Notice2021-12453
Medicare Program; Virtual Public Meetings in July 2021 for New Revisions to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Code Set
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Published
June 15, 2021
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Abstract
This notice announces the dates and times of virtual Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) public meetings to be held in July 2021 to discuss our preliminary coding recommendations for new revisions to the HCPCS Level II code set.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 113 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31717-31719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12453]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1757-N]
Medicare Program; Virtual Public Meetings in July 2021 for New
Revisions to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Code
Set
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the dates and times of virtual
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) public meetings to be
held in July 2021 to discuss our preliminary coding recommendations for
new revisions to the HCPCS Level II code set.
DATES: Virtual Meeting Dates: Wednesday, July 7, 2021, 9 a.m. to 5
p.m., eastern daylight time (e.d.t.), Thursday, July 8, 2021, 9 a.m. to
5 p.m., e.d.t., and Friday, July 9, 2021, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. e.d.t.
Deadline for Primary Speaker Registration and Presentation
Materials: The deadline for registering to be a primary speaker, and
submitting materials that will be used in support of an oral
presentation is 5 p.m., e.d.t., Friday, June 25, 2021.
Deadline for 5-Minute Speakers Registration: The deadline for
registering to be a 5-Minute speaker is 5 p.m., e.d.t., Friday, June 25
2021.
Deadline for Registration for all Other Attendees: All individuals
who plan to attend the virtual public meetings to listen, but are not
registering as a primary or 5-minute speaker, may simply join the
virtual meeting on the date that they plan to attend, using the meeting
link specified for that meeting date. A ``raise your hand'' feature
will be available to ask questions. A meeting link for each public
meeting date will be posted in advance of the public meetings on CMS'
HCPCS website at <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo">https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo</a>.
Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: Individuals who
plan
[[Page 31718]]
to participate in the virtual public meetings and require special
assistance must request these services by 5 p.m., e.d.t., Friday, June
25, 2021.
Deadline for Submission of Written Comments: To be considered in
formulating a final coding decision, written comments and other
documentation must be received by 5 p.m., e.d.t., on the date of the
virtual public meeting at which the applicable code request is
scheduled for discussion.
ADDRESSES:
Virtual Meeting Location: The July 7 through 9, 2021 HCPCS public
meetings will be held virtually via Zoom only. Detailed information
pertaining to registering to participate via Zoom, including dial-in
information for primary speakers, 5-minute speakers, and all other
attendees, will be provided in a document posted prior to the HCPCS
public meeting on CMS' HCPCS website at <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings">https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings</a>.
Written Comments: As part of CMS' response to the COVID-19 public
health emergency (PHE), written comments from the general public and
meeting registrants will only be accepted when emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a6eee5f6e5f5f9eac3d0c3caf9efeff9e5c9c2c3f9e7d6d6cacfc5c7d2cfc9c8d5e6c5cbd588ceced588c1c9d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ec6cddecdddd1c2ebf8ebe2d1c7c7d1cde1eaebd1cffefee2e7edeffae7e1e0fdceede3fda0e6e6fda0e9e1f8">[email protected]</span></a> before 5 p.m., e.d.t., on
the date of the virtual public meeting at which a request is discussed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irina Akelaitis, (410) 786-4602, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#430a312a2d226d0228262f222a372a3003202e306d2b2b306d242c35"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="531a213a3d327d1238363f323a273a2013303e207d3b3b207d343c25">[email protected]</span></a>; Felicia Kyeremeh, (410) 786-1898, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fbbd9e979298929ad5b0829e899e969e93bb989688d5939388d59c948d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b2d0e070208020a4520120e190e060e032b08061845030318450c041d">[email protected]</span></a>; Sundus Ashar, (410) 786-0750, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98cbedf6fcedebb6d9ebf0f9eaa9d8fbf5ebb6f0f0ebb6fff7ee"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e6d4b505a4b4d107f4d565f4c0f7e5d534d1056564d10595148">[email protected]</span></a>; William Walker, (410) 786-5023, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5b0c323737323a36750c3a37303e291b38362875333328753c342d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8bdce2e7e7e2eae6a5dceae7e0eef9cbe8e6f8a5e3e3f8a5ece4fd">[email protected]</span></a>; Constantine Markos, (410) 786-0911,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cf8ca0a1bcbbaea1bba6a1aae182aebda4a0bc8faca2bce1a7a7bce1a8a0b9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="62210d0c1116030c160b0c074c2f0310090d1122010f114c0a0a114c050d14">[email protected]</span></a>; or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#551d160516060a19302330390a1c1c0a163a31300a142525393c3634213c3a3b26153638267b3d3d267b323a23"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cb83889b88989487aebdaea79482829488a4afae948abbbba7a2a8aabfa2a4a5b88ba8a6b8e5a3a3b8e5aca4bd">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Guidelines for Presentation Materials and Primary Speakers: There
is a 10-page submission limit for any presentation materials. All
registered primary speakers will be emailed a participant ID for their
individual use to join the meeting, in advance of the virtual meeting.
