[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 146 (Friday, July 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44968-44969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18697]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Office of the Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Planning and Evaluation; Technical Review Panel on the Medicare 
Trustees Reports

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

ACTION: Notice of Reestablishment of the Technical Review Panel on the 
Medicare Trustees Reports.

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    Authority:  The Technical Review Panel on the Medicare Trustees 
Reports is authorized by Sec.  222 of the the Public Health Service 
Act (PHSA), Public Law 92-463. The Panel is governed by provisions 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C., 
App. 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of 
advisory committees.

DATES: Submit nominations on or before August 10, 2010.

ADDRESSES:  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and 
Evaluation, Room 447-D, Humphrey Building, Department of Health and 
Human Services, Washington, DC 20201.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of FACA, and after 
consultation with the General Services Administration (GSA), the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) has determined that the 
reestablishment of the Technical Review Panel on the Medicare Trustees 
Reports is in the public interest. This Panel shall advise the HHS 
Secretary about the econometric techniques and economic assumptions 
utilized in the Hospital Insurance (HI) and Supplementary Medical 
Insurance (SMI) Trust Fund reports, thus enhancing her ability to 
fulfill duties and responsibilities imposed by the PHSA (42 U.S.C. 201 
et seq.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marian Robinson, Department of Health

[[Page 44969]]

and Human Services; Telephone (202) 690-6870, Fax (202) 690-2524.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board of Trustees of the Medicare Trust 
Funds report annually on the financial condition of the HI and SMI 
trust funds. These reports describe the trust funds' current and 
projected financial condition over the ``short term,'' or next decade, 
and the ``long term'' (75+ years). The Medicare Board of Trustees has 
requested that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (who is one 
of the Trustees) establish a panel of technical experts to review the 
methods used in the HI and SMI annual reports.
    The Secretary reestablished the Technical Review Panel on the 
Medicare Trustees Reports when she signed the charter on July 23, 2010.

Objectives and Scope of Activities

    The Technical Review Panel on the Medicare Trustees Reports shall 
counsel the HHS Secretary regarding the Hospital Insurance and 
Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund annual reports. The panel's 
duties shall include, but not be limited to, a review of the following 
topics: the long-term rate of growth, future changes in utilization of 
care, and alternate projection methodologies. The panel may also 
examine other methodological issues identified by panelists. The 
Panel's final report and its recommendations to the Secretary shall be 
only advisory in nature.

Membership and Designation

    The Secretary is soliciting nominations for appointment to the 7-
member Technical Review Panel from among members of the general public 
who are experts in health economics, actuarial science, statistics, 
public policy, or other fields that could inform and substantively 
contribute to panel deliberations. Each member of the panel shall be 
appointed for a term of 2 years. Nominations should be submitted to 
Marian Robinson, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 200 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 447D, Washington, DC 20201 no later than 
August 10, 2010.
    When selecting members for this Technical Review Panel, HHS will 
give close attention to equitable geographic distribution and to 
minority and female representation so long as the effectiveness of the 
Panel is not impaired. Appointments shall be made without 
discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual 
orientation, HIV status, disability, and cultural, religious, or 
socioeconomic status.
    The Secretary, or her designee, shall appoint one of the members to 
serve as the Chair. Members shall be invited to serve for the duration 
of the panel. If members are selected from the Federal sector, they 
will be classified as regular government employees. Members who are 
selected from the public and/or private sector will be classified as 
special government employees. Any vacancy on the Technical Review Panel 
shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment was made. An individual chosen to fill a 
vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member that is 
replaced.

Administrative Management and Support

    HHS will provide funding and administrative support for the 
Technical Review Panel to the extent permitted by law within existing 
appropriations. Staff will be assigned to support the activities of the 
Panel. Management and oversight for support services provided to the 
Panel will be the responsibility of the Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Office of the Actuary, 
and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). All executive 
departments and agencies and all entities within the Executive Office 
of the President shall provide information and assistance to the Panel 
as the Chair may request for purposes of carrying out the Panel's 
functions, to the extent permitted by law.
    A copy of the Panel's charter can be obtained from the designated 
contacts or by accessing the FACA database that is maintained by the 
GSA Committee Management Secretariat. The Web site for the FACA 
database is http://fido.gov/facadatabase/.

    Dated: July 23, 2010.
Sherry Glied,
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 2010-18697 Filed 7-29-10; 8:45 am]
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