[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 230 (Friday, November 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72492-72493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28368]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7012-N]


Medicare Program; Announcement of Meeting of the Advisory Panel 
on Medicare Education, January 13, 2009

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, this 
notice announces a meeting of 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 the effectiveness of consumer education 
strategies concerning the Medicare program. This meeting is open to the 
public.

DATES: Meeting Date: January 13, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., e.s.t.
    Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations and Comments: 
January 5, 2009, 12 noon, e.s.t.

[[Page 72493]]

    Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: January 5, 2009, 12 
noon, e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: Washington Marriott at Metro Center, 775 
12th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005.
    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 
the date listed in the DATES section of this notice.

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 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.'' 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 [M]edicare beneficiaries * * * on 
the coverage options provided under [Medicare Advantage] in order to 
promote an active, informed selection among such options.''
    The Panel is also authorized by section 1114(f) of the 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 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 
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 plan 
under Medicare.
     To enhance the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare consumer, including the appropriate use of 
public-private partnerships.
     To provide 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 current members of the Panel are: Gwendolyn T. Bronson, SHINE/
SHIP Counselor, Massachusetts SHINE Program; Dr. Yanira Cruz, President 
and Chief Executive Officer, National Hispanic Council on Aging; 
Stephen L. Fera, Vice President, Social Mission Programs, Independence 
Blue Cross; Clayton Fong, President and Chief Executive Officer, 
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging; Nan Kirsten-Fort, Executive 
Vice President, Consumer Services, WebMD; Dr. Jessie C. Gruman, 
President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for the Advancement of 
Health; Kathy Hughes, Vice Chairwoman, Oneida Nation; Gail Hunt, 
President and Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance for 
Caregiving; Dr. Frank B. McArdle, Manager, Hewitt Research Office, 
Hewitt Associates; Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer, National 
Area Agencies on Aging; Molly Mettler, Senior Vice President, 
Healthwise; Robert L. Mollica, Senior Program Director, National 
Academy for State Health Policy; Julie Bodon Schmidt, Associate Vice 
President, Training and Technical Assistance Department, National 
Association of Community Health Centers; Rebecca Snead, Executive Vice 
President and Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance of State 
Pharmacy Associations.
    The agenda for the January 13, 2009 meeting will include the 
following:
     Recap of the previous (October 22, 2008) meeting.
     Medicare Outreach and Education Strategies.
     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: November 20, 2008.
Kerry Weems,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E8-28368 Filed 11-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P