03-9942. Medicare Program; Meeting of the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council-May 19, 2003

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION:

Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces a meeting of the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (the Council), and the swearing in of four new Council members. The Council will be meeting to discuss certain proposed changes in regulations and carrier manual instructions related to physicians' services, as identified by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The meeting is open to the public.

DATES:

The meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. e.d.t.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held in Room 800, 8th floor, at Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201.

Meeting Registration: Persons wishing to attend this meeting must contact Diana Motsiopoulos, The Council Administrative Coordinator, at [e-mail] or [phone], at least 72 hours in advance to register. Persons not registered in advance, will not be permitted into the Humphrey building and will not be permitted to attend the meeting. Persons attending the meeting will be required to show a photographic identification, preferably a valid driver's license, before entering the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Rudolf, M.D., J.D., Executive Director, Practicing Physicians Advisory Council, 7500 Security Blvd., Mail Stop C5-17-14, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, 410-786-6960. News media representatives should contact the CMS Press Office, [phone]. Please refer to the CMS Advisory Committees Information Line (1-877-449-5659 toll free)/(410-786-9379 local) or the Internet at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/​faca/​ppac/​default.asp for additional information and updates on committee activities.

Background Information: The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) is mandated by section 1868 of the Social Security Act (the Act) to appoint Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (the Council) members 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 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services not later than December 31 of each year.

The Council consists of 15 physicians, each of whom must have submitted at least 250 claims for physicians' services under Title XVIII in the previous year. Members must include both participating and nonparticipating physicians, and physicians practicing in rural and under served urban areas. At least 11 members of the Council must be physicians as described in section 1861(r)(1) (that is, M.D. or D.O.). The remaining 4 members may include dentists, podiatrists, optometrists and chiropractors. Members serve for overlapping 4-year terms; terms of more than 2 years are contingent upon the renewal of the Council by appropriate action prior to its termination. Section 1868(a) of the Act provides that nominations to the Secretary for Council membership must be made by medical organizations representing physicians.

The Council held its first meeting on May 11, 1992. The current members are: James Bergeron, M.D.; Ronald Castallanos, M.D.; Rebecca Gaughan, M.D.; Carlos R. Hamilton, M.D.; Joseph Heyman, M.D.; Dennis K. Iglar, M.D.; Christopher Leggett, M.D.; Joe Johnson, D.O.; Barbara McAneny, M.D.; Angelyn L. Moultrie-Lizana, D.O.; Laura B. Powers, M.D.; Michael T. Rapp, M.D.; Amilu Rothhammer, M.D.; Robert L. Urata, M.D. and Douglas L. Wood, M.D.

The meeting will commence with a Council update on the status of prior recommendations, followed by discussion and comment on the following agenda topics:

• Physician's Regulatory Issues Team (PRIT)
• Stark II—CMS-1810-FC
• Office of the Actuary—Volume Performance
• Measures/Volume Intensity Adjustments
• HIPAA Privacy Rule—Cell phone communications
• Access to physicians services

For additional information and clarification on these topics, contact the Executive Director, listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Individual physicians or medical organizations that represent physicians wishing to make a 5-minute oral presentation on agenda issues should contact the Executive Director by 12 noon, May 5, 2003, to be scheduled. Testimony is limited to agenda topics only. The number of oral presentations may be limited by the time available. A written copy of the presenter's oral remarks must be submitted to Diana Motsiopoulos, Administrative Coordinator no later than 12 noon, May 5, 2003, for distribution to Council members for review prior to the meeting.

Physicians and medical organizations not scheduled to speak may also submit written comments to the Administrative Coordinator for distribution. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the space available. Individuals requiring sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired or other special accommodation should contact Diana Motsiopoulos at [e-mail] or [phone] at least 10 days before the meeting.

Authority: 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)).

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

Dated: April 15, 2003.

Thomas A. Scully,

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.