[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 171 (Friday, September 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53320-53321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22432]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-1146-N]


Medicare Program; September 21, 2000, Meeting of the Advisory 
Panel on Medicare Education

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 Advisory Panel on 
Medicare Education (the Panel) on September 21, 2000. This Panel 
advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of 
Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Health Care 
Financing Administration (HCFA) on opportunities for HCFA to optimize 
the effectiveness of the National Medicare Education Program and other 
HCFA programs that help Medicare beneficiaries understand Medicare and 
the range of Medicare options available with the passage of the 
Medicare+Choice Program. The Panel meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for September 21, 2000 from 8:30 a.m. 
pst to 5:30 p.m. pst.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Waterfront Plaza Hotel, 10 
Washington Street, Jack London Square, Oakland, California 94607, 
Telephone: (510) 836-3800 or (800) 729-3638.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susana Perry, Executive Director, CBS, 
Partnership Development Group, Health Care Financing Administration, 
7500 Security Boulevard S1-08-07, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, (410) 786-
1076. Please refer to the HCFA Advisory Committees Information Line (1-
877-449-5659 toll free) or (410-786-9379 local) or the Internet (http://www.hcfa.gov/events/apme/homepage.htm) for additional information and 
updates on committee activities or by contacting the Executive Director 
at (E-mail: [email protected]). Press inquiries are handled through the 
HCFA Press Office at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App. 2, section 9(a)), Public Law 92-463, grants the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services (the Secretary) the authority to establish an 
advisory committee if the Secretary finds the committee in the public 
interest. The Secretary signed the charter establishing this committee 
on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7899, February 17, 1999). The Advisory Panel 
on Medicare Education (the Panel) advises us on opportunities to 
enhance the effectiveness of consumer education materials serving the 
Medicare program.
    The goals of the Panel are as follows:
     Develop and implement a national Medicare education 
program that describes the options for selecting a health plan under 
Medicare.
     Enhance the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare consumer, including the appropriate use of 
public-private partnerships.
     Expand outreach to vulnerable and underserved communities, 
including racial and ethnic minorities; in the context of a national 
Medicare education program.
     Assemble an information base of best practices for helping 
consumers evaluate health plan options and building a community 
infrastructure for information, counseling, and assistance.
    The current members are: Diane Archer, J.D., President, Medicare 
Rights Center; Bruce Bradley, M.B.A., Director, Managed Care Plans, 
General Motors Corporation; Joyce Dubow, M.U.P., Senior Policy Advisor, 
Public Policy Institute, AARP; Elmer Huerta, M.D., M.P.H., Director, 
Cancer Risk and Assessment Center, Washington Hospital Center; Bonita 
Kallestad, J.D., M.S., Western Minnesota Legal Services, Mid Minnesota 
Legal Assistance; Steven Larsen, J.D., M.A., Maryland Insurance 
Commissioner, Maryland Insurance Administration; Brian Lindberg, 
M.M.H.S., Executive Director, Consumer Coalition for Quality Health 
Care; Heidi Margulis, B.A., Vice President, Government Affairs, Humana, 
Inc.; Patricia Neuman, Sc.D., Director, Medicare Policy Project, Henry 
J. Kaiser Family Foundation; Elena Rios, M.D., M.S.P.H, President, 
National Hispanic Medical Association; Samuel Simmons, B.A., President 
and CEO, The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc.; Nina 
Weinberg, M.A., President, National Health Council; and Edward Zesk, 
B.A., Executive Director, Aging 2000.
    The agenda for the September 21, 2000, meeting will include the 
following:
     A recap of the last meeting.
     A presentation on communicating effectively with all 
people. (Issues of cultural competency and limited English 
proficiency.)
     A presentation on HCFA's role in and approach to providing 
information to Medicare consumers with limited English proficiency.
     A listening session, where Medicare consumers, caregivers 
to people with limited English proficiency, and information 
intermediaries discuss with the APME Panel approaches to effectively 
communicating Medicare information to people with limited English 
proficiency.
     A period for public comment.
     A discussion regarding suggestions for future activities 
to provide information to Medicare consumers with limited English 
proficiency.

[[Page 53321]]

    Individuals or organizations that wish to make 5-minute oral 
presentations on the agenda issues should contact the Executive 
Director, by 12 noon, September 15, 2000, 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, September 15, 2000. Anyone who is not scheduled 
to speak may submit written comments to the Executive Director, by 12 
noon, September 15, 2000.
    The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the 
space available. Individuals requiring sign language interpretation for 
the hearing impaired or other special accommodations should contact the 
Executive Director at least 15 days before the meeting.

(5 U.S.C. App.2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2))
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: August 23, 2000.
Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-22432 Filed 8-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P