[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11782-11783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4754]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7020-N]


Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs; 
Renewal, Expansion, and Renaming of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and 
Education (APOE) and Request for Nominations

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces that the charter of the Advisory Panel 
on Medicare Education (APME), as renamed the Advisory Panel on Outreach 
and Education (APOE), has been renewed and the scope of the charter has 
been expanded. It also requests nominations for individuals to serve on 
the APOE.

DATES: Nominations will be considered if we receive them at the 
appropriate address, provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, 
no later than 5 p.m., e.d.t. on April 4, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations to the following address: 
Jennifer B. Kordonski, Designated Federal Official, Office of External 
Affairs and Beneficiary Services, CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail 
Stop S1-13-05, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or e-mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer B. Kordonski, Designated 
Federal Official, Office of External Affairs and Beneficiary Services, 
CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop S1-13-05, Baltimore, MD 21244, 
410-786-1840, e-mail [email protected] or visit the Web 
site at http://www.cms.gov/FACA/04_APOE.asp. Press inquiries are 
handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (APME) was established in 
January 1999 in accordance with section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA), which 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 specifically 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 APME was also authorized by section 1114(f) of the Act (42 
U.S.C. 1314(f)) and section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) 
(42 U.S.C. 217a). The Secretary signed the charter establishing the 
APME on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7899, February 17, 1999).

II. Provisions of This Notice

A. Renewal, Renaming, and Amendment of the APOE

    Over the last decade, the role of the APME in advising the 
Secretary and CMS on Medicare education activities has contributed to 
the overall improved understanding by beneficiaries of original 
Medicare, Medicare Advantage (MA), and Medicare Prescription Drug 
plans. With enactment of the health care reform provisions of the 
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111-148) as amended 
by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 
111-152) (these two public laws are collectively referred to as the 
Affordable Care Act), we realized that the usefulness of this FACA 
group could be expanded to assist the Secretary and CMS with 
responsibilities under the Medicaid and CHIP programs. Pursuant to the 
charter approved on January 21, 2011, the APME was renewed, expanded, 
and renamed to reflect this broader scope of responsibilities. The 
renamed Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE)) will advise 
the Department of Health and Human Services and CMS on developing and 
implementing education programs that support individuals with or who 
are eligible for Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance 
Program (CHIP) about options for selecting health care coverage under 
these and other programs envisioned under health care reform to ensure 
improved access to quality care, including prevention services. The 
expansion of this FACA group will also include advising on education of 
providers and stakeholders with respect to health care reform and 
certain provisions of the Health Information Technology for Economic 
and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act enacted as part of the American

[[Page 11783]]

Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). For ease of reference, 
the APOE will be exclusively referred to by its new name in the 
remainder of this notice, even if it is referring to past activities.
    The charter will terminate on January 21, 2013, unless renewed by 
appropriate action. The APOE was chartered under 42 U.S.C. 222 of the 
PHSA, as amended. The APOE is governed by provisions of Public Law 92-
463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for 
the formation and use of advisory committees.
    Pursuant to the amended charter, the APOE will advise the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services and the CMS Administrator concerning 
optimal strategies for the following:
     Developing and implementing education and outreach 
programs for individuals enrolled in or eligible for Medicare, 
Medicaid, and CHIP.
     Enhancing the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP consumers, providers and 
stakeholders pursuant to education and outreach programs of issues 
regarding these and other health coverage programs, including the 
appropriate use of public-private partnerships to leverage the 
resources of the private sector in educating beneficiaries, providers 
and stakeholders.
     Expanding outreach to vulnerable and underserved 
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of 
Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP education programs.
     Assembling and sharing an information base of ``best 
practices'' for helping consumers evaluate health plan options.
     Building and leveraging existing community infrastructures 
for information, counseling and assistance.
     Drawing the program link between outreach and education, 
promoting consumer understanding of health care coverage choices and 
facilitating consumer selection/enrollment, which in turn support the 
overarching goal of improved access to quality care, including 
prevention services, envisioned under health care reform.

B. Requests for Nominations

    The APOE shall consist of no more than 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 four times per year. Members will 
be expected to attend all meetings. The members and the Chair shall be 
selected from authorities knowledgeable in one or more of the following 
fields:
     Senior citizen advocacy.
     Outreach to minority communities.
     Health communications.
     Disease-related advocacy.
     Disability policy and access.
     Health economics research.
     Health insurers and plans.
     Health IT.
     Direct patient care.
     Matters of labor and retirement.

Representatives of the general public may also serve on the APOE.
    This notice also announces that as of January 2011, there are 12 
expired terms of membership. This notice is an invitation to interested 
organizations or individuals to submit their nominations for membership 
on the APOE. The CMS Administrator will appoint new members to the APOE 
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. We have an interest in ensuring that the 
interests of both women and men, members of all racial and ethnic 
groups, and physically challenged individuals are adequately 
represented on the APOE. Therefore, we encourage nominations of 
qualified candidates who can represent these interests. Any interested 
person may nominate one or more qualified persons.
    Current members whose terms expired in 2010 or 2011 may be 
considered for reappointment, subject to committee service guidelines.
    Each nomination must state that the nominee has expressed a 
willingness to serve as a Panel member and must be accompanied by a 
curricula vitae and a brief biographical summary of the nominee's 
experience.
    While we are looking for experts in a number of fields, our most 
critical needs are for experts in health disparities, State Health 
Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), health insurance plans, aging, 
Web health education, e-prescribing, retirement/financial planning, 
health research, public health and prevention, caregiving, CHIP, health 
insurance exchanges, and minority health education.
    We are requesting that all curricula vitae include the following:
     Date of birth.
     Place of birth.
     Title and current position.
     Professional affiliation.
     Home and business address.
     Telephone and fax numbers.
     E-mail address.
     List of areas of expertise.
    Phone interviews of nominees may also be requested after review of 
the nominations.
    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.
    Members are invited to serve for 2-year terms, contingent upon the 
renewal of the APOE by appropriate action prior to its termination. A 
member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a 
successor takes office. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an 
unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of that term.

III. Copies of the Charter

    The Secretary's Charter for the APOE is available on the CMS Web 
site at: http://www.cms.gov/FACA/04_APOE.asp, or you may obtain a copy 
of the charter by submitting a request to the contact listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.778, Medical 
Assistance Program; No. 93.773 Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; 
and No. 93.774, Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: February 25, 2011.
Donald M. Berwick,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-4754 Filed 2-28-11; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P