[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22872-22873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10609]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[HCFA-1073-N]


Medicare Program; May 13, 1999, Meeting of the Competitive 
Pricing Advisory Committee

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, this notice announces a meeting of the Competitive 
Pricing Advisory Committee (the CPAC) on May 13, 1999. Section 4012 of 
the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 requires the Secretary of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to create the 
CPAC. The CPAC meets periodically and makes recommendations to the 
Secretary, including the designation of areas for inclusion in the 
Medicare+Choice competitive pricing demonstration project and suggests 
appropriate research designs for implementing the project. This meeting 
is open to the public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for May 13, 1999, from 10 a.m. until 4 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Ramada Hotel at the 
Metropolitan Airport in Detroit, 8270 Wickham Road, Romulus, Michigan 
48174, (734) 729-6300.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Arnold, Ph.D., Executive 
Director, Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee, Health Care Financing 
Administration, 7500 Security Boulevard C4-14-17, Baltimore, Maryland 
21244-1850, (410) 786-6451.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4011 of the Balanced Budget Act of 
1997, (BBA) (Public Law 105-33) 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 (the 
CPAC) to meet periodically and make recommendations to the Secretary 
concerning the designation of areas for inclusion in the project and 
appropriate research designs for implementing the project. In previous 
meetings, the CPAC designated the Kansas City metropolitan area and 
Maricopa County in Arizona as demonstration sites.
    Section 4012(b) of the BBA requires the Secretary to appoint an 
Area Advisory Committee (AAC) in each demonstration site included in 
the project to advise the Secretary on the implementation of the 
demonstration. The Kansas City metropolitan area AAC met on March 26, 
1999, and April 8, 1999. The Maricopa County AAC met on March 31, 1999. 
Additional meetings are scheduled for the Kansas City metropolitan area 
AAC on April 22, 1999, and May 12, 1999, and for the Maricopa County 
AAC on April 20, 1999, and May 20, 1999.
    The CPAC consists of 15 individuals who are independent actuaries; 
experts in competitive pricing and the administration of the Federal 
Employees Health Benefit Program; and representatives of health plans, 
insurers, employers, unions, and beneficiaries. In accordance with 
section 4012(a)(5) of the BBA, the CPAC will terminate on December 31, 
2004.
    The CPAC held meetings on May 7, 1998, June 24 and 25, 1998, 
September 23 and 24, 1998, October 28, 1998, and January 6, 1999. The 
CPAC members are: James Cubbin, Executive Director, General Motors 
Health Care Initiative; Robert Berenson, M.D., Director, Center for 
Health Plans and Providers, HCFA; John Bertko, CEO and Senior Actuary, 
PM-Squared Inc.; Dave Durenberger, Senior Health Policy Fellow, 
University of St. Thomas and Founder of Public Policy Partners; Gary 
Goldstein, M.D., CEO, The Oschner Clinic; Samuel Havens, Healthcare 
Consultant and Chairman of Health Scope/United; Margaret Jordan, 
President and CEO, The Margaret Jordan Group; Chip Kahn, CEO, The 
Health Insurance Association of America; Cleve Killingsworth, 
President, Health Alliance Plan; Nancy Kichak, Director, Office of 
Actuaries, Office of Personnel Management; Len Nichols, Principal 
Research Associate, The Urban Institute; Robert Reischauer, Senior 
Fellow, The Brookings Institute; John Rother, Director, Legislation and 
Public Policy, American Association of Retired Persons; Andrew Stern, 
President, Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO; and Jay 
Wolfson, Director, The Florida Information Center, University of South 
Florida. The Chairperson of the CPAC is James Cubbin and the Co-
Chairperson is Robert Berenson, M.D.
    The agenda for May 13, 1999, CPAC meeting will include--
     A discussion of a letter to the Congress requesting a 
change in the demonstration's budget neutrality provision; and
     An update and discussion of decisions made by the two 
local AACs. This will include a discussion and decision on a request 
from the Maricopa County AAC to delay the demonstration for one year 
and a discussion and decision on a request from the Kansas City 
metropolitan area AAC to permit an additional year to consider 
alternative methods of risk adjustment.
    Individuals or organizations that wish to make 5-minute oral 
presentations on the agenda issues should contact Sharon Arnold, CPAC 
Executive Director, by 12 noon, May 6, 1999, to be scheduled. The 
number of oral presentations may be limited by the time available. A 
written copy of the oral remarks should be submitted to the Executive 
Director no later than 12 noon, May 11, 1999. Anyone who is not 
scheduled to speak may submit written comments to the Executive 
Director by 12 noon, May 11, 1999.
    The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the 
space available.

(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

[[Page 22873]]

Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--Supplementary Medical 
Insurance Program)

    Dated: April 22, 1999.
Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-10609 Filed 4-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P