[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 166 (Friday, August 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44371-44372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20129]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7016-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 2009. 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.

DATES: Deadline for Nominations by Regular Mail: Monday, September 14, 
2009 at 5 p.m., eastern daylight time (e.d.t.).
    Deadline for Nominations by Electronic Mail: Monday, September 14, 
2009 at 5 p.m., e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: Regular Mail: Dwayne E. Campbell, Office of External 
Affairs, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, S1-05-14, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    Electronic Mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dwayne E. Campbell, Health Insurance 
Specialist, Division of Forum and Conference Development, (410) 786-
0291. Please refer to the CMS Advisory Committees Information Line (1-
877-

[[Page 44372]]

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 Mr. Campbell 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.'' Such duties are imposed by section 1804 of the 
Social Security Act (the Act), which 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 
[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), which authorize the creation of advisory committees. The 
Secretary signed the charter establishing this Panel on January 21, 
1999 (64 FR 7899, February 17, 1999) and approved the renewal of the 
charter on January 21, 2009 (74 FR 13442, March 27, 2009). 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 provide recommendations on the development and 
implementation of a national Medicare education program that describes 
benefit options under Medicare.
     To enhance the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare consumer.
     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 benefit 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: Sec. 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
217a); sec. 10(a) of Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10(a)); 
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 41 CFR Part 102-3.

    Dated: August 13, 2009.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E9-20129 Filed 8-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P