[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12172-12173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6116]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[HCFA-1068-N]
RIN 0938-AJ46


Medicare Program; Meetings of the Competitive Pricing 
Demonstration Area Advisory Committee, Kansas City Metropolitan Area

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

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, this notice announces four meetings of the Area Advisory 
Committee for the Kansas City metropolitan area Competitive Pricing 
Demonstration.
    The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) requires the Secretary of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish a 
demonstration project under which payments to Medicare+Choice 
organizations in designated areas are determined in accordance with a 
competitive pricing methodology. The BBA requires the Secretary to 
appoint an Area Advisory Committee (AAC) in the designated areas to 
advise on the marketing and pricing of the plan and other factors. AAC 
meetings are open to the public.

DATES: The meetings are scheduled for March 26, 1999, from 9:45 a.m. 
until 5:30 p.m., c.s.t.; April 8, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., 
c.d.s.t.; April 22, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t.; and 
May 12, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The March 26, April 8, and April 22, 1999, meetings will be 
held at the Crowne Plaza Kansas City, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 
64111. The May 12, 1999, meeting will be held at the Hilton-Kansas City 
Airport, 8801 NW. 112th Street, Kansas City, MO 64153.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard P. Brummel, Deputy Regional 
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration, Richard Bolling 
Federal Building, Room 235, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 
64106, (816) 426-5233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4011 of the Balanced Budget Act of 
1997 (BBA) requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human 
Services (the Secretary) to establish a demonstration project under 
which payments to Medicare+Choice organizations in designated areas are 
determined in accordance with a competitive pricing methodology.
    Section 4012(a) of the BBA requires the Secretary to appoint a 
Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee to make recommendations 
concerning the designation of areas for the project and appropriate 
research designs for implementation. Once an area is designated as a 
demonstration site, section 4012(b) of the BBA requires the Secretary 
to appoint an Area Advisory Committee (AAC) to advise on the marketing 
and pricing of the plan in the area along with other factors.
    This notice announces four meetings of the Kansas City metropolitan 
area AAC. The meetings will be held on:
     March 26, 1999, from 9:45 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.s.t., at 
the Crowne Plaza Kansas City, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.
     April 8, 1999, 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t., at the 
Crowne Plaza Kansas City, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.
     April 22, 1999, 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t., at 
the Crowne Plaza Kansas City, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.
     May 12, 1999, 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t., at the 
Hilton-Kansas City Airport, 8801 NW. 112th Street, Kansas City, MO 
64153.
    The Kansas City metropolitan area AAC will meet four times for the 
purpose of advising the Secretary on how the project will be 
implemented. The AAC is currently being assembled and will be composed 
of representatives of health plans, providers, and Medicare 
beneficiaries in the area. In accordance with section 4012(b) of the 
BBA, the AAC will exist for the duration of the project in the area, 
expected to be 5 years from the January 1, 2000, start date.
    The Kansas City metropolitan area AAC will hold its first meeting 
on March 26, 1999. The agenda will include an introduction of the AAC 
members, a discussion of background materials related to the 
demonstration design, a presentation of the AAC mission, and a 
discussion of the process that will be utilized to provide advice on 
the implementation of the Medicare Competitive Pricing Demonstration.
    The second meeting on April 8, 1999, will include a discussion and 
possible decisions on risk adjustment and the bidding process, various 
options on the government contribution or payment, the standard benefit 
package, and any other outstanding issues.
    The third meeting on April 22, 1999, will continue discussion, and 
include possible decisions, on the government contribution or payment, 
the standard benefit package, and any other outstanding issues.
    The fourth meeting on May 12, 1999, will summarize decisions made 
in earlier meetings and continue discussions and make final decisions 
on any outstanding issues from the previous meetings.
    Individuals or organizations that wish to make 5-minute oral 
presentations on the agenda issues listed above should contact the 
Kansas City Deputy Regional Administrator by 12 noon for each of the 
following days:
     March 18, 1999, for the first meeting.
     March 30, 1999, for the second meeting.
     April 14, 1999, for the third meeting.
     May 4, 1999, for the fourth meeting.
    Anyone who is not scheduled to speak may submit written comments to 
the Kansas City Deputy Regional Administrator by 12 noon for each of 
the following days:
     March 19, 1999, for the first meeting.
     April 1, 1999, for the second meeting.
     April 16, 1999, for the third meeting.
     May 6, 1999, for the fourth meeting.

The meetings are open to the public, but attendance is limited to the 
space available.


[[Page 12173]]


(Section 4012 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Public Law 105-33 
(42 U.S.C.1395w-23 note) and section 10(a) of Public Law 92-463 (5 
U.S.C. App.2, section 10(a))

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: March 8, 1999.
Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-6116 Filed 3-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P