[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17432-17433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7904]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-1189-N]


Medicare Program: April 26, 2001, 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 Thursday, April 26, 2001. This Panel 
advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) 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 Thursday, April 26, 2001, from 9 
am. e.s.t. to 5 pm. e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Wyndham Washington, D.C. 
Hotel, 1400 M Street NW., Washington, DC, 20005, (202) 429-1700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Caliman, Health Insurance 
Specialist, Partnership Development Group, Center for Beneficiary 
Services, Health Care Financing Administration, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, S2-23-05, Baltimore, MD, 21244-1850, (410) 786-5052. Please 
refer to the HCFA Advisory Committees Information Line (1-877-449-5659 
toll free)/(410-786-9379 local) or the Internet (http://www.hcfa.gov/events/apme/homepage.htm) for additional information and updates on 
committee activities, or contact Ms. Caliman via E-mail at 
[email protected]. Press inquiries are handled through the HCFA Press 
Office at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 222 of the Public Health Service 
Act, as amended, grants to the Secretary the authority to establish an 
advisory panel if the Secretary finds the panel necessary and in the 
public interest. The Secretary signed the charter establishing the 
panel on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7849) and subsequently renewed the 
charter on January 18, 2001. The Advisory Panel on Medicare Education 
advises the Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Care 
Financing Administration on opportunities to enhance the effectiveness 
of consumer education materials serving the Medicare program.
    The goals of the Panel are as follows:
     To develop and implement a national Medicare education 
program that describes the options for selecting a health plan under 
Medicare;
     To enhance the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare consumer, including the appropriate use of 
public-private partnerships;
     To expand outreach to vulnerable and underserved 
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of 
a national Medicare education program;
     To 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 of the Panel are: Diane Archer, J.D., 
President, Medicare Rights Center; David Baldridge, Executive Director, 
National Indian Council on Aging; Bruce Bradley, M.B.A., Director, 
Managed Care Plans, General Motors Corporation; Carol Cronin, 
Chairperson, Advisory Panel on Medicare Education; Joyce Dubow, M.U.P., 
Senior Policy Advisor, Public Policy Institute, AARP; Jennie Chin 
Hansen, Executive Director, On Lok Senior Services; 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 April 26, 2001 meeting will include the 
following:
     Recap of the previous (January 10, 2001) meeting;
     HCFA update/issues;
     Appropriate funding for Medicare education;
     How the private sector conducts Medicare education for 
retirees;
     HCFA plan to serve limited English proficient 
beneficiaries and to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate 
information;
     APME annual report;
     Public comment.
    Individuals or organizations that wish to make 5-minute oral 
presentations on the agenda issues should contact Ms.

[[Page 17433]]

Caliman by 12 noon on Thursday, April 19, 2001, 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 Ms. Caliman no 
later than 12 noon on Thursday, April 19, 2001. Anyone who is not 
scheduled to speak may submit written comments to Ms. Caliman by 12 
noon, Thursday, April 19, 2001. 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 Ms. Caliman at least 15 days before the 
meeting.

(Sec. 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC 217a) and sec. 
10(a) of Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10(a)(1) and (a)(2)); 
41 CFR 101-6.1015)

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: March 22, 2001.
Michael McMullan,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-7904 Filed 3-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-03-P