Detailed information pertaining to registering to participate via Zoom,
including dial-in information for primary speakers, will be provided in
a document posted on CMS' HCPCS website at <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings">https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings</a> prior to the HCPCS
public meeting. We encourage all speakers to follow the protocols for
participation as a speaker in CMS' HCPCS public meetings as detailed in
this document.
Guidelines for 5-Minute Speakers: All registered 5-minute speakers
will be emailed a participant ID for their individual use to join the
meeting, in advance of the virtual meeting. Detailed information
pertaining to registering to participate via Zoom, including dial-in
information for 5-minute speakers, will be provided in a document
posted on CMS' HCPCS website at <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings">https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings</a> prior to the HCPCS public meeting.
We encourage all speakers to follow the protocols for participation as
a speaker in CMS' HCPCS public meetings as detailed in this document.
Guidelines for All Other Attendees: A ``raise your hand'' feature
will be available to ask questions. A meeting link for each public
meeting date will be posted in advance of the public meetings on CMS'
HCPCS website at <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo">https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo</a>.
I. Background
On December 21, 2000, Congress passed the Medicare, Medicaid, and
SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA) (Pub. L.
106-554). Section 531(b) of BIPA mandated that we establish procedures
that permit public consultation for coding and payment determinations
for new durable medical equipment (DME) under Medicare Part B of title
XVIII of the Social Security Act (the Act). In the November 23, 2001
Federal Register (66 FR 58743), we published a notice providing
information regarding the establishment of the public meeting process
for DME. The procedures and public meetings announced in that notice
for new DME were in response to the mandate of section 531(b) of BIPA.
As of 2020, we implemented changes to our HCPCS coding procedures
that enable quarterly coding cycles for drugs and biological products,
and bi-annual coding cycles for non-drug and non-biological items and
services. To achieve the time savings necessary to implement coding for
the vast majority of drugs and biological products on a quarterly
cycle, as a general matter, we will not be conducting public meetings
for coding decisions on drugs and biological products. For the 2021
coding cycles, for drug and biological code applicants who are
dissatisfied with CMS' coding decision in a quarterly coding cycle, we
provide them an opportunity to resubmit their application in a
subsequent quarterly cycle.
II. Virtual Meeting Registration
Due to the ``Notice of the Continuation of the National Emergency
Concerning the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic'' \1\
issued on February 24, 2021 there will not be an in-person meeting. The
July 7 through July 9, 2021 HCPCS public meetings will be virtual and
available for remote audio attendance and participation only via Zoom.
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\1\ <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/24/notice-on-the-continuation-of-the-national-emergency-concerning-the-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic/">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/24/notice-on-the-continuation-of-the-national-emergency-concerning-the-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic/</a>.
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A. Required Information for Registration
The following information must be provided when registering online
to attend:
<bullet> Name.
<bullet> Company name and address.
<bullet> Direct-dial telephone.
<bullet> Email address.
<bullet> Any special accommodation requests.
A CMS staff member will confirm your registration by email.
B. Registration Process
1. Primary Speakers
Individuals must also indicate whether they are the ``primary
speaker'' for an agenda item. Primary speakers must be designated by
the entity that submitted the HCPCS coding request. When registering,
primary speakers must provide a brief written statement regarding the
nature of the information they intend to provide and regarding any
needs for audio/visual support and email it to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3ebe0f3e0f0fcefc6d5c6cffceaeafce0ccc7c6fce2d3d3cfcac0c2d7cacccdd0e3c0ced08dcbcbd08dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0f8f3e0f3e3effcd5c6d5dceff9f9eff3dfd4d5eff1c0c0dcd9d3d1c4d9dfdec3f0d3ddc39ed8d8c39ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>. Speaker PowerPoint files
are tested and arranged in speaker sequence well in advance of the
meeting. We will accept emailed PowerPoint files that are received by
the deadline for submissions of presentation materials as specified in
the DATES section of this notice. Materials will only be accepted when
emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a1e9e2f1e2f2feedc4d7c4cdfee8e8fee2cec5c4fee0d1d1cdc8c2c0d5c8cecfd2e1c2ccd28fc9c9d28fc6ced7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b8f0fbe8fbebe7f4ddceddd4e7f1f1e7fbd7dcdde7f9c8c8d4d1dbd9ccd1d7d6cbf8dbd5cb96d0d0cb96dfd7ce">[email protected]</span></a>. Due to the
timeframe for planning and coordination of the HCPCS public meetings
under CMS' shorter and more frequent coding cycles that started in
2020, late submissions and updates of materials after our deadline
cannot be accommodated.
