[Federal Register: November 22, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 226)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 70358]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22no02-24]
[[Page 70358]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
42 CFR Chapter IV
[CMS-6012-N3]
RIN 0938-AL13
Medicare Program; Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Special
Payment Provisions and Requirements for Prosthetics and Certain Custom-
Fabricated Orthotics; Meeting Announcement
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meetings.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, this document announces additional public meetings of
the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Special Payment Provisions and
Requirements for Prosthetics and Certain Custom-Fabricated Orthotics.
The Committee was mandated by section 427 of the Medicare, Medicaid,
and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA).
DATES: The next two negotiated rulemaking committee meetings will be
held January 6 and 7, 2003; and February 10 and 11, 2003 from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. e.s.t.
These meetings are open to the public, and subsequent meetings will
be announced in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: The Committee meetings will be held at the Hilton Pikesville
at 1726 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21208, (Telephone 410-653-
1100). Any subsequent meetings will be held at locations to be
announced.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Theresa Linkowich, (410) 786-9249 (General inquiries concerning
prosthetics and custom-fabricated orthotics), Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), 7500 Security Blvd, Baltimore MD 21244; or
Lynn Sylvester, 202-606-9140, Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Services, 2100 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20427; or
Ira Lobel, 518-431-0130, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services, 1
Clinton Square, Room 952, Albany, NY 12207.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We published a document in the Federal
Register on July 26, 2002 (67 FR 48839), announcing the establishment
of the negotiated rulemaking committee to advise us on developing a
proposed rule that would establish special payment provisions and
requirements for suppliers of prosthetics and certain custom-fabricated
orthotics under the Medicare program. The document also announced dates
for the Committee's first two meetings on October 1 to 3, 2002, and
October 29 to 31, 2002.
Through face-to-face negotiations, these meetings will help the
Committee to reach consensus on the substance of the proposed rule. If
consensus is reached, the Committee will transmit to us a report
containing required information for developing a proposed rule, and we
will use the report as the basis for the proposed rule. The Committee
is responsible for identifying the key issues, gauging their
importance, analyzing the information necessary to resolve the issues,
arriving at a consensus, and recommending the text and content of the
proposed regulation. Detailed information is available on the CMS
Internet Home Page: http://cms.hhs.gov/faca/prosthetic/ or by calling
the Federal Advisory Committee Hotline at (410) 786-9379.
The agendas for the January 5 and 6, 2002 and February 10 and 11,
2002 meetings will cover the following:
1. Review of the October 29 to 31 minutes (January 5 and 6) and
review of the January 5 and 6 minutes (February 10 and 11).
2. Workgroup presentations on orthotics and prosthetics.
3. Consensus on workgroup items.
4. Development of new workgroups (as applicable).
5. Presentation by the American Society of Hand Therapists (January
5 and 6).
6. Public comment period.
Public Participation
All interested parties are invited to attend these public meetings,
but attendance is limited to the space available. No advance
registration is required. Seating will be available on a first-come
first'served basis. Individuals requiring sign language interpretation
for the hearing impaired or other special accommodations should contact
Theresa Linkowich, at e-mail address tlinkowich@cms.hhs.gov, or call
(410) 786-9249 at least 10 days before the meeting. The Committee has
the authority to decide to what extent oral presentations by members of
the public may be permitted at the meeting. Oral presentations will be
limited to statements of fact and views, and shall not include any
questioning of the Committee members or other participants unless the
facilitators have specifically approved these questions. The number of
oral presentations may be limited by the time available.
Interested parties can file statements with the Committee. Mail
written statements to the following address: Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Services, 2100 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20427,
Attention: Lynn Sylvester, or call Lynn Sylvester at (202) 606-9140.
Additional Meetings
Meetings will be held as necessary. We will publish notices of
future meetings in the Federal Register. All future meetings will be
open to the public without advance registration.
Authority: Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2)
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: November 19, 2002.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 02-29795 Filed 11-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P