SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Medicare Advisory Panel on Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Tests (CDLTs) (the Panel) is authorized by section 1834A(f)(1) of the Social Security Act (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 1395m-1), as established by section 216(a) of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA) (Pub. L. 113-93), enacted on April 1, 2014. The Panel is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory panels.

Section 1834A(f)(1) of the Act directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to consult with an expert outside advisory panel established by the Secretary, composed of an appropriate selection of individuals with expertise in issues related to clinical diagnostic laboratory tests, which may include the development, validation, performance, and application of such tests. Such individuals may include molecular pathologists, researchers, and individuals with expertise in laboratory science or health economics.

The Panel will provide input and recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), on the following:

• The establishment of payment rates under section 1834A of the Act for new clinical diagnostic laboratory tests, including whether to use “crosswalking” or “gapfilling” processes to determine payment for a specific new test.
• The factors used in determining coverage and payment processes for new clinical diagnostic laboratory tests.
• Other aspects of the payment system under section 1834A of the Act.

A notice announcing the establishment of the Panel and soliciting nominations for members appeared in the October 27, 2014 Federal Register (79 FR 63919 through 63920). In the August 7, 2015 Federal Register (80 FR 47491), we announced membership appointments to the Panel along with the first public meeting date for the Panel, which was held on August 26, 2015. Subsequent meetings of the Panel and membership appointments were also announced in the Federal Register . The Secretary approved rechartering of the Panel on April 24, 2025. The new charter is effective through April 24, 2027 and may be found on the CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/​Regulations-and-Guidance/​Guidance/​FACA/​AdvisoryPanelonClinicalDiagnosticLaboratoryTests.html. Another notice requesting nominations to the Panel appeared in the September 29, 2017 Federal Register (82 FR 45590 through 45592). In that notice, we indicated that nominations would be accepted on a continuous basis. As a result of that notice, the Secretary's designee approved the appointment of the following new Panel members (along with term period):

Gillian Hooker, Ph.D., (October 2024 through October 2027)

Jerry Garner, MBA—HCA, PAHM (October 2024 through October 2027)

Christine Schmotzer, M.D. (May 2025 through May 2028)

Megan Landsverk, Ph.D., New Panel Chair (June 2025 through June 2028)

Alina Bridges, DO (January 2026 through January 2029)

The new Panel member appointments are for 3-year terms.

Other Panel members include:

• Vickie Baselski, Ph.D.
• Pranil Chandra, D.O.
• Chris Chong, MD
• Lennerz Jochen, M.D., Ph.D. M Sc
• Jiang Liuyan, MD
• Marc Rumpler, Ph.D.
• Michele Schoonmaker, Ph.D.
• Heather Shappell, MS, CGC

Unless extended, their terms will expire in August 30, 2027.

II. Agenda

The Agenda for the July 14 and July 15, 2026, hybrid Panel meeting will provide for discussion and comment on the following topics as designated in the Panel's charter:

• Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) new and reconsidered test codes, which will be posted on the CMS website athttps://www.cms.gov/​Medicare/​Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/​ClinicalLabFeeSched/​Laboratory_​Public_​Meetings.html.
• Other CY 2027 CLFS issues designated in the Panel's charter and further described on our Agenda.

A detailed Agenda will be posted approximately 2 weeks before the meeting, on the CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/​medicare/​payment/​fee-schedules/​clinical-laboratory-fee-schedule-clfs/​clfs-advisory-panel. The Panel will make recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator of CMS regarding crosswalking and gapfilling for new and reconsidered laboratory tests discussed during the CLFS Annual Public Meeting for CY 2027. The Panel will also provide input on other CY 2027 CLFS issues that are designated in the Panel's charter and specified on the meeting agenda.

III. Meeting Participation

This meeting is open to the public. Stand-by speakers may participate in the meeting in-person, via teleconference, and webinar. A stand-by speaker is an individual who will speak on behalf of a company or organization if the Panel has any questions during the meeting about technical information described in the public comments or presentation previously submitted or presented by the organization or company at the recent CLFS Annual Public Meeting for CY 2027 on June 10, 2026. The public may also attend the hybrid meeting in-person or view and/or listen-only to the meeting via teleconference and webinar. Please note that CMS reserves the right to shift the meeting format from hybrid to virtual-only, if for some reason, a hybrid format is not possible. If there is a need to shift to a virtual-only format, we will alert the public as soon as possible and post updated information on the CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/​medicare/​payment/​fee-schedules/​clinical-laboratory-fee-schedule-clfs/​clfs-advisory-panel.