All presentation materials and additional supporting documentation
should not exceed 10 pages (each side of a page counts as 1 page). An
exception will be made to the 10-page
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limit only for relevant studies newly published between the application
deadline and the virtual public meeting date, in which case, we request
a copy of the complete publication be emailed as soon as possible to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3f777c6f7c6c60735a495a53607676607c505b5a607e4f4f53565c5e4b5650514c7f5c524c1157574c11585049"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d29a918291818d9eb7a4b7be8d9b9b8d91bdb6b78d93a2a2bebbb1b3a6bbbdbca192b1bfa1fcbabaa1fcb5bda4">[email protected]</span></a>. This exception applies
only to the page limit and not the submission deadline.
Fifteen minutes is the total time interval for the presentation. In
establishing the public meeting agenda, we may group multiple, related
requests under the same agenda item. In that case, we will decide
whether additional time will be allotted, and may opt to increase the
amount of time allotted to the primary speaker.
Every primary speaker must declare at the beginning of their
presentation at the meeting, as well as in their written summary,
whether they have any financial involvement with the manufacturers or
competitors of any items being discussed; this includes any payment,
salary, remuneration, or benefit provided to that speaker by the
manufacturer or the manufacturer's representatives.
On the day of the virtual meeting, before the end of the meeting,
all primary speakers must email a brief written summary of their
comments and conclusions to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#561e15061505091a3320333a091f1f0915393233091726263a3f3537223f39382516353b25783e3e2578313920"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4d050e1d0e1e1201283b2821120404120e222928120c3d3d21242e2c392422233e0d2e203e6325253e632a223b">[email protected]</span></a>.
2. 5-Minute Speakers
The deadline for registering to be a 5-minute speaker is noted in
the DATES section of this notice. Individuals must provide their name,
company name and address, and contact information as specified in the
instructions for remote participation, and identify the specific agenda
item that they will address. Based on the number of items on the agenda
and the progress of the meeting, a determination will be made by the
meeting coordinator and the meeting moderator regarding how many 5-
minute speakers can be accommodated and whether the 5-minute allocation
would be reduced to accommodate the number of speakers.
Every 5-minute speaker must declare at the beginning of their
presentation at the meeting, as well as in their written summary,
whether they have any financial involvement with the manufacturers or
competitors of any items being discussed; this includes any payment,
salary, remuneration, or benefit provided to that speaker by the
manufacturer or the manufacturer's representatives.
On the day of the virtual meeting, before the end of the meeting,
all 5-minute speakers must email a brief written summary of their
comments and conclusions to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c8808b988b9b9784adbeada4978181978ba7acad9789b8b8a4a1aba9bca1a7a6bb88aba5bbe6a0a0bbe6afa7be"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7c343f2c3f2f2330190a1910233535233f131819233d0c0c10151f1d081513120f3c1f110f5214140f521b130a">[email protected]</span></a>.
C. Additional Virtual Meeting/Registration Information
Prior to registering to attend a virtual public meeting, all
participants are advised to review the public meeting agendas at
<a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings">https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings</a>
which identify our preliminary coding recommendations, and the dates
each item will be discussed. All participants and other stakeholders
are encouraged to regularly check CMS' official HCPCS website at
<a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings">https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings</a>
for publication of draft agendas, including a summary of each request
and our preliminary recommendations.
CMS' official HCPCS website will include additional details
regarding the public meeting process for new revisions to the HCPCS
code set, including information on how to join the meeting remotely,
and guidelines for an effective presentation. Individuals who intend to
provide a presentation at a virtual public meeting are encouraged to
familiarize themselves with the HCPCS website and the valuable
information it provides to prospective registrants. The HCPCS website
also contains a document titled ``Healthcare Common Procedure Coding
System (HCPCS) Level II Coding Procedures,'' which is a description of
the HCPCS coding process, including a detailed explanation of the
procedures CMS uses to make coding determinations for the items and
services that are coded in the HCPCS.
III. Written Comments From Meeting Attendees
As part of CMS' response to the COVID-19 PHE, written comments from
the general public and meeting registrants will only be accepted when
emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9fd7dccfdcccc0d3fae9faf3c0d6d6c0dcf0fbfac0deefeff3f6fcfeebf6f0f1ecdffcf2ecb1f7f7ecb1f8f0e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a3ebe0f3e0f0fcefc6d5c6cffceaeafce0ccc7c6fce2d3d3cfcac0c2d7cacccdd0e3c0ced08dcbcbd08dc4ccd5">[email protected]</span></a> before 5 p.m.,
e.d.t., on the date of the virtual public meeting at which a request is
discussed.
The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, having reviewed and approved this
document, authorizes Lynette Wilson, who is the Federal Register
Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of
publication in the Federal Register.
Dated: June 9, 2021.
Lynette Wilson,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2021-12453 Filed 6-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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