[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 78 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21836-21837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9176]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Medicare Program; Technical Review Panel on the Medicare Trustees 
Reports; Extension of Deadline for Nominations for Members

AGENCY: Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice extends the deadline for nominations for members 
of the panel. The original deadline was April 9, 2004. The Medicare 
Board of Trustees has requested the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (who is one of the Trustees) to establish a panel of technical 
experts to review the assumptions and methods underlying the Hospital 
Insurance (HI) and Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Fund 
annual reports.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Nominations for members will be considered if we 
receive them at the appropriate address, as provided below, before 5 
p.m. on April 30, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written nominations to the following 
address: Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 443-F.8, 200 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201. Documents may be e-mailed to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Cosgrove, (202) 205-8681.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Board of Trustees of the Medicare Trust Funds (the Hospital 
Insurance (HI) and Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Funds) 
report annually on the financial condition of the trust funds. The 
reports describe the trust funds' current and projected financial 
condition, within the next 10 years (the ``short term'') and 
indefinitely into the future (the ``long term''). The Medicare Board of 
Trustees has requested the Secretary of Health and Human Services (who 
is one of the Trustees) to establish a panel of technical experts to 
review the assumptions and methods underlying the HI and SMI annual 
reports. The panel will consist of up to 7 members, selected by the 
Secretary or a designee, and a Chair, who is appointed by the Secretary 
or a designee.
    The panel will meet periodically throughout its existence, until it 
has completed its work. The work of the panel is technical in nature 
and will concentrate on the long term financing of the Medicare 
program. We will prepare the agenda for the panel's activities, which 
will set the items for discussion.
    We are requesting nominations for members to serve on the panel. 
Panel members serve with compensation, and travel, meals, lodging, and 
related expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with standard 
government travel regulations. We have a special interest in ensuring 
that women, minorities, and the physically challenged are adequately 
represented on the panel and encourage nominations of qualified 
candidates from those groups.

II. Provisions of This Notice

A. Criteria for Nominees

    Nominees should possess knowledge, experience, and expertise in 
areas such as the Medicare program, health economics, and actuarial 
science, or any other relevant expertise.
    It is not necessary that any nominee possess expertise in all of 
the areas listed, but each should have significant, relevant experience 
in at least one area. Members of the panel will serve for the entire 
duration of the panel.
    Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified 
individuals. Self-nominations will also be accepted. Each nomination 
must include a letter of nomination, a curriculum vita of the nominee, 
and a statement from the nominee that the nominee is willing to serve 
on the panel.

[[Page 21837]]

B. Signing of the Charter

    The charter for the Technical Review Panel on the Medicare Trustees 
Reports was signed by the Secretary on March 11, 2004. The charter will 
terminate on March 11, 2006, unless renewed by the Secretary.

III. Copies of the Charter

    You may obtain a copy of the Secretary's charter for the Technical 
Review Panel on Medicare Trustees Reports by submitting a request to 
Andrew Cosgrove, 200 Independence Ave., SW., Washington DC, 20201, 
(202) 205-8681 or contact Andrew Cosgrove via e-mail at 
[email protected].

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 217a; section 222 of the Public Health 
Services Act, as amended.

Michael J. O'Grady,
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 04-9176 Filed 4-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-05-P