Medicare Program; September 25, 1998, Open Town Hall Meeting To Discuss the Medicare Coverage Process

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-3432-N]

Medicare Program; September 25, 1998, Open Town Hall Meeting To

Discuss the Medicare Coverage Process

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting to solicit comments from the

public on proposed revisions to the process we use to make

administrative coverage decisions in the Medicare program. Advance

registration is required due to space limitations.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for September 25, 1998 from 8:30 a.m.

until 5:30 p.m., e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the HCFA headquarters

auditorium, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland, 21244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Milhorn (410) 786-5663

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At present, in accordance with section

1862(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act, we use a variety of

mechanisms to make coverage decisions, including internal staff review,

meetings and discussions with medical experts, and technology

assessments. Until last year, we also used a Technology Advisory

Committee, comprised of both HCFA and non-HCFA personnel, to discuss

and receive advice about coverage issues. We disbanded the Technology

Advisory Committee last year following concerns raised by the General

Accounting Office about whether the Committee complies with the Federal

Advisory Committee Act. We have developed a plan for establishing a new

committee that fully complies with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

This committee will be more open and responsive to public

participation. We are also taking other steps to make the coverage

review process more open and to offer a more accessible and systematic

means for advising the public about ongoing actions regarding coverage

issues.

The meeting will consist of short HCFA presentations on several

major topics central to the development of revisions to the coverage

process followed by public discussion. The meeting will conclude with a

question and answer session during which the public may raise any

issues related to the topics discussed. While the meeting is open to

the public, attendance is limited to space available. Therefore,

individuals must register in advance, as described below.

Registration

Casals and Associates in Arlington, Virginia will handle

registration for the meeting. Individuals may register by contacting

Stacey Young at Casals and Associates by mail, fax, or Internet

electronic mail. Please provide your name, title, firm name, address,

telephone, fax, and Internet electronic mail address (if applicable).

For mail registration, the address is: Casals and

Associates, 2231 Crystal Drive, Suite 814, Arlington, Virginia, 22202,

Attention: Stacey Young.

For fax registration, the number is 703-920-5750.

For registration by Internet electronic mail, the address

is [email protected]

Casals and Associates will provide all registrants with a

confirmation packet and background papers prior to the meeting.

We will accept written questions, comments, or other materials,

either prior to, or within 14 days after the meeting. Address comments

to: Ron Milhorn (S3-02-01), HCFA, 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Md.

21244, Telephone: 410-786-5663, FAX: 410-786-6857, E-Mail:

R[email protected]

There is no special format for the materials; however, we request

that commenters be clear about the issue or aspect of the proposed

process on which they have a question, comment, or suggestion.

After reviewing and analyzing the comments and suggestions we

receive, we intend to prepare a notice for publication in the Federal

Register setting forth the process for making administrative coverage

decisions. Although our plans are to publish this notice in final form,

we anticipate that we will provide a comment period and make any

necessary revisions in the notice based on the comments we receive.

Authority: Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.2)

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773

Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and No. 93.774, Medicare--

Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

Dated: August 26, 1998.

Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,

Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.

[FR Doc. 98-24291 Filed 9-9-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P