Medicare Program; Meeting of the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[OPL-001-N]

Medicare Program; Meeting of the Practicing Physicians Advisory

Council

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 September 12, 1994, from 8 a.m.

until 5 p.m. e.d.t. (An additional meeting is tentatively scheduled for

December 12, 1994.)

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 800, 8th Floor of the

Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,

DC 20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha DiSario, Executive Director,

Practicing Physicians Advisory Council, Room 425-H, Hubert H. Humphrey

Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201, (202)

690-7874.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of the Department of Health

and Human Services (the Secretary) is mandated by section 1868 of the

Social Security Act, as added by section 4112 of the Omnibus Budget

Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA '90) (Pub. L. 101-508), enacted on

November 5, 1990, 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 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.

The current members are: Gary C. Dennis, M.D.; Catalina E. Garcia,

M.D.; Harvey P. Hanlen, O.D.; Kenneth D. Hansen, M.D.; Isabel V.

Hoverman, M.D.; Sandral Hullett, M.D.; Jerilynn S. Kaibel, D.C.;

William D. Kirsch, D.E., M.P.H.; Marie G. Kuffner, M.D.; Katherine L.

Markette, M.D.; Kenton K. Moss, M.D.; Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.; Richard

B. Tompkins, M.D.; Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., M.D.; and James C. Waites,

M.D. The chairperson is Richard B. Tompkins, M.D.

The tenth meeting of the Council will be held on September 12,

1994. The following topics will be discussed at that meeting:

The 5-year refinement of the relative value units under

the physician fee schedule.

Concurrent care as a claims processing challenge when we

receive claims from several physicians who are furnishing services to

the same patient during the same time period.

The nursing facility requirements that mandate visits by

physicians according to a fixed schedule established in regulations (42

CFR 483.40(c)).

Medicare coverage of, and payment for, experimental

technology. Individuals or organizations who wish to make 10-minute

oral presentations on the above issues must contact the Executive

Director to be scheduled. For the name, address, and telephone number

of the Executive Director, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section at the beginning of this notice. The number of oral

presentations may be limited by the time available.

Anyone who is not scheduled to speak may submit written comments to

the Executive Director. The meeting is open to the public, but

attendance is limited to the space available on a first-come basis.

(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));

45 C.F.R. 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: August 15, 1994.

Bruce C. Vladeck,

Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.

[FR Doc. 94-21074 Filed 8-25-94; 8:45 am]

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