[Federal Register: February 12, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 29)]
[Notices]
[Page 9857-9858]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12fe01-74]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration
[HCFA-1174-N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory
Payment Classification Groups
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 (5 U.S.C. App. 2), this notice announces the first annual
meeting of the Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification
Groups. The purpose of this panel is to review the ambulatory payment
classification (APC) groups and provide technical advice to the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the
Secretary) and the Administrator of the Health Care Financing
Administration (the Administrator) concerning the clinical integrity of
the APC groups and their associated weights. This meeting is taking
place at this time because the technical advice of the panel will be
considered as HCFA prepares its annual Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
that will propose changes to the Outpatient Prospective Payment System
(OPPS) that will be published in the spring of 2001. The next meeting
of the panel will be in early calendar year 2002.
DATES: The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27, Wednesday,
February 28, and Thursday, March 1, 2001 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. e.s.t.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 800 of the Hubert H.
Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Olenick (410) 786-0282. Please
refer to the HCFA Advisory Committees
[[Page 9858]]
Information Line (1-877-449-5659 toll free)/(410-786-9379 local), or
the Internet (http://www.hcfa.gov/fac/apcpage.htm) for additional
information and updates on committee activities.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary is required by section
1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social Security Act, as added by section
201(h)(1)(B) and redesignated by section 202(a)(2) of the Balanced
Budget Refinement Act of 1999, to consult with an APC advisory panel.
The panel will meet once annually to review the APC groups and provide
technical advice to the Secretary and the Administrator of HCFA
concerning the clinical integrity of the groups and their associated
weights. The technical advice provided by the panel at its annual
meeting will be considered as HCFA prepares the annual Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking that will propose changes to the OPPS for the next
calendar year.
The panel consists of 15 representatives of Medicare providers that
are subject to the OPPS. The members were selected by the Administrator
of HCFA based upon either self-nominations or nominations submitted by
providers or organizations.
The current members of the panel are: Michelle Burke, R.N.; Leslie
Jane Collins, R.N.; Geneva Craig, R.N.; Lora A. DeWald, M.Ed; Gretchen
M. Evans, R.N.; Robert E. Henkin, M.D.; Lee H. Hilborne, M.D.; Stephen
T. House, M.D.; Kathleen P. Kinslow, CRNA, Ed.D; Mike Metro, R.N.;
Gerald V. Naccarelli, M.D.; Beverly K. Philip, M.D.; Karen L. Rutledge,
B.S.; William A. Van Decker, M.D.; and Paul E. Wallner, D.O. The panel
Chairperson is Paul M. Rudolf, M.D., J.D., a HCFA medical officer.
The agenda will provide for discussion and comment on the following
topics:
Reconfiguration of APCs, such as splitting of an APC and
moving CPT codes from one APC to another.
Removal of specific surgical procedures from the inpatient
list.
Specific clinical issues regarding observation care.
Other technical issues concerning APC structure.
For more detailed information on the agenda topics see our website
at http://www.hcfa.gov/fac/apcpage.htm. We are soliciting comments
from the public on specific proposed items falling within the agenda
topics for this meeting of the panel. We will consider proposed items
for this meeting only if they fall within the agenda topics listed
above. In order to be considered as a potential agenda topic for this
meeting, comments must be in writing. We urge commenters to send
comments as soon as possible. Comments relating to this meeting must be
received no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2001. Send
comments to the following address: Health Care Financing
Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Attn: Paul J.
Olenick, Mail Stop C4-01-26, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD
21244-1850.
Comments may also be sent via electronic mail to
outpatientpps@hcfa.gov. Because of staffing and resource limitations,
we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission and cannot
acknowledge or respond individually to comments we receive. Comments
that are included in the agenda topics will be addressed in the
proposed rule that will be published in the spring of 2001.
Comments on agenda topics for future meetings will also be accepted
at the above addresses.
The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the
space available. Individuals or organizations wishing to make oral
presentations on the agenda items should submit a copy of the
presentation and the name, address and telephone number of the proposed
presenter. In order to be scheduled to speak, this information must be
received no later than 5 p.m., Tuesday, February 20, 2001 at the above
address. Alternatively, the information may be sent electronically to
the email address specified above. Because of staffing and resource
limitations, we cannot accept this information by facsimile (FAX).
Presentations are limited to no more than 5 minutes and must be on
the listed agenda topics only. The number of presentations may be
limited by the time available.
In addition to formal presentations, there will be an
opportunity during the meeting for public comment, limited to one
minute for each individual or organization. The number of speakers may
be limited by the time available.
Individuals requiring sign language interpretation for the hearing
impaired or other special accommodations should contact Paul Olenick at
(410) 786-0282 at least 10 days before the meeting.
(Section 1833 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l) and
section 10(a) of Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)); 45
CFR part 11)
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare-Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare-
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: January 30, 2001.
Michael McMullan,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-3122 Filed 2-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P