[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 111 (Friday, June 8, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34050-34051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13988]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-8051-N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Economic Index
Technical Advisory Panel--June 25, 2012
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces that a public meeting of the Medicare
Economic Index Technical Advisory Panel (``the Panel'') will be held on
Monday, June 25, 2012. The purpose of the Panel is to review all
aspects of the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). This second meeting will
focus on MEI price-measurement proxies and the index's productivity
adjustment. This meeting is open to the public in accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)).
DATES: Meeting Date: The public meeting will be held on Monday, June
25, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Deadline for Submission of Written Comments: Written comments must
be received at the mailing or email address specified in the section of
this notice entitled, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, by 5 p.m. EDT,
Monday, June 18, 2012. Once submitted, all comments are considered to
be final.
Deadlines for Speaker Registration and Presentation Materials: The
deadline to register to be a speaker and to submit PowerPoint
presentation materials and any other written materials that will be
used in support of an oral presentation is 5 p.m. EDT, Monday, June 18,
2012. Speakers may register by contacting Toya Via, HCD International,
by phone at (301) 552-8803 or via email at [email protected]. Materials
that will be used in support of an oral presentation must be received
at the mailing or email address specified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice, by 5 p.m. EDT, Monday, June
18, 2012.
Deadline for All Other Attendees Registration: Individuals may
register online at http://www.hcdi.com/mei/ or by phone by contacting
Toya Via, HCD International, at (301) 552-8803 by 5 p.m. EDT, Monday,
June 18, 2012.
We will be broadcasting the meeting live via webinar and conference
call (for audio purposes). Webinar details will be sent to registered
attendees.
Deadline for Submitting a Request for Special Accommodations:
Persons attending the meeting who are hearing or visually impaired, or
have a condition that requires special assistance or accommodations,
are asked to contact the Designated Federal Officer as specified in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice, by 5 p.m. EDT,
Monday, June 18, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The meeting will be held in the Media
Center of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), 7500
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Poisal, Designated Federal
Officer, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of the
Actuary, Mail stop N3-02-02, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD
21244 or contact Mr. Poisal by phone at (410) 786-6397 or via email at
[email protected]. Press inquiries are handled through the CMS
Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Medicare Economic Index Technical Advisory Panel (``the
Panel'') was established by the Secretary to conduct a technical review
of the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). The review will include the
inputs, input weights, price-measurement proxies, and productivity
adjustment. For more information on the Panel, see the October 7, 2011
Federal Register (76 FR 62415). You may view and obtain a copy of the
Secretary's charter for the Panel at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/MEITAP.html. The members of the Panel are:
Dr. Ernst Berndt, Dr. Robert Berenson, Dr. Zachary Dyckman, Dr. Kurt
Gillis, and Ms. Kathryn Kobe.
This notice announces the Monday, June 25, 2012 public meeting of
the Panel. This meeting will focus on MEI price-measurement proxies and
the index's productivity adjustment.
II. Meeting Format
This meeting is open to the public. There will be up to 45 minutes
allotted at this meeting for the Panel to hear oral presentations from
the public. Time allotted for each presentation may be limited. If the
number of registrants requesting to speak is greater than can be
reasonably accommodated during the scheduled open public hearing
session, we will conduct a lottery to determine the speakers for the
scheduled open public hearing session. The contact person will notify
interested persons regarding their request to speak by 5 p.m. EDT,
Wednesday, June 20, 2012. Any presentations that are not selected based
on the lottery will be forwarded to the panel for consideration. For
this meeting, public comments should focus on MEI price-measurement
proxies and the index's productivity adjustment. We require that you
declare at the meeting whether you have any financial involvement with
manufacturers (or their competitors) of any items or services being
discussed.
The Panel will deliberate openly on the topics under consideration.
Interested persons may observe the deliberations, but the Panel will
not hear further comments during this time except at the request of the
chairperson. The Panel will also allow up to 15 minutes for an
unscheduled open public session for any attendee to address issues
specific to the topics under consideration.
III. Registration Instructions
HCD International is coordinating meeting registration. While there
is no registration fee, individuals must register to attend. You may
register online at http://www.hcdi.com/mei/ or by phone by contacting
Toya Via, HCD International, at (301) 552-8803, by the date specified
in the DATES section of this notice. Please provide your full name (as
it appears on your government-issued photographic identification),
address, organization, telephone, and email address. At the time of
registration, you will be asked to designate if you plan to attend in
person or via webinar. You will receive a registration confirmation
with instructions for your arrival at the CMS complex or you will be
notified that the seating capacity has been reached.
IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines
This meeting will be held in a Federal Government building;
therefore, Federal security measures are applicable. We recommend that
confirmed registrants arrive reasonably early, but no earlier than 45
minutes prior to the start of the meeting, to allow additional time to
clear security. Security measures include the following:
[[Page 34051]]
Presentation of government-issued photographic
identification to the Federal Protective Service or Guard Service
personnel.
Inspection of vehicle's interior and exterior (this
includes engine and trunk inspection) at the entrance to the grounds.
Parking permits and instructions will be issued after the vehicle
inspection.
Inspection, via metal detector or other applicable means,
of all persons entering the building. We note that all items brought
into CMS, whether personal or for the purpose of presentation or to
support a presentation, are subject to inspection. We cannot assume
responsibility for coordinating the receipt, transfer, transport,
storage, set-up, safety, or timely arrival of any personal belongings
or items used for presentation or to support a presentation.
Note: Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be
permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the
meeting. The public may not enter the building earlier than 45
minutes prior to the convening of the meeting. All visitors must be
escorted in areas other than the lower and first floor levels in the
Central Building.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a).
Dated: June 5, 2012.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2012-13988 Filed 6-7-12; 8:45 am]
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