[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11302-11304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05764]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7053-N]


Announcement of the Renewal of the Charter for the Advisory Panel 
on Outreach and Education (APOE) and the April 10, 2019 Meeting of APOE

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the renewal of the Charter and the next 
meeting of the APOE (the Panel) in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. The Panel advises and makes recommendations to the 
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and 
the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 
on opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of consumer education 
strategies concerning the Health Insurance Marketplace\SM\, Medicare, 
Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This 
meeting is open to the public.

DATES: 
    Meeting Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 
eastern daylight time (e.d.t).
    Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations, Special 
Accommodations and Comments: Wednesday, March 27, 2019, 5:00 p.m., 
e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting Location: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 
Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Room 425A, 
Conference Room, Washington, DC 20201.
    Presentations and Written Comments: Presentations and written 
comments should be submitted to: Lisa Carr, Designated Federal Official 
(DFO), Office of Communications, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 352G HHH, Washington, DC 
20201, 202-690-5742, or via email at [email protected].
    Registration: The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is 
limited to the space available. Persons wishing to attend this meeting 
must register at the website https://www.regonline.com/apoe2019apr10meeting or by contacting the DFO listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice, by the date listed in the 
DATES section of this notice. Individuals requiring sign language 
interpretation or other special accommodations should contact the DFO 
at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice by the 
date listed in the DATES section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Carr, Designated Federal 
Official, Office of Communications, 200 Independence Avenue SW, 
Mailstop 352G HHH, Washington, DC 20201, 202-690-5742, or via email at 
[email protected].
    Additional information about the APOE is available at: http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE.html. Press 
inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Charter Renewal Information

A. Background

    The Advisory Panel for Outreach and Education (APOE) (the Panel) is 
governed by the provisions of Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 
(Pub. L. 92-463), as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth 
standards for the formation and use of federal advisory committees. The 
Panel is authorized by section 1114(f) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1314(f)) and section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 217a).
    The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) (the Secretary) signed the charter establishing the Citizen's 
Advisory Panel on Medicare Education \1\ (the predecessor to the APOE) 
on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7899) to advise and make recommendations to 
the Secretary and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services (CMS) on the effective implementation of national 
Medicare education programs, including with respect to the 
Medicare+Choice (M+C) program added by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 
(Pub. L. 105-33).
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    \1\ We note that the Citizen's Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education is also referred to as the Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education (65 FR 4617). The name was updated in the Second Amended 
Charter approved on July 24, 2000.
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    The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173) 
expanded the existing health plan options and benefits available under 
the M+C program and renamed it the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. We 
have had substantial responsibilities to provide information to 
Medicare beneficiaries about the range of health plan options available 
and better tools to evaluate these options. The successful MA program 
implementation required CMS to consider the views and policy input from 
a variety of private sector constituents and to develop a broad range 
of public-private partnerships.
    In addition, Title I of the MMA authorized the Secretary and the 
Administrator of CMS (by delegation) to establish the Medicare 
prescription drug benefit. The drug benefit allows beneficiaries to 
obtain qualified prescription drug coverage. In order to effectively 
administer the MA program and the Medicare prescription drug benefit, 
we have substantial responsibilities to provide information to Medicare 
beneficiaries about the range of health plan options and benefits 
available, and to develop better tools to evaluate these plans and 
benefits.
    The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111-148) 
and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-
152) (collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act) expanded the 
availability of other options for health care coverage and enacted a 
number of changes to Medicare as well as to Medicaid and CHIP. 
Qualified individuals and qualified employers are now able to purchase 
private health insurance coverage through a competitive marketplace, 
called an Affordable Insurance Exchange (also called Health Insurance 
Marketplace\SM\, or Marketplace\SM\ \2\). In order to effectively 
implement and administer these changes, we must provide information to 
consumers, providers, and other stakeholders through education and 
outreach programs regarding how existing programs will change and the 
expanded range of health coverage options available, including private 
health insurance coverage through the Marketplace\SM\. The APOE (the 
Panel) allows us to consider a broad range of views and information 
from interested audiences in connection with this effort

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and to identify opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of education 
strategies concerning the Affordable Care Act.
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    \2\ Health Insurance Marketplace\SM\ and Marketplace\SM\ are 
service marks of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
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    The scope of this Panel also includes advising on issues pertaining 
to the education of providers and stakeholders with respect to the 
Affordable Care Act and certain provisions of the Health Information 
Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act enacted as 
part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
    On January 21, 2011, the Panel's charter was renewed and the Panel 
was renamed the Advisory Panel for Outreach and Education. The Panel's 
charter was most recently renewed on January 19, 2019, and will 
terminate on January 19, 2021 unless renewed by appropriate action.

