[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 180 (Friday, September 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50523-50524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24273]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[HCFA-1090-N]


Medicare Program; October 6, 1999 and November 15, 1999, Meetings 
of the Competitive Pricing Demonstration Area Advisory Committee, 
Kansas City, MO 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 two meetings of the Competitive 
Pricing Demonstration Area Advisory Committee (AAC), Kansas City, MO 
Metropolitan Area on October 6, 1999 and November 15, 1999.
    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 AAC in each designated demonstration area to advise on 
implementation of the project, including the marketing and pricing of 
the plan and other factors. The AAC meetings are open to the public.

DATES: The meetings are scheduled for October 6, 1999, from 9:00 a.m. 
until 4:30 p.m., c.d.s.t. and November 15, 1999 from 9:00 a.m. until 
4:30 p.m., c.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Adam's Mark Hotel, 9103 E. 
39th Street, Kansas City, MO 64133.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard P. Brummel, Acting 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 (the CPAC) to make 
recommendations concerning the designation of areas for inclusion in 
the project and appropriate research designs for implementing the 
project. 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. Thus far, the Kansas City, MO Metropolitan 
Area and Maricopa County, AZ have been designated as demonstration 
sites.
    The Kansas City, MO Metropolitan Area AAC has previously met on 
March 26, 1999, April 8, 1999, April 22, 1999, May 12, 1999, and July 
22, 1999. The Kansas City AAC is composed of representatives of health 
plans, providers, employers, and Medicare beneficiaries in the area. 
The members are: E.J. Holland, Chair, Sprint Corporation; Robert S. 
Bonney, Saint Luke's Shawnee Mission Health System; Hazel Borders, 
Beneficiary; Richard W. Brown, Health MidWest; Cynthia A. Finter, 
Kaiser Permanente; Tresia Franklin, Hallmark Cards; Alan O. Freeman, 
Cass Medical Center; Herman Johnson, Beneficiary; John W. Kennedy, Blue 
Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City; Mike Oxford, Topeka Independent 
Living Resource Center; Jean D. Rumbaugh, HealthNet; Kathleen Sebelius, 
Kansas Insurance Commissioner; Zarina Shockley-Sparling, Humana Health 
Plan; Jan Stallmeyer, Principal Health Care; Charles Van Way, M.D., St. 
Luke's Hospital; Barry Wilkinson, Heavy Construction Workers Local 663; 
and Esther V. Wolf, University of Missouri at Kansas City School of 
Social Welfare. In accordance with section 4012(b) of the BBA, the AAC 
will exist for the duration of the project in the area.
    This notice announces two meetings of the Kansas City, MO 
Metropolitan Area AAC. The meetings will be held on:
     October 6, 1999, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., c.d.s.t., 
at the Adam's Mark Hotel, 9103 E. 39th Street, Kansas City, MO 64133.
     November 15, 1999 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., c.s.t., 
at the Adam's Mark Hotel, 9103 E. 39th Street, Kansas City, MO 64133.
    The agenda for the October 6, 1999, meeting will include the 
following:
     A discussion of the status of local efforts to educate and 
inform beneficiaries, providers, and others about the demonstration.
     A review and contrast of the standard benefit package 
previously developed to the health plan benefits proposed for 2000.

[[Page 50524]]

     A discussion of a schedule for all implementation 
activities leading to the start-up on January 1, 2001.
     Other issues involving implementation of the demonstration 
in Kansas City, MO.
    The agenda for the November 15, 1999, meeting will include the 
following:
     Reports of progress on development of risk adjustment 
alternatives and quality incentives.
     Decisions on the standard benefit package and outreach and 
communication initiatives for Kansas City, MO.
     A discussion of the bid solicitation and review process.
    Individuals or organizations that wish to make 5-minute oral 
presentations on the agenda issues listed above should contact the 
Kansas City Acting Regional Administrator, by 12 noon, for each of the 
following days:
     September 29, 1999, for the first meeting.
     November 8, 1999, for the second meeting.
    Anyone who is not scheduled to speak may submit written comments to 
the Kansas City Acting Regional Administrator, by 12 noon, for each of 
the following days:
     September 30, 1999, for the first meeting.
     November 9, 1999, for the second meeting.
    These meetings are 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 Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: September 14, 1999.
Michael M. Hash,
Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-24273 Filed 9-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P