[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 12173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6117]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[HCFA-1101-N]


Medicare Program; Meetings of the Competitive Pricing 
Demonstration Area Advisory Committee, Maricopa County, AZ

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 three meetings of the Area 
Advisory Committee for the Maricopa County 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 area 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 31, 1999, from 9 a.m. until 
5:30 p.m., m.s.t.; April 20, 1999, from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., m.s.t.; 
and May 18, 1999, from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., m.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The three meetings on March 31, 1999, April 20, 1999, and 
May 18, 1999, will be held at the YWCA of the USA, Leadership 
Development Conference Center, 9440 North 25th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 
85021, (602) 944-0569.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth C. Abbott, Regional 
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration, 75 Hawthorne 
Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, (415) 744-3501.

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 and other factors.
    This notice announces three meetings of the Maricopa County AAC. 
The meetings will be held on March 31, 1999, April 20, 1999, and May 
18, 1999, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., m.s.t., at the YWCA of the USA, 
Leadership Development Conference Center, 9440 North 25th Avenue, 
Phoenix, AZ 85021.
    The Maricopa County AAC will meet three 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 Maricopa County AAC will hold its first meeting on March 31, 
1999. The agenda will include an introduction of the AAC members, the 
presentation of the AAC mission, a discussion of background materials 
relating to the demonstration design, and a discussion of the process 
that will be utilized to provide advice on implementation of the 
Medicare Competitive Pricing Demonstration.
    The second meeting on April 20, 1999, will include the discussion 
of and possible decisions on risk adjustment and the bidding process, 
the various options on the government contribution or payment, the 
standard benefit package, and any other outstanding issues.
    The third meeting on May 18, 1999, will summarize the decisions 
made in earlier meetings and will continue the 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 mentioned in the three preceding 
paragraphs should contact the San Francisco Regional Administrator by 
12 noon for each of the following days:
    March 19, 1999, for the first meeting.
    April 9, 1999, for the second meeting.
    May 7, 1999, for the third meeting.
    Anyone who is not scheduled to speak may submit written comments to 
the San Francisco Regional Administrator by:
    March 24, 1999, for the first meeting.
    April 13, 1999, for the second meeting.
    May 11, 1999, for the third meeting.
    These meetings are open to the public, but attendance is limited to 
space available.

    Authority: 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. 99-6117 Filed 3-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P