[Federal Register: March 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 58)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 14666] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr26mr99-46] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Care Financing Administration 42 CFR Part 405 [HCFA-1002-N] Medicare Program; Meetings of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Ambulance Fee Schedule AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS. ACTION: Notice of meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces the dates and location for the second meeting and the dates for the third and fourth meetings of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on the Ambulance Fee Schedule. These meetings are open to the public. The purpose of this committee is to develop a proposed rule that establishes a fee schedule for the payment of ambulance services under the Medicare program through negotiated rulemaking, as mandated by section 4531(b) of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997. DATES: The second meeting is scheduled for April 12 and 13, 1999 from 9:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. and April 14, 1999 from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. E.S.T. Two further meetings are scheduled for May 24 and 25, 1999 and June 28 and 29, 1999. ADDRESSES: The 3-day April meeting will be held at Doyle's Hotel, 1500 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; (202) 483-6000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquiries regarding these meetings should be addressed to Bob Niemann (410) 786-4569 or Margot Blige (410) 786-4642 for general issues related to ambulance services or to Lynn Sylvester (202) 606-9140 or Elayne Tempel (207) 780-3408, facilitators. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4531(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA), Public Law 105-33, added a new section 1834(l) to the Social Security Act (the Act). Section 1834(l) of the Act mandates implementation, by January 1, 2000, of a national fee schedule for payment of ambulance services furnished under Medicare Part B. The fee schedule is to be established through negotiated rulemaking. Section 4531(b)(2) also provides that in establishing such fee schedule, the Secretary will-- Establish mechanisms to control increases in expenditures for ambulance services under Part B of the program; Establish definitions for ambulance services that link payments to the type of services furnished; Consider appropriate regional and operational differences; Consider adjustments to payment rates to account for inflation and other relevant factors; and Phase in the fee schedule in an efficient and fair manner. The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on the Ambulance Fee Schedule has been established to provide advice and make recommendations to the Secretary with respect to the text and content of a proposed rule that establishes a fee schedule for the payment of ambulance services under Part B of the Medicare program. The Committee held its first meeting on February 22, 23, and 24, 1999. At this meeting, the Committee discussed in detail how the negotiations will proceed, the schedule for subsequent meetings, and how the Committee will function. The Committee agreed to ground rules for Committee operations, determined how best to address the principal issues, and began to address those issues. During the April meeting the committee will finalize descriptions of the issues to be negotiated, committee members will present a description of their interests, and a representative from HCFA's Actuarial and Health Cost Analysis Group will describe the methodology for determining the amount that would have been paid for ambulance services had the fee schedule not been implemented. The announced future meetings are open to the public without advanced registration. Interested parties can file statements with the committee. Location of future meetings will be published in the Federal Register at a later date. Public attendance at the meetings may be limited to space available. A summary of all proceedings will be available for public inspection in room 443-G of the Department's offices at 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 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/ambmain.htm. Additional information related to the Committee will also be available on the web site. Authority: Section 1834(l)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m). (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774, Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program) Dated: March 19, 1999. Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration. [FR Doc. 99-7366 Filed 3-25-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4120-01-P