Notice2021-25132
Medicare Program; Virtual Public Meetings in December 2021 for New Revisions to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Code Set
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Published
November 17, 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 December 2021 to discuss our preliminary coding recommendations for new revisions to the HCPCS Level II code set, as well as how to register for those meetings.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 219 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64203-64205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25132]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1760-N]
Medicare Program; Virtual Public Meetings in December 2021 for
New Revisions to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS)
Code Set
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), 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 December 2021 to discuss our preliminary coding recommendations
for new revisions to the HCPCS Level II code set, as well as how to
register for those meetings.
DATES:
Virtual meeting dates: Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 9 a.m. to 5
p.m.,
[[Page 64204]]
eastern standard time (e.s.t.), Thursday, December 2, 2021, 9 a.m. to 5
p.m., e.s.t.
Deadline for primary speaker registrations and presentation
materials: The deadline for primary speakers to register and submit any
supporting PowerPoint presentation, as well as any relevant studies
published after the date the applicant submitted its HCPCS code
application, is 5 p.m., e.s.t., Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
Deadline for 5-minute speaker registrations: The deadline for
registering to be a 5-minute speaker is 5 p.m., e.s.t., Wednesday,
November 17, 2021.
Deadline for registration for all other attendees: All individuals
who plan to attend the virtual public meetings to listen, but do not
plan to speak, must register to attend. Attendees can attend more than
one meeting. Except for individuals who require special assistance, the
deadline to register for each public meeting is the date of that public
meeting. Individuals who plan to attend one or both of the virtual
public meetings and require special assistance must register and
request special assistance services by 5 p.m., e.s.t., Wednesday,
November 17, 2021.
Registration Link: The registration link is posted on the CMS
website at <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings">https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings</a>. The same website also contains detailed
information on how attendees can join the virtual public meetings using
Zoom, including dial-in information for primary speakers, 5-minute
speakers, and all other attendees.
Deadline for submission of written comments: In addition to primary
speaker presentation materials noted above, CMS will accept written
comments from any stakeholder pertaining to a HCPCS code application
scheduled for discussion at the public meetings. The deadline for
submission of written comments pertaining to a specific HCPCS code
application is 5 p.m., e.s.t., on the date of the virtual public
meeting at which the applicable HCPCS code application is scheduled for
discussion. As part of CMS' response to the COVID-19 public health
emergency (PHE), written comments will only be accepted when emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d59d968596868a99b0a3b0b98a9c9c8a96bab1b08a94a5a5b9bcb6b4a1bcbabba695b6b8a6fbbdbda6fbb2baa3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c68e85968595998aa3b0a3aa998f8f9985a9a2a39987b6b6aaafa5a7b2afa9a8b586a5abb5e8aeaeb5e8a1a9b0">[email protected]</span></a>.
ADDRESSES: Virtual meeting location: The December 1 and 2, 2021 HCPCS
public meetings will be held virtually via Zoom only. The public
meeting agendas (including the specific HCPCS code applications that
will be discussed), meetings guidelines and the information to join
these meetings are published at <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings">https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberlee Combs, (410) 786-6707, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#286341454a4d5a444d4d066b47454a5b454144444d5a684b455b0640405b064f475e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="266d4f4b4443544a43430865494b44554b4f4a4a435466454b55084e4e5508414950">[email protected]</span></a>; Irina Akelaitis, (410) 786-4602, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#58112a3136397619333d3439312c312b183b352b7630302b763f372e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b221902050a452a000e070a021f02182b08061845030318450c041d">[email protected]</span></a>; Felicia Kyeremeh, (410) 786-1898, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f7b1929b9e949e96d9bc8e9285929a929fb7949a84d99f9f84d9909881"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="185e7d74717b71793653617d6a7d757d70587b756b3670706b367f776e">[email protected]</span></a>; William Walker, (410) 786-5023, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c394aaafafaaa2aeed94a2afa8a6b183a0aeb0edababb0eda4acb5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2077494c4c49414d0e77414c4b455260434d530e4848530e474f56">[email protected]</span></a>; Constantine Markos, (410) 786-0911,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6e2d01001d1a0f001a07000b40230f1c05011d2e0d031d4006061d40090118"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a092524393e2b243e23242f64072b382125390a29273964222239642d253c">[email protected]</span></a>, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0d454e5d4e5e5241687b6861524444524e626968524c7d7d61646e6c796462637e4d6e607e2365657e236a627b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7139322132222e3d1407141d2e38382e321e15142e3001011d18121005181e1f0231121c025f1919025f161e07">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On December 21, 2000, Congress enacted the Medicare, Medicaid, and
SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA) (Pub. L.
106-554). Section 531(b) of BIPA mandated that the Secretary 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 annual
public meeting process for DME.
