[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29765-29767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10409]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-2214-N]


Medicaid Program; Establishment of the Medicaid Commission and 
Request for Nominations for Members

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the establishment of the Medicaid 
Commission and discusses the group's purpose and charter. It also 
solicits nominations for members.

DATES: Nominations for membership will be considered if they are 
received by June 3, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send nominations to: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore Maryland 21244-1850, 
Policy Coordination and Planning Group, Mail stop S2-26-12, Attention: 
Mary Beth Hance

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Beth Hance, (410) 786-4299. Press 
inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is 
establishing a Medicaid Commission under Pub. L. 92-463, Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, to advise the Secretary on ways to modernize 
the Medicaid program so that it can provide high-quality health care to 
its beneficiaries in a financially sustainable way.

[[Page 29766]]

II. Charter, General Responsibilities, and Composition of the Medicaid 
Commission

A. Charter Information and General Responsibilities

    On May 19, 2005, the Secretary signed the charter establishing the 
Medicaid Commission. The Commission will terminate 30 days after the 
date of submission of the final report to the Secretary, but no later 
than January 31, 2007. The Commission, as chartered under the legal 
authority of 42 U.S.C 217a, section 222 of the Public Health Service 
Act, is also governed by the provisions of the Pub. L. 92-463, as 
amended (5 U.S.C. appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the 
formation and use of advisory committees, and the provisions of the 
Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(b).
    You may view obtain a copy of the Secretary's charter for the 
Medicaid Commission at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca/stcomm.asp.
    The Commission shall submit two reports to the Secretary for his 
consideration and submission to Congress. By September 1, 2005, the 
Commission will provide recommendations on options to achieve $10 
billion in scorable Medicaid savings over five years while at the same 
time make progress toward meaningful longer-term program changes to 
better serve beneficiaries. The Commission will also consider, to the 
extent feasible, specific performance goals for the Medicaid program, 
as a basis for its longer-term recommendations. By December 31, 2006, 
the Commission is tasked with making longer-term recommendations on the 
future of the Medicaid program that ensures the long-term 
sustainability of the program.
    Meetings shall be open to the public except when closure is 
specifically allowed by statute, and after all statutory and regulatory 
requirements for doing so have been met. The Secretary or other 
official to whom the authority has been delegated shall make such 
determinations. Notice of all meetings shall be given to the public.
    The Commission shall develop proposals that address the following 
long-term issues:
     Eligibility, benefits design, and delivery;
     Expanding the number of people covered with quality care 
while recognizing budget constraints;
     Long term care;
     Quality of care, choice, and beneficiary satisfaction;
     Program administration; and
     Other topics that the Secretary may submit to the 
Commission.
    The Secretary will request the representatives of the three public 
policy organizations (as referenced below) to consider these issues and 
provide relevant information to the Commission within specified 
timeframes. The Commission shall consider how to address these issues 
under a budget scenario that assumes Federal and State spending under 
the current baseline; a scenario that assumes Congress will choose to 
lower the rate of growth in the program; and a scenario that may 
increase spending for coverage. The Commission shall assume that the 
basic matching relationship between the Federal Government and States 
will be continued.

B. Composition of the Medicaid Commission

    The Commission shall consist of three types of member groups, of 
which only one will have authority to vote on the recommendations to be 
provided to the Secretary. The first group will consist of up to 15 
voting members.
    Voting Members:
     Former or current Governors.
     Three representatives of public policy organizations 
involved in major health care policy issues for families, individuals 
with disabilities, low-income individuals, or the elderly.
     Former or current State Medicaid Directors.
     Individuals with expertise in health, finance, or 
administration.
     Federal officials who administer programs that serve the 
Medicaid population.
     The Secretary (or the Secretary's designee) and such other 
members as the Secretary may specify.
     Ex Officio Members.
    Non-Voting Advisor Members:
    A group of up to 15 non-voting advisors will support the 
Commission's deliberations with their special expertise. These will 
include State and local government officials, consumer and provider 
representatives who have an inherent interest in the Medicaid program.
    Non-voting Congressional Advisor Members:
    The Congressional Members will consist of eight non-voting members 
who are current members of the Senate and House of Representatives. The 
Secretary will request the following legislative leaders to make one 
Congressional selection each:
     Senate Majority Leader.
     Senate Minority Leader.
     Chairman, Senate Finance Committee.
     Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee.
     Speaker, House of Representatives.
     Minority Leader, House of Representatives.
     Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
     Ranking Member, House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

III. Submission of Nominations

    We are requesting nominations for membership as voting members or 
as non-voting members on the Medicaid Commission. We will consider 
qualified individuals who are self-nominated or are nominated by 
organizations representing States, beneficiaries, and providers when we 
select these representatives. The Secretary will appoint members to 
serve on the Commission from among those candidates that we determine 
have the technical expertise to meet specific agency needs in a manner 
to ensure an appropriate balance of membership.
    Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified 
individuals for each of the categories listed in section II.B of this 
notice. Each nomination must include the following information:
    1. A letter of nomination that contains contact information for 
both the nominator and nominee (if not the same).
    2. A statement from the nominee that he or she is willing to serve 
on the Commission for its duration (that is, through January 31, 2007) 
and an explanation of the nominee's interest in serving on the 
Commission. (For self-nominations, this information may be included in 
the nomination letter.)
    3. A curriculum vitae that indicates the nominee's educational and 
Medicaid experiences.
    4. Two letters of reference that support the nominee's 
qualifications for participation on the Commission. (For nominations 
other than self-nominations, a nomination letter that includes 
information supporting the nominee's qualifications may be counted as 
one of the letters of reference.)
    To ensure that a nomination is considered, we must receive all of 
the nomination information specified in section III of this notice by 
June 3, 2005. Nominations should be mailed to the address specified in 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C 217 (a), section 222 of the Public Health 
Service Act, as amended. The Medicaid Commission is governed by the 
provisions of Pub. L. 92-463 as amended (5 U.S.C. appendix 2), which 
sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory 
committees.


[[Page 29767]]


    Dated: May 10, 2005.
Mark McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-10409 Filed 5-20-05; 12:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P