B. Charter Renewal

    In accordance with the charter approved on January 16, 2019, the 
APOE was renewed. The APOE will advise the HHS and CMS on developing 
and implementing education programs that support individuals with or 
who are eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, the CHIP, and coverage 
available through the Health Insurance Marketplace\SM\ 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 scope of this Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA) group also includes 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 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
    The charter will terminate on January 19, 2021, unless renewed by 
appropriate action. The APOE was chartered under 42 U.S.C. 217a, 
section 222 of the Public Health Service Act, 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.
    In accordance with the renewed 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 the CHIP, or coverage available through the Health 
Insurance Marketplace\SM\ and other CMS programs.
     Enhancing the federal government's effectiveness in 
informing Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or the Health Insurance 
Marketplace\SM\ consumers, issuers, providers, and stakeholders, 
pursuant to education and outreach programs of issues regarding these 
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, CHIP, and Health Insurance Marketplace\SM\ 
education programs, and other CMS programs as designated.
     Assembling and sharing an information base of ``best 
practices'' for helping consumers evaluate health coverage 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 the Affordable Care Act.
    The current members of the Panel are: Kellan Baker, Centennial 
Scholar, Department of Health Policy and Management, John Hopkins 
Bloomberg School of Public Health; Robert Blancato, President, Matz, 
Blancato & Associates; Dale Blasier, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, 
Department of Orthopaedics, Arkansas Children's Hospital; Deborah 
Britt, Executive Director of Patient Services, Piedmont Fayette 
Hospital; Deena Chisolm, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Public 
Health, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Research 
Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital; Robert Espinoza, Vice 
President of Policy, Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute; Louise 
Scherer Knight, Director, Harry J. Duffey Family Patient and Family 
Services Program, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer 
Center; Roanne Osborne-Gaskin, M.D., Medical Director/Chief Medical 
Officer, MercyCare Health Plans; Cathy Phan, Business Development 
Coordinator, Asian American Health Coalition dba HOPE Clinic; Kamilah 
Pickett, Director, Community Health Compass; Alvia Siddiqi, Medical 
Director, Advocate Physician Partners; and Tobin Van Ostern, Co-
Founder, Young Invincibles Advisors.

II. Provisions of This Notice

    In accordance with section 10(a) of the FACA, this notice announces 
a meeting of the APOE. The agenda for the April 10, 2019 meeting will 
include the following:

 Welcome and listening session with CMS leadership
 Recap of the previous (January 16, 2019) meeting
 CMS programs, initiatives, and priorities
 An opportunity for public comment
 Meeting summary, review of recommendations, and 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 an oral 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.

III. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines

    The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the 
space available. Persons wishing to attend this meeting must register 
by contacting the DFO at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of 
this notice or by telephone at the number listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice by the date specified in the 
DATES section of this notice. This meeting will be held in a federal 
government building, the Hubert H. Humphrey (HHH) Building; therefore, 
federal security measures are applicable.
    The REAL ID Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-13) establishes minimum 
standards for the issuance of state-issued driver's licenses and 
identification (ID) cards. It prohibits federal agencies from accepting 
an official driver's license or ID card from a state for any official 
purpose unless the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security 
determines that the state meets these standards. Beginning October 
2015, photo IDs (such as a valid driver's license) issued by a state or 
territory not in compliance with the Real ID Act will not be accepted 
as identification to enter federal buildings. Visitors from these 
states/territories will need to provide

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alternative proof of identification (such as a valid passport) to gain 
entrance into federal buildings. The current list of states from which 
a federal agency may accept driver's licenses for an official purpose 
is found at http://www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief.
    We recommend that confirmed registrants arrive reasonably early, 
but no earlier than 45 minutes prior to the start of the meeting, to 
allow additional time to clear security. Security measures include the 
following:
     Presentation of a government-issued photographic 
identification to the Federal Protective Service or Guard Service 
personnel.
     Inspection, via metal detector or other applicable means, 
of all persons entering the building. We note that all items brought 
into HHH Building, whether personal or for the purpose of presentation 
or to support a presentation, are subject to inspection. We cannot 
assume responsibility for coordinating the receipt, transfer, 
transport, storage, set up, safety, or timely arrival of any personal 
belongings or items used for presentation or to support a presentation.
    Note: Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be 
permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the 
meeting.

IV. Collection of Information

    This document does not impose information collection requirements, 
that is, reporting, recordkeeping, or third-party disclosure 
requirements. Consequently, there is no need for review by the Office 
of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

    Authority: Sec. 1114(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1314(f)), 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 part 102-3).

    Dated: March 15, 2019.
Seema Verma,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2019-05764 Filed 3-22-19; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P