In 2020, we implemented changes to our HCPCS coding procedures,
including the establishment of quarterly coding cycles for drugs and
biological products and bi-annual coding cycles for non-drug and non-
biological items and services.
II. Virtual Meeting Registration
Because of 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 December 1 and 2, 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 (if applicable);
<bullet> Direct-dial telephone;
<bullet> Email address;
<bullet> Any special assistance requests (which, as stated above,
will be considered if the registration is submitted by 5:00 p.m.,
e.s.t., Wednesday, November 17, 2021); and
<bullet> Whether the registrant is a primary speaker or a 5-minute
speaker for an agenda item.
B. Additional Information
1. Primary Speakers
Each applicant that submitted a HCPCS code application that will be
discussed at the virtual public meetings is permitted to designate a
primary speaker. As stated above, we will accept PowerPoint
presentations and relevant studies if those materials are emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#571f14071404081b3221323b081e1e0814383332081627273b3e3436233e38392417343a24793f3f2479303821"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9dd5decddecec2d1f8ebf8f1c2d4d4c2def2f9f8c2dcededf1f4fefce9f4f2f3eeddfef0eeb3f5f5eeb3faf2eb">[email protected]</span></a> by 5 p.m., e.s.t.,
Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Due to the timeframe needed for planning
and coordination of the HCPCS virtual public meetings, materials that
are not submitted in accordance with these deadlines cannot be
accommodated.
All PowerPoint presentation materials must not exceed 10 pages
(each side of a page counts as 1 page). Newly relevant studies are not
subject to this page limit.
Fifteen minutes is the total time interval for each presentation.
In establishing the public meeting agenda, we may group multiple,
related code requests under the same agenda item.
On the day of the virtual meeting that the primary speaker attends
and speaks on a HCPCS code application, before 5 p.m., e.s.t., the
primary speaker must email a brief written summary (one paragraph) of
their comments and conclusions to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f0b8b3a0b3a3afbc9586959cafb9b9afb39f9495afb180809c99939184999f9e83b0939d83de989883de979f86"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7fff4e7f4e4e8fbd2c1d2dbe8fefee8f4d8d3d2e8f6c7c7dbded4d6c3ded8d9c4f7d4dac499dfdfc499d0d8c1">[email protected]</span></a>.
Every primary speaker must also 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 manufacturer of
the item that is the subject of the HCPCS code application that the
primary speaker presented, or any competitors of that manufacturer with
respect to the item. This includes any payment, salary, remuneration,
or benefit provided to that speaker by the applicant.
2. 5-Minute Speakers
As noted above, the deadline for registering to be a 5-minute
speaker is 5 p.m., e.s.t., Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
On the day of the virtual meeting that the 5-minute speaker attends
and speaks on a HCPCS code application, before 5 p.m., e.s.t., the 5-
minute speaker must
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email a brief written summary of their comments and conclusions to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0c444f5c4f5f5340697a6960534545534f636869534d7c7c60656f6d786563627f4c6f617f2264647f226b637a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="93dbd0c3d0c0ccdff6e5f6ffccdadaccd0fcf7f6ccd2e3e3fffaf0f2e7fafcfde0d3f0fee0bdfbfbe0bdf4fce5">[email protected]</span></a>. CMS will not accept any
other written materials from a 5-minute speaker.
Every 5-minute speaker must also 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 manufacturer of
the item that is the subject of the HCPCS code application that the 5-
minute speaker presented, or any competitors of that manufacturer with
respect to the item. This includes any payment, salary, remuneration,
or benefit provided to that speaker by the applicant.
C. Additional Virtual Meeting/Registration Information
Prior to registering to attend a virtual public meeting, all
potential participants and other stakeholders 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 date each item will be discussed. All
potential participants and other stakeholders are also encouraged to
regularly check the HCPCS section of the CMS website at <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings">https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublicMeetings</a> for
publication of the draft agendas, including a summary of each HCPCS
code application and our preliminary recommendations.
The HCPCS section of the CMS website also includes 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. The HCPCS section of the
CMS 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 HCPCS coding
determinations.
III. Written Comments From Meeting Attendees Who Are Not Speakers
Written comments from anyone who is not a primary speaker or 5-
minute speaker will only be accepted when emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e8a0abb8abbbb7a48d9e8d84b7a1a1b7ab878c8db7a9989884818b899c8187869ba88b859bc680809bc68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cf878c9f8c9c9083aab9aaa3908686908ca0abaa908ebfbfa3a6acaebba6a0a1bc8faca2bce1a7a7bce1a8a0b9">[email protected]</span></a> before 5 p.m., e.s.t., on
the date of the virtual public meeting at which the HCPCS code
application that is the subject of the comments 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: November 12, 2021.
Lynette Wilson,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2021-25132 Filed 11-15-21; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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