[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9561-9562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1648]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-4115-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 Health and Human Services 
(HHS) (the Secretary) 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 range of 
health plan options available under the Medicare program.

DATES: Effective Date: Nominations will be considered if we receive 
them at the appropriate address, provided in the ADDRESSES section of 
this notice, no later than 5 p.m., e.s.t. on Friday, March 17, 2006.

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 S1-20-21, 
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 S1-20-21, 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/04_APME.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 
(42 U.S.C. 217a), as amended, grants to the Secretary the authority to 
establish an advisory council or committee for the purpose of advising 
him in connection with any of his functions. Under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-463), the Secretary signed the charter 
establishing the Panel on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7899) and approved 
the renewal of the charter on January 14, 2005 (70 FR 4129). The Panel 
advises HHS and 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 Chair shall 
either be appointed from among the 20 members, or a Federal official 
will be designated to serve as the Chair. The charter specifies that 
meetings shall be held approximately four times per year. Members will 
be expected to attend all meetings. The members and the Chair shall be 
selected from representatives of the general public and authorities 
knowledgeable in the fields of:
     Senior citizen advocacy.
     Outreach to minority communities.
     Health communications.
     Managing a prescription drug benefit.
     Disease-related health advocacy.
     Disability policy and access.
     Health economics research.
     Health insurers and plans.
     Providers and clinicians.
     Matters of labor and retirement.
    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 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. Current members whose terms expire in 2006 may 
be considered for reappointment, if renominated, subject to committee 
service guidelines.
    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 biographical 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)); Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2); and, 41 CFR 
section 102-3.5 through 102-3.175).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program.)


[[Page 9562]]


    Dated: February 10, 2006.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 06-1648 Filed 2-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P