[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 248 (Friday, December 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73830-73831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24273]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7007-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) to fill current 
vacancies and vacancies that will become available in 2008. 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 the effectiveness of consumer education strategies 
concerning the Medicare program.

[[Page 73831]]


DATES: Deadline for Nominations by Regular Mail: Friday, January 18, 
2008 at 5 p.m., e.s.t.
    Deadline for Nominations by Electronic Mail: Friday, January 25, 
2008 at 5 p.m., e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: Regular Mail: Lynne G. Johnson, Office of External Affairs, 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, S1-
05-06, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    Electronic Mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne G. Johnson, Health Insurance 
Specialist, Division of Forum and Conference Development, (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:

I. Background

    Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act authorizes 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services (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.'' Section 1804 of the Social Security Act (the 
Act) requires 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.'' To help 
inform these activities, section 1114(f) of the Act and section 222 of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a) authorize the creation 
of an advisory panel. The Secretary signed the charter establishing 
this Panel on January 21, 1999 and approved the renewal of the charter 
on November 14, 2006. The establishment of the charter and the renewal 
of 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 (the Administrator) on opportunities to enhance the 
effectiveness of consumer education strategies concerning the Medicare 
program. The Secretary delegates authority to the Administrator.
    The goals of the Panel are as follows:
     To provide recommendations on the development and 
implementation of a national Medicare education program that describes 
the options for selecting a health plan and prescription drug benefits 
under Medicare.
     To enhance the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare consumer, including the appropriate use of 
public-private partnerships.
     To make recommendations on how 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 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 requires that 
meetings shall be held approximately 4 times per year. Members will be 
expected to attend all meetings. The members and the Chair shall be 
selected from authorities knowledgeable in the fields of senior citizen 
advocacy; outreach to minority communities; health communications; 
disease-related health advocacy; disability policy and access; health 
economics research; health insurers and plans; providers and 
clinicians; labor and retirement, and web education. Members of the 
general public are invited to apply.
    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.

II. Nomination Requirements

    Each nomination must state that the nominee has expressed a 
willingness to serve as a Panel member and must be accompanied by a 
resume or description of the nominee's experience and a brief 
biographical summary. 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. All nominations must be received at 
the appropriate address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice 
by the date specified in the DATES section of this notice.

    Authority: Sections 9(a) and 10 of Public L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. 
App. 2, sections 9(a) and 10); 41 CFR Part 102-3; Sections 1114(f), 
1804, and 1851(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1314(f), 
1395b-2, and 1394w-21(d)); and Section 222 of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a).

    Dated: December 3, 2007.
Kerry Weems,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E7-24273 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P