[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 77 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20916-20917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7954]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-4107-N]


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

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

ACTION: Notice.

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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 (HHS) (the Secretary) and the Administrator of the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (the Administrator) 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 health 
plan options available. Nominees must be knowledgeable in the field of 
managing a drug benefit.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Nominations will be considered if received at the 
appropriate address, provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, 
no later than 5 p.m., e.d.t., on Monday, May 16, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations to the following address: Lynne 
G. Johnson, Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail stop 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, 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 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

[[Page 20917]]

Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (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 and the renewed the 
charter on January 14, 2005. The Panel advises HHS and the Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 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 shall consist of a maximum of 20 members. The charter 
requires that meetings be held approximately four times per year. 
Members are expected to attend all meetings.
    This notice is an invitation to interested organizations or 
individuals to submit their nominations for membership on the Panel. 
The Secretary, or his designee, will appoint the 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.
    Each nomination must state that the nominee has expressed a 
willingness to serve as a Panel member and must be accompanied by a 
resume and a brief summary 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 will also 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: April 6, 2005.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-7954 Filed 4-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P