[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 83 (Friday, May 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20323-20324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10083]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-2303-N]

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration


Establishment of the Children's Health Insurance Program Working 
Group and Request for Nominations for Members

AGENCIES: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS; Employee 
Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), DOL

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the establishment of the Children's 
Health Insurance Program Working Group and discusses the group's 
purpose and charter. It also solicits nominations for members.

DATES: Nominations for membership will be considered if they are 
received by June 1, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send nominations and written requests for copies of the 
Charter of the Children's Health Insurance Program Working Group to--
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850. Mail stop: S2-06-28, Attention: Stacey 
Green.
    Web page: You may also review the charter online at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/06_CHIPWorkingGroup.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacey Green, Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, HHS at [email protected] or (410) 786-6102; 
or Amy Turner, Employee Benefits Security Administration, DOL at (202) 
693-8335. Press inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at 
(202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 311(b)(1)(C) of the Children's Health Insurance Program 
Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) (Pub. L. 111-3) (Feb. 4, 2009), 
directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of 
Labor to jointly establish a Medicaid, CHIP, and Employer-Sponsored 
Coverage Coordination Working Group (``the CHIP Working Group''). The 
CHIP Working Group, as chartered, under the legal authority of section 
311(b)(1)(C) of CHIPRA (Pub. L. 111-3), is also governed by the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App.

II. Charter, General Responsibilities, and Composition of the 
Children's Health Insurance Program Working Group

A. Charter Information and General Responsibilities

    On April 3, 2009 the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the 
Secretary of Labor signed the charter establishing the CHIP Working 
Group. This group will meet up to 3 times over the life of the Group 
and will terminate 17 months from the charter filing date. You may 
obtain a copy of the charter for the CHIP Working Group by mailing a 
written request to the address specified in the ADDRESSES section of 
this notice. The purpose of the Working Group shall be to:
     Develop a model coverage coordination disclosure form for 
plan administrators of group health plans to complete for purposes of 
permitting a State to determine the availability and cost-effectiveness 
of coverage available under group health plans to employees who have 
family members who are eligible for premium assistance offered under a 
State plan under titles XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act (the Act) 
and to allow for coordination of coverage for enrollees of such plans. 
The form shall provide the following information in addition to other 
information as the Working Group determines appropriate: (1) A 
determination of whether the employee is eligible for coverage under 
the group health plan, (2) the name and contact information of the plan 
administrator of the group health plan, (3) the benefits offered under 
the plan, (4) the premiums and cost-sharing required under the plan, 
and (5) any other information relevant to the coverage under the plan.
     Identify the impediments to the effective coordination of 
coverage available to families that include employees of employers that 
maintain group health plans and members who are eligible for medical 
assistance under title XIX of the Act or child health assistance or 
other health benefits coverage under title XXI of the Act.
     Not later than August 5, 2010, submit to the Secretary of 
Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services the model 
disclosure form as stated above along with a report containing 
recommendations for appropriate measures for addressing the impediments 
(as stated above) to the effective coordination of coverage between 
group health plans and the State plans under titles XIX and XXI of the 
Act.

B. Composition of the CHIP Working Group

    The Working Group shall consist of not more than 30 members, 
jointly appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the 
Secretary of Labor, including the chair(s), one of whom shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and one of whom 
shall be appointed by the Secretary of Labor. Members will serve 
without compensation but will receive reimbursement for travel costs.
    The Working Group shall be composed of representatives of: The 
Department of Labor; the Department of

[[Page 20324]]

Health and Human Services; State directors of the Medicaid Program 
under title XIX of the Act; State directors of the State Children's 
Health Insurance Program under title XXI of the Act; employers, 
including owners of small businesses and their trade or industry 
representatives and certified human resource and payroll professionals; 
plan administrators and plan sponsors of group health plans as defined 
in section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
1974, as amended; health insurance issuers; and children and other 
beneficiaries of medical assistance under title XIX of the Act or child 
health assistance or other health benefits coverage under title XXI of 
the Act.

III. Submission of Nominations

    The Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human 
Services (the Departments) are requesting nominations for membership on 
the CHIP Working Group. The Departments will consider qualified 
individuals who are self-nominated or are nominated by organizations 
representing affected stakeholders when selecting those 
representatives. The Departments will make every effort to appoint 
members to serve on the advisory board from among those candidates 
determined to meet specific statutory categories and Departmental needs 
and in a manner to ensure an appropriate balance of membership. The 
Secretaries, however, reserve the discretion to appoint members to 
serve on the advisory board in response to this notice if necessary to 
meet specific statutory categories and Departmental needs in a manner 
to ensure an appropriate balance of membership.
    Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified 
individuals (self-nominations will also be accepted) for each of the 
categories listed in section II.B of this notice. Each nomination must 
include the following information:
    1. A letter of nomination that contains contact information for 
both the nominator and nominee (if not the same).
    2. A statement from the nominee that he or she is willing to serve 
on the Working Group for its duration and an explanation of interest in 
serving on the advisory board. The nominee should also indicate which 
category or categories he or she is willing to represent and whether he 
or she would be willing to serve as the chair of the advisory board. 
(For self-nominations, this information may be included in the 
nomination letter.)
    3. A curriculum vitae that indicates the nominee's educational and/
or experience with Medicaid, CHIP, or experience with employment-based 
health coverage.
    4. Two letters of reference that support the nominee's 
qualifications for participation on the advisory board. (For 
nominations other than self-nominations, a nomination letter that 
includes information supporting the nominee's qualifications may be 
counted as one of the letters of reference.)
    To ensure that a nomination is considered, the Departments must 
receive all of the nomination information specified in section III of 
this notice by June 1, 2009. Nominations should be mailed to the 
address specified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

    Authority:  Section 311(b)(1)(C) of the Children's Health 
Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-3) (Feb. 
4, 2009). The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Working 
Group is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, (Pub. L. 92-463) (Oct. 6, 1972), as amended, 5 U.S.C. 
App.

    Dated: April 10, 2009.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
    Dated: April 28, 2009.
Alan D. Lebowitz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Program Operations, Employee Benefits 
Security Administration, Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. E9-10083 Filed 4-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-4510-29-P