[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3720-3721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1687]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-4034-N]


Medicare Program: Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education--February 13, 2002

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 (5 U.S.C. App. 2), this notice announces a meeting of the 
Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (the Panel) on Wednesday, February 
13, 2002. 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.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 13, 2002, from 
9:00 am. to 5:00 pm.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy 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 
(42 U.S.C. 217a), 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 concerning optimal 
strategies for:
     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

[[Page 3721]]

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 February 14, 2002 meeting will include the 
following:
     A recap of the previous (October 25, 2001) meeting;
     CMS update/issues;
     Update on the Fall Medicare Ad Campaign;
     Update on the State Health Insurance Assistance Program;
     Medicare Education Research Update;
     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, February 7, 2002. In conjunction, a written copy of the oral 
presentation should also be submitted to Ms. Caliman by 12 noon, 
Thursday, February 7, 2002. 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, February 7, 2002. 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 
accommodation should contact Ms. Caliman at least 15 days before the 
meeting.

(Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC 217a) 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: January 14, 2002.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 02-1687 Filed 1-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P