[Federal Register: February 13, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 30)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 7359-7360]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13fe98-36]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

42 CFR Chapter IV

[HCFA-1037-N]

 
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee 
on the Provider-Sponsored Organization Solvency Standards

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 document announces the date and location for a 
planned seventh meeting of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on the 
provider-sponsored organization (PSO) solvency standards. The purpose 
of this committee meeting is to negotiate a consensus of an interim 
final rule establishing solvency standards for provider-sponsored 
organizations under Part C of the Medicare program, as statutorily-
mandated by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-33.

DATE AND ADDRESSES: Unless canceled by the Committee, this meeting will 
be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on March 3 and 4, 1998, in Room 
800, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave., SW, 
Washington, DC, 20201-0001.

MEETING INFORMATION: This is a planned meeting that may be canceled. 
The decision whether to hold this meeting will be available via the 
Internet on the HCFA homepage: http://www.hcfa.gov/medicare/
mgdcare1.htm. For further information and/or a voicemail message as to 
whether the Committee will meet should be directed to Maureen Miller, 
(410) 786-1097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 
establishes a new Medicare+Choice program under part C of title XVIII 
of the Social Security Act (the Act). Under this program, an eligible 
individual may elect to receive Medicare benefits through enrollment in 
a Medicare+Choice plan that has a contract with us, which may include a 
health plan offered by a PSO. The BBA establishes a definition of PSOs 
that will

[[Page 7360]]

be further clarified in forthcoming regulations. Section 4001 of the 
BBA mandates an expedited and modified negotiated rulemaking process 
for establishing solvency standards for PSOs. The standards must be 
published as an interim final rule, subject to comment, by April 1, 
1998.
    As required by the BBA, the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee 
reported to the Secretary by January 1, 1998, regarding its progress 
and movement toward building a consensus. The Committee is required to 
report its proposed standards to the Secretary by March 1, 1998. If, 
however, the Committee is unable to reach a consensus within the 
assigned time frame or at the completion of this additional meeting, 
the Health Care Financing Administration will proceed with publication 
of a rule using its rulemaking authority as established in the BBA.
    Five 3-day meetings of the Committee have been held through 
October, November, December, and January that were facilitated by the 
Departmental Appeals Board. After the initial meetings at which 
informative presentations were heard, the Committee has been actively 
developing and negotiating PSO solvency standards. A sixth meeting, 
previously announced in an October 26, 1997 Federal Register Notice, 
will occur February 18, 19, and 20, 1998. However, due to the short 
time frame in which the Committee has had to work and the possibility 
that the Committee may need some additional meeting time to complete 
its work, this tentative final meeting is being scheduled for the first 
week of March. If the Committee is unable to complete work on the 
interim final rule at its February meeting and the facilitator believes 
an agreement could be reached with an additional meeting, then the 
meeting will occur on March 3 and 4. If the Committee reaches consensus 
during the February meeting, or if consensus is not reached and the 
Committee believes it is unlikely that an agreement can be reached 
within the extended time frame, the March meeting will not be held. The 
decision will be publicly available as directed above.
    All meetings are open to the public without advanced registration. 
Public attendance at the meetings may be limited to space available. A 
summary of all proceedings is available for inspection in Room 309-G of 
the Department's offices at 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 
DC, on Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
(Phone: (202) 690-7890), or can be accessed through the HCFA Internet 
site at http://www/hcfa.gov/medicare/mgdcare1. Additional information 
related to the Committee will be available on the web site.
    Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.2).

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

    Dated: February 11, 1998.
Nancy-Ann Min Deparle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-3841 Filed 2-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P