[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 184 (Friday, September 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55481-55482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7884]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7001-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education, October 17, 2006

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 (the 
Panel) on October 17, 2006. The Panel advises and makes recommendations 
to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (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. This meeting is open to the 
public.

[[Page 55482]]


DATES: Meeting Date: October 17, 2006 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., e.d.t.
    Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations, and Written 
Comments: October 10, 2006, 12 noon, e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: Marriott Metro Center Hotel, 775 12th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005, (202) 737-2200.
    Meeting Registration, Presentations, and Written Comments: Lynne 
Johnson, Health Insurance Specialist, Division of Partnership 
Development, Office of External Affairs, Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail stop S1-05-06, 
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or contact Ms. Johnson via e-mail at 
[email protected].
    Meeting Registration: The meeting is open to the public, but 
attendance is limited to the space available. Persons wishing to attend 
this meeting must register by contacting Lynne Johnson at the address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice or by telephone at (410) 
786-0090, by 12 noon, e.d.t., on October 10, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Johnson, (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. 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 panel if the Secretary finds the panel necessary 
and in the public interest. The Secretary signed the charter 
establishing this Panel on January 21, 1999 and approved the renewal of 
the charter on January 14, 2005. The establishment of the charter and 
renewal of the charter were announced in the February 17, 1999 Federal 
Register (64 FR 7899), and the January 28, 2005 Federal Register (70 FR 
4129), respectively. The Panel advises and makes recommendations to the 
Secretary and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services (CMS) 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.
     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: Anita B. Boles, Executive 
Director, Partnership for Clear Health Communications; Gwendolyn T. 
Bronson, SHINE/SHIP Counselor, Massachusetts SHINE Program; Dr. Yanira 
Cruz, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Hispanic Council 
on Aging; Clayton Fong, President and Chief Executive Officer, National 
Asian Pacific Center on Aging; Nan Kirsten-Forte, Executive Vice 
President, Consumer Services, WebMD; Dr. Jessie C. Gruman, President 
and Chief Executive Officer, Center for the Advancement of Health; 
Betty L. Kennard, Vice President, Government Programs and Compliance, 
Health First Health Plans; Dr. David Lansky, Director, Health Program, 
Markle Foundation; Dr. Daniel Lyons, Senior Vice President, Government 
Programs, Independence Blue Cross; Dr. Frank B. McArdle, Manager, 
Hewitt Research Office, Hewitt Associates; Traci McClellan, J.D., 
Executive Director, National Indian Council on Aging; Dr. Keith 
Mueller, Professor and Section Head, Health Services Research and Rural 
Health Policy, University of Nebraska; Lee Partridge, Senior Health 
Policy Advisor, National Partnership for Women and Families; Myisha M. 
Patterson, National Health Coordinator, National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People; Susan O. Raetzman, Associate Director, 
Public Policy Institute, American Association of Retired Persons; 
Rebecca Snead, Administrative Manager, National Alliance of State 
Pharmacy Association; William A. Steel, President, The National Grange; 
Marvin Tuttle, Jr., CAE, Executive Director and Chief Executive 
Officer, Financial Planning Association; Catherine Valenti, Chairperson 
and Chief Executive Officer, Caring Voice Coalition; and Grant Wedner, 
Manager, Business Development Team, Cosmix Corporation.
    The agenda for the October 17, 2006 meeting will include the 
following:
     Recap of the previous (May 25, 2006) meeting.
     Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Update.
     Medicare Preventive Benefits.
     Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Update.
     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 should submit a written copy of the 
oral presentation to Lynne Johnson at the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice no later than 12 noon, e.d.t., on 
October 10, 2006. The number of oral presentations may be limited by 
the time available. Individuals not wishing to make a presentation may 
submit written comments to Ms. Johnson at the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice by 12 noon, e.d.t., on October 10, 
2006.
    Special Accommodation: Individuals requiring sign language 
interpretation or other special accommodations should contact Ms. 
Johnson at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice 
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 Public Law 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: September 7, 2006.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 06-7884 Filed 9-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P