[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 111 (Friday, June 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30936-30937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14595]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-1194-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Practicing Physicians Advisory 
Council on June 25, 2001

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, this notice announces a meeting of the Practicing 
Physicians Advisory Council. This meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for June 25, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. until 
5 p.m., e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 505A, 5th Floor, Hubert H. 
Humphrey, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Rudolf, M.D., J.D., Executive 
Director, Practicing Physicians Advisory Council, Room 435-H, Hubert H. 
Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201, 
(202) 690-7874. News media representatives should contact the HCFA 
Press Office, (202) 690-6145. Please refer to the HCFA Advisory 
Committees Information Line (1-877-449-5659 toll free)/(410 786-9379 
local) or the internet (http://www.hcfa.gov/fac) for additional 
information and updates on committee activities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of the Department of Health 
and Human Services (the Secretary) is mandated by section 1868 of the 
Social Security Act to appoint a Practicing Physicians Advisory Council 
(the Council) based on nominations submitted by medical organizations 
representing physicians. The Council meets quarterly to discuss certain 
proposed changes in regulations and carrier manual instructions related 
to physicians' services, as identified by the Secretary. To the extent 
feasible and consistent with statutory deadlines, the consultation must 
occur before publication of the proposed changes. The Council submits 
an annual report on its recommendations to the Secretary and the 
Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration not later 
than December 31 of each year.
    The Council consists of 15 physicians, each of whom has submitted 
at least 250 claims for physicians' services under Medicare or Medicaid 
in the previous year. Members of the Council include both participating 
and nonparticipating physicians, and physicians practicing in rural and 
underserved urban areas. At least 11 members must be doctors of 
medicine or osteopathy authorized to practice medicine and surgery by 
the States in which they practice. Members have been invited to serve 
for overlapping 4-year terms. In accordance with section 14 of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, this Council automatically terminates 
two years after its date of establishment, unless the Council is 
renewed before the termination date by appropriate agency action. 
Therefore, terms of more than two years for members are contingent upon 
the renewal.
    The Council held its first meeting on May 11, 1992.
    The current members are: Jerold M. Aronson, M.D.; Richard Bronfman, 
D.P.M.; Joseph Heyman, M.D.; Sandral Hullett, M.D.; Stephen A. Imbeau, 
M.D.; Angelyn L. Moultrie, D.O.; Derrick K. Latos, M.D. (pending re-
appointment); Dale Lervick, O.D.; Sandra B. Reed, M.D.; Amilu 
Rothhammer, M.D.; Victor Vela, M.D.; and Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., M.D.; 
and Douglas L. Wood, M.D. The Council chairperson is pending selection.
    The agenda will provide for discussion and comment on the following 
topics:
    <bullet> Inputs and insights on the draft instructions to implement 
Advance Beneficiary Notices.
    <bullet> Physician Regulatory Issues Team (PRIT) update.
    <bullet> Evaluation and Management Documentation Guidelines (update 
and discussion on medical review form).
    <bullet> Physician Participation in Evaluation and Management 
Guidelines Pilot Studies (How to address issues of miscoding and 
medical review in the studies).
    <bullet> Contractor Oversight Issues (provider education, customer 
service, medical review, and contractor performance evaluation).
    For additional information and clarification on the topics listed, 
call the contact person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
of this notice.
    Individual physicians or medical organizations that represent 
physicians and who wish to be scheduled to make 5-minute oral 
presentations on agenda issues should contact the Executive Director by 
12 noon, June 15, 2001. Testimony is limited to the listed agenda 
issues only. The number of oral presentations may be limited by the 
time available. A written copy of the presenter's oral remarks should 
be submitted to the Executive Director no later than 12 noon, June 18, 
2001, for distribution to Council members for review prior to the 
meeting. Physicians and organizations not scheduled to speak may also 
submit written comments to the Executive Director and Council members. 
The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the 
space available. Individuals requiring sign language interpretation for 
the hearing impaired or other special accommodation should contact John

[[Page 30937]]

Lanigan (202) 690-7418 at least 10 days before the meeting.

(Section 1868 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ee) and 
section 10(a) of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a))

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

    Dated: June 6, 2001.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-14595 Filed 6-7-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P