[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 84 (Monday, May 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23653-23654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11062]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[HCFA-1101-N2]


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

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

ACTION: Revised notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, this notice announces 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 implementation of the project, including the marketing and 
pricing of the plan and other factors. AAC meetings are open to the 
public.

DATES: The revised schedule for meetings is May 18 and 19, 1999, from 
8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., m.s.t., and June 7 and 8, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. 
until 5 p.m., m.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meetings on May 18 and 19, 1999, and June 7 and 8, 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 the revised schedule of meetings of the 
Maricopa County AAC. We originally published a schedule of the Maricopa 
County AAC meetings in the March 11, 1999, issue of the Federal 
Register, at 64 FR 12173. This notice adds one day to the third AAC 
meeting and adds a fourth meeting. The second day of both meetings (May 
19 and June 8) may be subject to cancellation.
    The Maricopa County AAC will meet for the purpose of advising the 
Secretary on how the project will be implemented. The AAC is composed 
of representatives of health plans, providers, employers, and Medicare 
beneficiaries in the area. The AAC is composed of representatives of 
health plans, providers, employers, and Medicare beneficiaries in the 
area. The Maricopa County AAC members are: Joseph Anderson, Schaller 
Anderson Inc.; Rick Badger, Pacificare of Arizona; Reginald Ballantyne 
III, PMH Health Resources, Inc.; Donna Buelow, Arizona State Retirement 
System; Charles Cohen, Arizona Department of Insurance; John Hensing, 
M.D., Samaritan Health Systems; Mary Lynn Kasunic, Area Agency on 
Aging; Anne Lindeman, Governor's Advisory Council on Aging; Ben Lopez, 
Honeywell Corp., Thomas Marreel, William M. Mercer Associates; Anthony 
Mitten, Maricopa County Medical Society; Edward Munno, Jr., Intergroup 
of Arizona; Susan Navran, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona; Erik 
Olsen, D.D.S., American Association of Retired Persons; Leland 
Peterson, Sun Health Corp.; Donna Redford, Arizona Bridge to 
Independent Living; Herb Rigberg, M.D., Health Services Advisory Group; 
Martha Taylor, Arizona SHIP; Clyde Wright, M.D., Cigna of Arizona; 
Arthur Pelberg, M.D., Schaller Anderson Inc.; Joseph Hanss, M.D., 
physician; and Phyllis Biedess, Director, AHCCCS. 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 held its first two meetings on March 31, 
1999, and April 20, 1999.
    The third meeting will be extended for a second day. The third 
meeting will now take place on May 18 and 19, 1999.

[[Page 23654]]

However, the second day of the meeting (May 19) is subject to 
cancellation. The agenda will include a detailed discussion of a 
standard benefit package, a detailed discussion and possible decision 
on the government contribution, and any other issues outstanding.
    A fourth meeting of the Maricopa County AAC will take place on June 
7 and 8, 1999. However, the second day of the meeting (June 8) is 
subject to cancellation. This meeting will summarize the decisions made 
in earlier meetings, decide on the standard benefit package, and 
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:

May 7, 1999, for the third meeting.
May 27, 1999, for the fourth meeting.

    Anyone who is not scheduled to speak may submit written comments to 
the San Francisco Regional Administrator by:

May 11, 1999, for the third meeting.
May 28, 1999, for the fourth 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, Pub. 
L. 105-33 (42 U.S.C.1395w-23 note) and section 10(a) of Pub. L. 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: April 28, 1999.
Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-11062 Filed 4-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P