Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
March 9, 2007, Vol. 07-48

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Solicits Nominations to Medicare Evidence Development Coverage Advisory Committee (MedCAC)

Note: Deadline is March 12th

As of May 2007, there will be 28 terms of membership expiring, 2 of which are nonvoting consumer representatives, 1 of which is a nonvoting industry representative and 6 voting patient advocates. Accordingly, we are requesting nominations for both voting and nonvoting members to serve on the MedCAC. Members are invited to serve for overlapping 4 year terms. A member may serve after the expiration of the member's term until a successor takes office. Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified persons.

Self-nominations are also accepted. We have a special interest in ensuring that women, minority groups, and physically challenged individuals are adequately represented on the MedCAC. Therefore, we encourage nominations of qualified candidates from these groups. Nominees are selected based upon their individual qualifications and not as representatives of professional associations or societies.

The MedCAC functions on a committee basis. The committee reviews and evaluates medical literature, reviews technology assessments, and examines data and information on the effectiveness and appropriateness of medical items and services that are covered or eligible for coverage under Medicare. The Committee works from an agenda provided by the designated Federal official that lists specific issues, and develops technical advice to assist us in determining reasonable and necessary applications of medical services and technology when we make national coverage decisions for Medicare.

1. Membership Criteria

Nominees for voting membership must have expertise and experience in one or more of the following fields: clinical medicine of all specialties, administrative medicine, public health, patient advocacy, biologic and physical sciences, health care data and information management and analysis, the economics of health care, medical ethics, and other related professions such as epidemiology and biostatistics, and methodology of trial design.

2. Submission of Nominations

All nominations must be accompanied by nomination letter and curricula vitae. Nomination packages must be sent to the address specified in the ADDRESSES section this notice. The nomination letter must include-(1) A statement that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of the MedCAC and believes that he or she does not have a conflict of interest that would preclude his or her committee membership; and (2) specify whether the nominee is applying for a voting position, consumer representative; industry representative or patient advocate. The curricula vitae must include the following: (1) Date of birth; (2) place of birth; (3) social security number; (4) title and current position; (5) professional affiliation; (6) home and business addresses; (7) telephone and fax numbers; (8) e-mail address; and (9) list of the nominee's areas of expertise. Potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed information concerning such matters as financial holdings, consultancies, and research grants or contracts in order to permit evaluation of possible sources of conflict of interest.

DATES: Nominations will be considered if postmarked by March 12, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Nominations for membership must be sent by mail, fax, or e-mail, to one of the following addresses:

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  Office of Clinical Standards and Quality
  Mail Stop: C1-09-06
  7500 Security Boulevard
  Baltimore, MD 21244
  Attention: Michelle Atkinson
  via fax to: (410) 786-9286
  or e-mail to: michelle.atkinson@cms.hhs.gov.

Copies of the Charter: To obtain a copy of the Secretary's Charter for the MedCAC submit a request to:

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service
  Office of Clinical Standards and Quality
  Mail Stop C1-09-06
  7500 Security Boulevard
  Baltimore, MD 21244
  Attention: Maria Ellis
  or via e-mail to: maria.ellis@cms.hhs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michelle Atkinson, (410) 786-2881
Nominations; Marie Ellis, (410) 786-0309, Copies of the charter.

More info:

• The MedCAC will have an explicit responsibility to advise CMS as part of its coverage with evidence development (CED) activity. The CED initiative involves the issuance of national coverage determinations that include, a condition of payment, requirements for developing additional clinical data on a particular medical technology.
  
• Formalizes the role of patient advocates on the MedCAC role. By establishing the patient advocate as a permanent MedCAC role, CMS is ensuring that beneficiary community is represented on the panels. These advocates will identify issues most important to patients, communicate the patient perspective, and vote on the Committee's recommendations with patients' general interests in mind.

*************************************************
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this list, please visit the Consumer Survivor page of the Center for Mental Health Services Web site at: http://samhsa.gov/consumersurvivor/

The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.