[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 246 (Friday, December 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77029-77030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21434]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7002-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education, January 24, 2007

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

[[Page 77030]]

Medicare Education (the Panel) on January 24, 2007. 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.

DATES: Meeting Date: January 24, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 
e.s.t.Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations, and Written 
Comments: January 17, 2007, 12 noon, e.s.t.
    Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: January 9, 2007, 12 
noon, e.s.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.s.t., on January 17, 
2007.

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, Executive Vice President/Chief Executive Officer, 
National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations; 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 January 24, 2007 meeting will include the 
following:
     Recap of the previous (October 17, 2006) meeting.
     Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Update.
     Medicare Preventive Benefits and Quality.
     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 by the date listed in the DATES 
section of this notice. 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 the date listed in the DATES 
section of this notice.
    Individuals requiring sign language interpretation or other special 
accommodations should contact Ms. Johnson at the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date listed in the DATES 
section of this notice.

    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, 10(a) and 41 
CFR 102-3).

    Dated: November 30, 2006.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.733, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774, 
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program).
Leslie V. Norwalk,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E6-21434 Filed 12-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P