[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50658-50659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24919]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-4028-N]


Medicare Program: Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education--Thursday, October 25, 2001

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), 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, October 25, 2001. This 
Panel advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Administrator of 
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), on opportunities 
for CMS to optimize the effectiveness of the National Medicare 
Education Program and other CMS 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.

DATE: The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 25, 2001, from 
9:00 am. to 5:00 pm.

ADDRESS: The meeting will be held at the Capitol Hill Club, 300 First 
Street, SE., Washington, DC 20003, (202) 484-4590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy M. Caliman, Health Insurance 
Specialist, Division of Partnership Development, Center for Beneficiary 
Choices, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, S2-23-05, Baltimore, MD, 21244-1850, (410) 786-5052. Please 
refer to the CMS 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 CMS 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 this 
Panel on January 21, 1999 and the charter renewing the Panel on January 
18, 2001. The Advisory Panel on Medicare Education advises the 
Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services on opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of 
consumer education strategies concerning the Medicare program.
    The goals of the Panel are to provide advice on the following:
     Developing and implementing a national Medicare education 
program that describes the options for selecting a health plan under 
Medicare.
     Enhancing the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare consumer, including the appropriate use of 
public-private partnerships.
     Expanding outreach to vulnerable and underserved 
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of 
a national Medicare education program.
     Assembling 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 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 October 25, 2001 meeting will include the 
following:
     Recap of the previous meeting (July 12, 2001).
     CMS update/issues.
     Fall Medicare Ad Campaign.
     Update on Medicare Helpline and Medicare Personal Plan 
Finder (Web-based Decision Support Tool).
     APME Annual Report.
     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, 
Thursday, October 18, 2001. In conjunction, a written copy of the oral 
presentation should also be submitted to Ms. Caliman by 12 noon, 
Thursday, October 18, 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, 
Thursday, October 18, 2001. The meeting is open to the public, but 
attendance is limited to the space available. Individuals requiring 
sign

[[Page 50659]]

language interpretation for the hearing impaired or other special 
accommodations should contact Ms. Caliman at least 15 days before the 
meeting.

(Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217(a)) and 
section 10(a) of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a) 
and 41 CFR 102-3)
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: September 28, 2001.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 01-24919 Filed 10-1-01; 3:09 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P