[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20393-20394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9494]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

[CMS-4052-N]


Medicare Program: Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education--May 21, 2003

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 May 21, 2003. The 
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 to 
enhance the effectiveness of consumer education strategies concerning 
the Medicare program. This meeting is open to the public. This meeting 
replaces the February 27, 2003 meeting that was canceled due to snow.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for May 21, 2003, from 9:15 a.m. to 4 
p.m., e.s.t.
    Deadline for Presentations and Comments: May 14, 2003, 12 noon, 
e.s.t.

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: Lynne Johnson, 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) 786-0090. Please 
refer to the CMS Advisory Committees Information Line (1-877-449-5659 
toll free)/(410-786-9379 local) or the Internet (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca/apme/default.asp) for additional information and 
updates on committee activities, or contact Ms. Johnson 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 (64 FR 7849) and approved 
the renewal of the charter on January 21, 2003. The Panel advises and 
makes recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator of 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 as follows:
    [sbull] To develop and implement a national Medicare education 
program that describes the options for selecting a health plan under 
Medicare.
    [sbull] To enhance the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare consumer, including the appropriate use of 
public-private partnerships.
    [sbull] To expand outreach to vulnerable and underserved 
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of 
a national Medicare education program.
    [sbull] 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: Dr. Jane Delgado, Chief 
Executive Officer, National Alliance for Hispanic Health; Joyce Dubow, 
Senior Policy Advisor, Public Policy Institute, AARP; Clayton Fong, 
President and Chief Executive Officer, National Asian Pacific Center on 
Aging; Timothy Fuller, Executive Director, National Gray Panthers; John 
Graham IV, Chief Executive Officer, American Diabetes Association; Dr. 
William Haggett, Senior Vice President, Government Programs, 
Independence Blue Cross; Thomas Hall, Chairman and Chief Executive 
Officer, Cardio-Kinetics, Inc.; David Knutson, Director, Health System 
Studies, Park Nicollet Institute for Research and Education; Brian 
Lindberg, Executive Director, Consumer Coalition for Quality Health 
Care; Katherine Metzger, Director, Medicare and Medicaid Programs, 
Fallon Community Health Plan; Dr. Laurie Powers, Co-Director, Center on 
Self-Determination, Oregon Health Sciences University; Dr. Marlon 
Priest, Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at 
Birmingham; Dr. Susan Reinhard, Co-Director, Center for State Health 
Policy, Rutgers University and Chairperson of

[[Page 20394]]

the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education; Dr. Everard Rutledge, Vice 
President of Community Health, Bon Secours Health Systems, Inc.; Jay 
Sackman, Executive Vice President, 1199 Service Employees International 
Union; Dallas Salisbury, President and Chief Executive Officer, 
Employee Benefit Research Institute; Rosemarie Sweeney, Vice President, 
Socioeconomic Affairs and Policy Analysis, American Academy of Family 
Physicians; and Bruce Taylor, Director, Employee Benefit Policy and 
Plans, Verizon Communications.
    The agenda for the May 21, 2003 meeting will include the following:
    [sbull] Recap of the previous (November 19, 2002) meeting.
    [sbull] Center for Beneficiary Choices Update.
    [sbull] Promoting the Use of Medicare Preventive Benefits.
    [sbull] Eliminating Disparities in the Use of Medicare Preventive 
Benefits.
    [sbull] 2003/2004 Medicare Multi-Media Education Campaign.
    [sbull] Update on Home Health Quality Initiative.
    [sbull] Public Comment.
    [sbull] Listening Session with CMS Leadership.
    [sbull] Next Steps.
    Individuals or organizations that wish to make a 5-minute oral 
presentation on an agenda topic should contact Ms. Johnson by 12 noon, 
May 14, 2003. A written copy of the oral presentation should also be 
submitted to Ms. Johnson by 12 noon, May 14, 2003. 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. 
Johnson by 12 noon, May 14, 2003. 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. Johnson at least 15 days before the 
meeting.

    Authority: Sec. 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
217(a) and sec. 10(a) of Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10(a) 
and 41 CFR 102-3).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.733, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
    Dated: April 3, 2003.
Thomas A. Scully,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 03-9494 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P