under the auspices of the U.S. 

Public Health Service. AHRQ provides 

ongoing scientific, administrative, and 

dissemination support for the USPSTF’s 

operation. See 42 U.S.C. 299b-4(a)(3). 

Members are appointed by the Secretary 

of the U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services to serve four-year 

terms. New members are selected each 

year to replace those members who are 

completing their appointments. 

The USPSTF rigorously evaluates the 

effectiveness of clinical preventive 

services and formulating or updating 

recommendations regarding the 

appropriate provision of preventive 

services. Current USPSTF 

recommendations and associated 

evidence reviews are available on the 

internet (www.uspreventiveservices

taskforce.org). 

USPSTF members meet three times a 

year for two days in the Washington, DC 

area or virtually if necessary. A 

significant portion of the USPSTF’s 

work occurs between meetings during 

video conference calls and via email 

discussions. Member duties include 

prioritizing topics, designing research 

plans, reviewing and commenting on 

systematic evidence review reports, 

discussing evidence and making 

recommendations on preventive 

services, reviewing stakeholder 

comments, drafting final 

recommendation documents, and 

participating in workgroups on specific 

topics and methods. Members can 

expect to receive frequent emails, can 

expect to participate in multiple video 

conference calls each month, and can 

expect to have periodic interaction with 

stakeholders. AHRQ estimates that 

members devote approximately 250 

hours a year outside of in-person 

meetings to their USPSTF duties. The 

members are all volunteers and do not 

receive any compensation beyond 

support for travel to attend the thrice 

yearly meetings and trainings. 

Dated: December 10, 2024. 

Marquita Cullom, 

Associate Director. 

[FR Doc. 2024–29479 Filed 12–13–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4160–90–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[Document Identifiers: CMS–10538] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services, Health and Human 

Services (HHS). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing 

an opportunity for the public to 

comment on CMS’ intention to collect 

information from the public. Under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), Federal agencies are required to 

publish notice in the Federal Register 

concerning each proposed collection of 

information (including each proposed 

extension or reinstatement of an existing 

collection of information) and to allow 

60 days for public comment on the 

proposed action. Interested persons are 

invited to send comments regarding our 

burden estimates or any other aspect of 

this collection of information, including 

the necessity and utility of the proposed 

information collection for the proper 

performance of the agency’s functions, 

the accuracy of the estimated burden, 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected, and the use of automated 

collection techniques or other forms of 

information technology to minimize the 

information collection burden. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

February 14, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: When commenting, please 

reference the document identifier or 

OMB control number. To be assured 

consideration, comments and 

recommendations must be submitted in 

any one of the following ways: 

1. Electronically. You may send your 

comments electronically to http://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for ‘‘Comment or 

Submission’’ or ‘‘More Search Options’’ 

to find the information collection 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 241 / Monday, December 16, 2024 / Notices 101607 

document(s) that are accepting 

comments. 

2. By regular mail. You may mail 

written comments to the following 

address: CMS, Office of Strategic 

Operations and Regulatory Affairs, 

Division of Regulations Development. 

Attention: Document Identifier/OMB 

Control Number: ll, Room C4–26–05, 

7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 

Maryland 21244–1850. 

To obtain copies of a supporting 

statement and any related forms for the 

proposed collection(s) summarized in 

this notice, please access the CMS PRA 

website by copying and pasting the 

following web address into your web 

browser: https://www.cms.gov/ 

Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/ 

PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRAListing. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

William N. Parham at (410) 786–4669. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Contents 

This notice sets out a summary of the 

use and burden associated with the 

following information collections. More 

detailed information can be found in 

each collection’s supporting statement 

and associated materials (see 

ADDRESSES). 

CMS–10538 Hospice Information for 

Medicare Part D Plans 

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501– 

3520), Federal agencies must obtain 

approval from the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 

information they conduct or sponsor. 

The term ‘‘collection of information’’ is 

defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 

1320.3(c) and includes agency requests 

or requirements that members of the 

public submit reports, keep records, or 

provide information to a third party. 

Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA 

requires Federal agencies to publish a 

60-day notice in the Federal Register 

concerning each proposed collection of 

information, including each proposed 

extension or reinstatement of an existing 

collection of information, before 

submitting the collection to OMB for 

approval. To comply with this 

requirement, CMS is publishing this 

notice. 

