[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 56 (Friday, March 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13796-13797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5299]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7004-N]


Medicare Program; Announcement of Rechartering and Meeting of the 
Advisory Panel on Medicare Education, April 17, 2007

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

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the renewal of the charter of the 
Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (the Panel). The Panel advises and 
makes recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and 
the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on 
opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of consumer education 
strategies concerning the Medicare program. In addition, this notice 
announces a meeting of the Panel on April 17, 2007. This meeting is 
open to the public.

DATES: Meeting Date: April 17, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., e.d.t.
    Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations and Comments: 
April 10, 2007, 12 noon, e.d.t.
    Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: April 2, 2007, 12 
noon, e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: Hotel Palomar, 2121 P Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20037, (202) 448-1800.
    Meeting Registration, Presentations, and Written Comments: Lynne 
Johnson, Health Insurance Specialist, Division of Forum and Conference 
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 April 10, 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 as announced in the Federal 
Register (64 FR 7899) and this notice announces the renewal of the 
charter on November 14, 2006. The charter will terminate on January 21, 
2009, unless renewed by the Secretary.
    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, Independent 
Consultant, 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; 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, Web Education, Daily 
Strength, Inc.
    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 Panel on April 17, 2007. The agenda for the April 17, 
2007 meeting will include the following:
     Recap of the previous (January 24, 2007) meeting.
     Report on Subcommittee Meetings and Activities.
     Partnering Activities 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.

[[Page 13797]]

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, 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: March 15, 2007.
Leslie V. Norwalk,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E7-5299 Filed 3-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P