[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 207 (Friday, October 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60859-60860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21080]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7006-N]


Medicare Program; Announcement of Meeting of the Advisory Panel 
on Medicare Education, December 4, 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 Panel on December 4, 2007. 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. This meeting is open to the 
public.

DATES: Meeting Date: December 4, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., e.d.t.
    Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations, and Comments: 
November 27, 2007, 12 noon, e.d.t.
    Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: November 19, 2007, 
12 noon, e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: Doubletree Hotel 1515 Rhode Island Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20005, (202) 232-7000.
    Meeting Registration, Presentations, and Written Comments: Lynne 
Johnson, Designated Federal Official, Division of Forum and Conference 
Development, Office of External Affairs, Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mailstop S1-05-06, 
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or contact Ms. Johnson via e-mail at 
[email protected].
    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 November 27, 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 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act authorizes the Secretary to establish an advisory panel 
if the Secretary determines that the panel is ``in the public interest 
in connection with the performance of duties imposed * * * by law.'' 
Such duties are imposed by section 1804 of the Social Security Act (the 
Act), requiring the Secretary to provide informational materials to 
Medicare beneficiaries about the Medicare program, and section 1851(d) 
of the Act, requiring the Secretary to provide for ``activities * * * 
to broadly disseminate information to medicare beneficiaries * * * on 
the coverage options provided under [Medicare Advantage] in order to 
promote an active, informed selection among such options.''
    The Advisory Panel is also authorized by 1114(f) of the Social 
Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1311(f), and section 222 of the Public Health 
Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 217a. The Secretary signed the charter 
establishing this Panel on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7899) and approved 
the renewal of the charter on November 14, 2006. The establishment of 
the charter and the renewal of the charter were announced in the 
February 17, 1999 Federal Register (64 FR 7899), and the March 23, 2007 
Federal Register (72 FR 13796), 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, 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; 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

[[Page 60860]]

Section Head, Health Services Research and Rural Health Policy, 
University of Nebraska; Lee Partridge, Senior Health Policy Advisor, 
National Partnership for Women and Families; 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, 
Vice President, Partnerships and Corporate Development, Daily Strength, 
Inc.
    The agenda for the December 4, 2007 meeting will include the 
following:
     Recap of the previous (September 20, 2007) meeting.
     Medicare Enrollment, Outreach, Education, and 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. 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: October 19, 2007.
Kerry Weems,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E7-21080 Filed 10-25-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P