[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3721-3722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1064]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part F of the Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations 
of Authority for the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), (Federal Register, Vol. 66, No. 
177, pp. 47497-47499 dated September 12, 2001) is amended to reflect 
changes to the Press Office and the Center for Medicaid and State 
Operations (CMSO). Specifically, the Press Office will be retitled as 
the Public Affairs Office (PAO) and the Intergovernmental and Tribal 
Affairs Group (ITAG) will be transferred from CMSO. The transfer of 
ITAG from CMSO to PAO will strengthen and improve the coordination of 
responses to the press, and local/national media, while integrating the 
State, local government, and tribal affairs programs into the PAO media 
relations and communications activities.
    The specific amendments to part F are described below:
     Section F.10. (Organization) is amended to read as 
follows:

1. Public Affairs Office (FAC)
2. Center for Beneficiary Choices (FAE)
3. Office of Legislation (FAF)
4. Center for Medicare Management (FAH)
5. Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (FAJ)
6. Office of Strategic Planning (FAK)
7. Office of Communications and Operations Support (FAL)
8. Office of Clinical Standards and Quality (FAM)
9. Office of the Actuary (FAN)
10. Center for Medicaid and State Operations (FAS)
11. Northeastern Consortium (FAU)
12. Southern Consortium (FAV)
13. Midwestern Consortium (FAW)
14. Western Consortium (FAX)
15. Office of Internal Customer Support (FBA)
16. Office of Information Services (FBB)
17. Office of Financial Management (FBC)

     Section F.20. (Functions) is amended by deleting the 
functional statements in their entirety for the Press Office and the 
Center for Medicaid and State Operations. The new functional statements 
read as follows:

1. Public Affairs Office (FAC)

     Serves as the focal point for the Agency to the news media 
and provides leadership for the Agency in the area of intergovernmental 
affairs. Advises the Administrator and other Agency components in all 
activities related to the media and on matters which affect other units 
and levels of government.
     Coordinates CMS activities with the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and the Secretary's 
intergovernmental affairs officials.
     Serves as senior counsel to the Administrator in all 
activities related to the media. Provides consultation, advice, and 
training to the Agency's senior staff with respect to relations with 
the news media.
     Develops and executes strategies to further the Agency's 
relationship and dealings with the media. Maintains a broad based 
knowledge of the Agency's structure, responsibilities, mission, goals, 
programs, and initiatives in order to provide or arrange for rapid and 
accurate response to news media needs.
     Prepares and edits appropriate materials about the Agency, 
its policies, actions and findings, and provides them to the public 
through the print and broadcast media. Develops and directs media 
relations strategies for the Agency.
     Responds to inquiries from a broad variety of news media, 
including major newspapers, national television and radio networks, 
national news magazines, local newspapers and radio and television 
stations, publications directed toward the Agency's beneficiary 
populations, and newsletters serving the health care industry.
     Manages press inquiries, coordinates sensitive press 
issues, and develops policies and procedures for how press and media 
inquiries are handled.
     Arranges formal interviews for journalists with the 
Agency's Administrator or other appropriate senior Agency staff; 
identifies for interviewees the issues to be addressed, and prepares or 
obtains background materials as needed.
     For significant Agency initiatives, issues media 
advisories and arranges press conferences as appropriate; coordinates 
material and personnel as necessary.

[[Page 3722]]

     Serves as liaison with the Department of Health and Human 
Services and White House press offices.
     Serves as focal point for all Agency interactions with 
Native American and Alaskan Native tribes.
     Coordinates State program issues/concerns (i.e., waiver 
reviews, Medigap, Medicare-Select, survey and certification, Clinical 
Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA), tribal affairs) with program staff 
and regional offices.
     Serves as coordinator of State health care policy and as 
liaison between CMS and State and local officials, and individual 
lobbyists representing State and local officials and advocate groups.
     Serves as coordinator of tribal affairs issues and liaison 
between CMS and State and local officials representing tribal affairs 
groups.
     Responsible for handling highly sensitive and complex 
correspondence from and to State and local elected officials. Reviews 
proposed regulations affecting States.
     Coordinates roll-out of waivers or other significant 
announcements relating to States.

10. Center for Medicaid and State Operations (FAS)

     Serves as the focal point for all Agency interactions with 
States and local governments (including the Territories).
     Develops national Medicaid policies and procedures which 
support and assure effective State program administration and 
beneficiary protection. In partnership with the States, evaluates the 
success of State agencies in carrying out their responsibilities and, 
as necessary, assists the States in correcting problems and improving 
the quality of their operations.
     Develops, interprets, and applies specific laws, 
regulations, and policies that directly govern the financial operation 
and management of the Medicaid program and the related interactions 
with the States and regional offices.
     Develops national policies and procedures to support and 
assure appropriate State implementation of the rules and processes 
governing group and individual health insurance markets and the sale of 
health insurance policies that supplement Medicare coverage.
     In coordination with other components, develops, 
implements, evaluates and refines standardized provider performance 
measures used within provider certification programs. Supports States 
in their use of standardized measures for provider feedback and quality 
improvement activities. Develops, implements and supports the data 
collection and analysis systems needed by States to administer the 
certification program.
     Reviews, approves and conducts oversight of Medicaid 
managed care waiver programs. Provides assistance to States and 
external customers on all Medicaid managed care issues.
     Develops national policies and procedures on Medicaid 
automated claims/encounter processing and information retrieval systems 
such as the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) and 
integrated eligibility determination systems.
     In coordination with the Office of Financial Management, 
directs, coordinates, and monitors program integrity efforts and 
activities by States and regions. Works with the Office of Financial 
Management to provide input in the development of program integrity 
policy.
     Through administration of the home and community based 
services program and policy collaboration with other Agency components 
and the States, promotes he appropriate choice and continuity of 
quality services available to frail elderly, disabled and chronically 
ill beneficiaries.
     Develops and tests new and innovative methods to improve 
the Medicaid program through demonstrations and best practices 
including managing review, approval, and oversight of the Section 1115 
demonstrations.
     Directs the planning, coordination, and implementation of 
the survey, certification, and enforcement programs for all Medicare 
and Medicaid providers and suppliers, and for laboratories under the 
auspices of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA). Reviews and 
approves applications by States for ``exemption'' from CLIA and 
applications from private accreditation organizations for deeming 
authority. Develops assessment techniques and protocols for 
periodically evaluating the performance of these entities. Monitors the 
performance of proficiency testing programs under the auspices of CLIA.

    Dated: January 2, 2002.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 02-1064 Filed 1-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P