IV. Registration Instructions

Beginning May 1, 2026 and ending May 29, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. E.D.T., registration may be completed by stand-by speakers and in-person attendees. Individuals who intend to view and/or listen to the meeting virtually do not need to register. Stand-by speakers and individuals who intend to attend the meeting at the CMS campus must register online at https://www.cms.gov/​medicare/​payment/​fee-schedules/​clinical-laboratory-fee-schedule-clfs/​clfs-advisory-panel. On this web page, under the heading “Meeting” there is a link entitled “Register for Medicare Advisory Panel on Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Tests Meeting.” Click this link and enter the required information. All of the following information must be submitted when registering:

• Name.
• Indicate if individual is registering as a “Stand-by speaker” or “In-Person Attendee.”
• Organization or company name. ( printed page 23418)
• Email addresses that will be used by the speaker to connect to the virtual meeting.
• Indicate if individual is a “Foreign National” visitor. Note: An additional review process is required for all foreign national visitors.
• Indicate any new or reconsidered code(s) for which a presentation or comment was submitted, if applicable.

Registration details may not be revised once they are submitted. If registration details require changes, a new registration entry must be submitted by the date specified in the DATES section of this notice. Additionally, registration information must reflect individual-level content and not reflect an organization name. Also, we request organizations register all individuals at the same time. That is, one individual may register multiple individuals at the same time. Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be permitted to enter the building (see section VI. of this notice).

After registering, a confirmation email will be sent upon receipt of the registration. The email will provide information to the attendee in preparation for the meeting. Registration is only required for stand-by speakers and members of the public attending the meeting at the CMS campus (address specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice). All registration must be submitted by the deadline specified in the DATES section of this notice. Note: No registration is required for participants who plan to view the Panel meeting via webinar or listen via teleconference.

V. Panel Recommendations and Discussions

The Panel's recommendations regarding new and reconsidered test codes for CY 2027 will be posted approximately 2 weeks after the meeting on the CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/​Regulations-and-Guidance/​Guidance/​FACA/​AdvisoryPanelonClinicalDiagnosticLaboratoryTests.html.

VI. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines

The hybrid meeting will be held in a Federal government building; therefore, Federal security measures are applicable. In planning your arrival time, we recommend allowing additional time to clear security. We suggest that you arrive at the CMS campus and parking facilities between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. E.D.T., so that you will be able to arrive promptly at the meeting by 10:00 a.m. E.D.T. Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the meeting. We note that the public may not enter the CMS building earlier than 9:15 a.m. E.D.T. (45 minutes before the convening of the meeting).

Security measures include the following:

• Presentation of government-issued photographic identification to the Federal Protective Service or Guard Service personnel. Persons without proper identification may be denied access to the building.
• Interior and exterior inspection of vehicles (this includes engine and trunk inspection) at the entrance to the grounds. Parking permits and instructions will be issued after the vehicle inspection.
• Passing through a metal detector and inspection of items brought into the building. We note that all items brought to CMS, whether personal or for the purpose of demonstration or to support a demonstration, 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 demonstration or to support a demonstration.

VII. Special Accommodations

Individuals attending, viewing, or listening to the meeting who are hearing or visually impaired and have special requirements, or a condition that requires special assistance, must send an email to the resource box ( CDLTPanel@cms.hhs.gov). The deadline for submitting this request is listed in the DATES section of this notice.

VIII. Copies of the Charter

The Secretary's Charter for the Medicare Advisory Panel on CDLTs is available on the CMS website at http://cms.gov/​Regulations-and-Guidance/​Guidance/​FACA/​AdvisoryPanelonClinicalDiagnosticLaboratoryTests.html or you may obtain a copy of the charter by submitting a request to the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

IX. Collection of Information Requirements

This document does not impose information collection requirements, that is, reporting, recordkeeping or third-party disclosure requirements. Consequently, there is no need for review by the Office of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Mehmet Oz having reviewed and approved this document, authorizes Vanessa Garcia, who is the Federal Register Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of publication in the Federal Register .

91 FR 23416