Regulatory Alert: Public Meeting on Medicare Hospital Outpatient PPS

[Guest guest]

FYI

[Federal Register: July 7, 2000 (Volume 1, Number 1)]

[Notices]

[Page 42022]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access

[wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr07jy00-87]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-1140-N]

Medicare Program; Question and Answer Session on July 24, 2000 To

Discuss Remaining Concerns About the Implementation of the Hospital

Outpatient Prospective Payment System (PPS)

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting to provide an

opportunity for hospital administrators, hospital industry

representatives, hospital professionals, community mental health

centers, home health agencies, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation

facilities, beneficiary advocates and other interested parties, to have

pre-submitted questions and issues answered regarding remaining

concerns they may have about the August, 2000 implementation of the

hospital outpatient prospective payment system. Appropriate HCFA staff

will be present to ensure that those questions and concerns will be

answered.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for July 24, 2000 from 9:30 a.m. until

4 p.m., E.D.T. The morning session (9:30 a.m. until 12) will be for

hospital providers and the afternoon session (1:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.)

will be for other providers; that is, community mental health centers

(CMHCs, home health agencies (HHAs), and comprehensive outpatient

rehabilitation facilities (CORFs).

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the HCFA Central Office Main

Auditorium, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judy Hunt, or

Loane, (for registration information and pre-submitted

questions).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On April 7, 2000 a final rule with comment period on

the hospital

outpatient prospective payment system (PPS) was published. This new PPS

will go into effect for hospital outpatient services designated by the

Secretary, certain Part B services furnished to hospital inpatients who

have no Part A coverage, and partial hospitalization services furnished

by community mental health centers. This outpatient PPS was enacted as

part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. This meeting will provide a

forum, for outpatient facilities, to receive answers to their pre-

submitted questions and issues concerning the August, 2000,

implementation of hospital outpatient PPS.

The format of the meeting will be a question and

answer session.

Appropriate HCFA staff will be present to ensure that questions and

concerns will be answered.

During this session, major provider organizations are

invited to

give a brief pre-scheduled statement on the coming implementation of

the outpatient PPS. Those organizations wishing to take advantage of

this opportunity should submit their statement in writing to HCFA not

less than 3 working days prior to this meeting and make copies

available to attendees on the day of the conference.

While the meeting is open to the public, attendance is

limited to

space available. Individuals must register in advance as described

below.

Registration

Individuals may register by following the directions

soon to be

posted on the HCFA website,

www.hcfa.gov. Once

individuals are on this

website, they will need to highlight the red bullet, in the lower right

hand corner, titled ``Events, Meetings, and Workgroups.'' Individuals

should also submit questions they would like to have answered, no later

than July 14, 2000, by following the directions soon to be posted on

the same HCFA website,

www.hcfa.gov. The

registration site will link

you to the site for submission of questions.

Each participant will be provided with a meeting

agenda at the time

of the meeting.

If individuals have questions regarding registration;

would like to

register by phone; or would like to submit questions regarding hospital

outpatient PPS issue, they should contact Judy Hunt or

Loane .

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773

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

Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

Dated: June 30, 2000.

-Ann Min DeParle,

Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.

[FR Doc. 00-17136 Filed 7-6-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P

R. Kovacek, MSA, PT

Email Pkovacek@...

313 884-8920

Visit

<www.PTManager.com>

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE !