[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33966-33967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15947]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-4019-N]


Medicare Program: Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education--July 12, 2001

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. Appendix 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2) (Pub. L. 92-463), this 
notice announces a meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education 
(the Panel) on July 12, 2001. This meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The Meeting. The meeting is scheduled for July 12, 2001, from 9 
a.m. to 5 p.m., E.D.T
    Deadline for Presentations and Comments: July 5, 2001, 12 noon, 
E.D.T.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn on the Hill, 415 
New Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20001, (202) 638-1616.

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.

[[Page 33967]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 217a), as amended, grants to the Secretary of the Department 
of Health and Human Services (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 this 
Panel on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7849) and approved the renewal of the 
charter on January 18, 2001. The Panel advises and makes 
recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Health 
Care Financing Administration (the Administrator) 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 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 build 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 Health Services; Elmer 
Huerta, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Cancer Risk and Assessment Center, 
Washington Hospital Center; Bonita Kallestad, J.D., M.S., 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 July 12, 2001 meeting will include the 
following:
     Recap of the previous (April 26, 2001) meeting.
     HCFA update/issues.
     Role of the Social Security Administration in Medicare.
     Medicare education operating priorities for 2002.
     Medicare education budget 2003.
     Annual report of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education.
     Public comment.
    Individuals or organizations that wish to make a 5-minute oral 
presentation on an agenda topic should contact Ms. Caliman by 12 noon, 
July 5, 2001. A written copy of the oral presentation should also be 
submitted to Ms. Caliman by 12 noon, July 5, 2001. The number of oral 
presentations may be limited by the time available. Individuals not 
wishing to make a presentation may submit written comments to Ms. 
Caliman by 12 noon, July 5, 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.

    Authority: Secs. 1102 and 1871 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1302 and 1395hh).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.733, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: June 19, 2001.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-15947 Filed 6-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P