[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 141 (Friday, July 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44034-44035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16433]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-4074-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education--September 9, 2004

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. Appendix 2, section 10(a) (Pub. L. 92-463), this notice 
announces a meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education on 
September 9, 2004. 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 on 
opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of consumer education 
strategies concerning the Medicare program. This meeting is open to the 
public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for September 9, 2004 from 9 a.m. to 4 
p.m., e.d.t.
    Deadline for Presentations and Comments: September 2, 2004, 12 
noon, e.d.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, mail stop 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 Lynne Johnson by 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 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 the 
Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (the 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:
     To develop and implement a national Medicare education 
program that describes the options for selecting a health plan under 
Medicare.

[[Page 44035]]

     To enhance the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare consumer, including the appropriate use of 
public-private partnerships.
     To expand outreach to vulnerable and underserved 
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of 
a national Medicare education program.
     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: James L. Bildner, Chairman 
and Chief Executive Officer, New Horizons Partners, LLC; and Clayton 
Fong, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Asian Pacific 
Center on Aging. A list of new members will be announced in the Federal 
Register on August 27, 2004.
    The agenda for the September 9, 2004 meeting will include the 
following:
     Recap of the previous meeting (May 11, 2004).
     Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Update.
     Medicare Program Overview.
     Medicare Modernization Act Outreach and Education.
     Public Comment.
     Listening Session with CMS Leadership.
     Next Steps.
    Individuals or organizations that wish to make a 5-minute oral 
presentation on an agenda topic must submit a written copy of the oral 
presentation to Lynne Johnson, Health Insurance Specialist, Division of 
Partnership Development, Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail stop S2-23-
05, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or by e-mail at [email protected] no 
later than 12 noon, e.d.t., September 2, 2004. The number of oral 
presentations may be limited by the time available. Individuals not 
wishing to make a presentation may submit written comments to Lynne 
Johnson by 12 noon, (e.d.t.), September 2, 2004. The meeting is open to 
the public, but attendance is limited to the space available.
    Special Accommodation: Individuals requiring sign language 
interpretation or other special accommodations must contact Lynne 
Johnson at least 15 days before the meeting.

    Authority: Sec. 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
217a) 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: July 14, 2004.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 04-16433 Filed 7-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P