Information Collections 

1. Type of Information Collection 

Request: Reinstatement without change 

of a previously approved collection; 

Title of Information Collection: Hospice 

Information for Medicare Part D Plans; 

Use: The Social Security Act in section 

1861(dd) and Federal regulations in 42 

CFR 418.106 and 418.202(f) require 

hospice programs to provide individuals 

under hospice care with drugs and 

biologicals related to the palliation and 

management of the terminal illness as 

defined in the hospice plan of care. 

Medicare payment is made to the 

hospice for each day an eligible 

beneficiary is under the hospice’s care, 

regardless of the amount of services 

provided on any given day. Because 

hospice care is a Medicare Part A 

benefit, drugs provided by the hospice 

and covered under the Medicare 

payment to the hospice program are not 

covered under Part D. 

The form would be completed by the 

prescriber or the beneficiary’s hospice, 

or if the prescriber or hospice provides 

the information verbally to the Part D 

sponsor, the form would be completed 

by the sponsor. Information provided on 

the form would be used by the Part D 

sponsor to establish coverage of the drug 

under Medicare Part D. Per statute, 

drugs that are necessary for the 

palliation and management of the 

terminal illness and related conditions 

are not eligible for payment under Part 

D. The standard form provides a vehicle 

for the hospice provider, prescriber or 

sponsor to document that the drug 

prescribed is ‘‘unrelated’’ to the 

terminal illness and related conditions. 

It also gives a hospice organization the 

option to communicate a beneficiary’s 

change in hospice status and/care plan 

to Part D sponsors. Form Number: CMS– 

10538 (OMB control number: 0938– 

1296); Frequency: Yearly; Affected 

Public: Private Sector (business or other 

for-profits); Number of Respondents: 

319; Number of Responses: 57,027; 

Total Annual Hours: 2,329. (For policy 

questions regarding this collection, 

contact Chad Buskirk at (410) 786–1630 

or chad.buskirk@cms.hhs.gov.) 

William N. Parham, III, 

Director, Division of Information Collections 

and Regulatory Impacts, Office of Strategic 

Operations and Regulatory Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2024–29458 Filed 12–13–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Indian Health Service 

RIN 0917–AA25 

Reimbursement Rates for Calendar 

Year 2025 

AGENCY: Indian Health Service, HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Notice is provided that the 

Director of the Indian Health Service 

(IHS) has approved the rates for 

inpatient and outpatient medical care 

provided by the IHS facilities for 

Calendar Year 2025. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The Director of the Indian Health 

Service, under the authority of sections 

321(a) and 322(b) of the Public Health 

Service Act (42 U.S.C. 248 and 249(b)), 

Public Law 83–568 (42 U.S.C. 2001(a)), 

and the Indian Health Care 

Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1601 et 

seq.), has approved the following rates 

for inpatient and outpatient medical 

care provided by IHS facilities for 

Calendar Year 2025 for Medicare and 

Medicaid beneficiaries, beneficiaries of 

other Federal programs, and for 

recoveries under the Federal Medical 

Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651– 

2653). The inpatient rates for Medicare 

Part A are excluded from the table 

below. That is because Medicare 

inpatient payments for IHS hospital 

facilities are made based on the 

prospective payment system, or (when 

IHS facilities are designated as Medicare 

Critical Access Hospitals) on a 

reasonable cost basis. Since the 

inpatient per diem rates set forth below 

do not include all physician services 

and practitioner services, additional 

payment shall be available to the extent 

that those services are provided. 

Please note that the Centers for 

Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 

has issued a Final Rule to pay an addon to the Medicare Outpatient Per Visit 

Rate listed below for certain high-cost 

drugs for people with Medicare who 

receive care at IHS or Tribal hospitals. 

See 89 FR 93912, (November 27, 2024), 

also available at https://

www.federalregister.gov/documents/ 

2024/11/27/2024-25521/medicare-andmedicaid-programs-hospital-outpatientprospective-payment-and-ambulatorysurgical. Further information regarding 

this proposal will be issued directly 

from CMS. 

Inpatient Hospital Per Diem Rate 

(Excludes Physician/Practitioner 

Services) 

Calendar Year 2025 

Lower 48 States: $5,580. 

Alaska: $5,074. 

Outpatient Per Visit Rate (Excluding 

Medicare) 

Calendar Year 2025 

Lower 48 States: $801. 

Alaska: $1,209. 

Outpatient Per Visit Rate (Medicare) 

Calendar Year 2025 

Lower 48 States: $718. 


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