[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58405-58407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23312]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7019-N]


Medicare Program; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education, October 13, 2010

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the Advisory Panel on 
Medicare Education (the Panel) in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. 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 opportunities to enhance 
the effectiveness of consumer education strategies concerning the 
Medicare program. This meeting is open to the public.

DATES: Meeting Date: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 
eastern daylight time (e.d.t.).

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    Deadline for Meeting Registration and Comments: Wednesday, October 
6, 2010, 5 p.m., e.d.t.
    Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: Wednesday, October 
6, 2010, 5 p.m., e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The October 13, 2010 meeting will be a 
``virtual meeting'' using Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro Meeting, a Web 
conferencing product that allows users to conduct live meetings and 
presentations over the Internet. The audio portion is also available 
via telephone conferencing.
    Meeting Registration: The meeting is open to the public, but 
attendance is limited to the telephone lines available. Persons wishing 
to attend this meeting must register at http://www.blsmeetings.net/H1714-4.
    Meeting Presentations, Written Comments, and Special 
Accommodations: Jennifer Kordonski, Designated Federal Official (DFO), 
Division of Forum and Conference Development, Office of External 
Affairs, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Mailstop S1-13-05, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or contact Ms. 
Kordonski via e-mail at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Kordonski, (410) 786-1840. 
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:

I. Background and Meeting Agenda

    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 (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 current members of the Panel are: Stephen P. Fera, M.B.A., Vice 
President, Social Mission Programs, Independence Blue Cross; Richard C. 
Frank, M.D., Director, Cancer Research, Whittingham Cancer Center; 
Cathy C. Graeff, R.Ph., M.B.A., Partner, Sonora Advisory Group; Carmen 
R. Green, M.D., Professor, Anesthesiology and Associate Professor, 
Health, Management, and Policy, University of Michigan; Cindy Hounsell, 
J.D., President, Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement; Kathy 
Hughes, Vice Chairwoman, Oneida Nation; Gail Hunt, President and Chief 
Executive Officer, National Alliance for Caregiving; Warren Jones, 
M.D., F.A.A.F.P., Executive Director, Mississippi Institute for 
Improvement of Geographic Minority Health; Sandy Markwood, Chief 
Executive Officer, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging; 
David W. Roberts, M.P.A.,Vice President, Government Relations, 
Healthcare Information and Management System Society; Julie Boden 
Schmidt, M.S., Associate Vice President, Training and Technical 
Assistance, National Association of Community Health Centers; Rebecca 
P. Snead, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President, 
National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations and APME Chair; Donna 
Yee, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Asian Community Center of Sacramento 
Valley; Deeanna Jang, Policy Director, Asian and Pacific Islander 
American Health Forum; Andrew Kramer, M.D., Professor of Medicine, 
Division of Health Care Policy and Research, University of Colorado, 
Denver; and John Lui, PhD, M.B.A., Executive Director, Stout Vocational 
Rehabilitation Institute.
    The agenda for the October 13, 2010 meeting will include the 
following:
     Recap of the previous (June 22, 2010) meeting.
     Subgroup Committee Work Summary.
     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 the DFO 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 the DFO at the address listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice by the date listed in the DATES section of this 
notice.

II. Virtual Meeting Participation Information and Instructions

A. Software Requirements

    Software to participate in a Connect Pro meeting only requires that 
you have an Internet connection, a Web browser, and Adobe Flash Player 
Version 8 or later to attend a Web conference. Connect Pro supports 
nearly any operating system including Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and 
Solaris, as well as the most widely used browsers including Internet 
Explorer, Firefox, and Safari.

B. Participation in an Acrobat Connect Pro Meeting

1. Pre-Meeting Computer Testing
    It is recommended that you test your computer prior to attending a 
meeting. You can do this by going to: https://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm. The connection test checks 
your computer to make sure all system requirements are met. If you pass 
the first three steps of the test, then you are ready to

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participate in a meeting. If you do not pass the connection test, 
perform the suggested actions and run the test again.
2. Joining the Meeting
    Registrants will receive an e-mail invitation with meeting access 
information prior to meeting. When the meeting date and time arrive, 
click on the link or enter the URL into your Web browser. The meeting 
login screen appears. Select ``Enter as a Guest,'' type in your first 
and last name, and click ``Enter Room.'' The meeting launches in your 
browser.
    To access the audio portion of the meeting please dial 1-888-469-
0694 and enter passcode 1995616. If you should have difficulties 
accessing the meeting please contact Syreeta Jones via phone at 1-301-
577-0244 ext. 4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

    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: September 9, 2010.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-23312 Filed 9-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P