[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9321-9322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4383]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-4070-N]


Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for the Advisory Panel 
on Medicare Education

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice requests nominations for individuals to serve on 
the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (the Panel). The Panel advises 
and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health 
and Human Services 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 the Medicare 
program and the range of Medicare health plan options available under 
the Medicare+Choice and Medicare Advantage Program.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Nominations will be considered if we receive them at 
the appropriate address, provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on March, 
19, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations to the following address: Lynne 
G. Johnson, Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, S2-23-05, Baltimore MD, 
21244-1850.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne G. 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, 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 and the charter renewing the Panel on January 
18, 2003. 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 materials serving 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 health plans and 
prescription drug benefits 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 Panel must consist of a maximum of 20 members. The Chair must 
either be appointed from among the 20 members, or a Federal official 
will be designated to serve as the Chair. The charter requires that 
meetings must be held approximately four times per year. Members will 
be expected to attend all meetings. The members and the Chair must be 
selected from authorities knowledgeable in the fields of senior citizen 
advocacy; outreach to minority communities; health communications; 
disease-related health advocacy; disability policy and access; health 
economics research; health insurers and plans; providers and 
clinicians; and matters of labor and retirement; and from 
representatives of the general public.
    This notice is an invitation to interested organizations or 
individuals to submit their nominations for membership on the Panel. 
Current members whose terms expire in 2004 will be considered for 
reappointment, if renominated, subject to committee service guidelines. 
The Secretary, or his designee, will appoint new members to the Panel 
from among those candidates determined to have the expertise required 
to meet specific agency needs, and in a manner to ensure an appropriate 
balance of membership.

[[Page 9322]]

    Each nomination must state that the nominee has expressed a 
willingness to serve as a Panel member and must be accompanied by a 
short resume or description of the nominee's experience. In order to 
permit an evaluation of possible sources of conflict of interest, 
potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed information 
concerning such matters as financial holdings, consultancies, and 
research grants or contracts. Self-nominations also will be accepted.

    Authority: (Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 217(a)) and section 10(a) of Pub. L. 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: February 24, 2004.
Dennis G. Smith,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 04-4383 Filed 2-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P