[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 206 (Thursday, October 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57023-57025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23136]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7055-N]


Announcement of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education 
(APOE) November 14, 2019 Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces 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, Medicare, Medicaid, and the 
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This meeting is open to the 
public.

DATES: 
    Meeting Date: Thursday, November 14, 2019, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
eastern standard time (e.s.t).
    Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations, Special 
Accommodations and Comments: Thursday, October 31, 2019, 5:00 p.m. 
eastern daylight time (e.d.t).

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting Location: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 
Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Room 505A, 
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 325G 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.eventbrite.com/e/apoe-november-14-2019-meeting-tickets-68776334869 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 325G 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 the 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 Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 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. CMS has 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

[[Page 57024]]

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 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) (Pub. 
L. 111-5).
    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 January 19, 2019, charter, the APOE will 
advise the HHS and CMS on developing and implementing education 
programs that support individuals who are enrolled in or eligible for 
Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or health coverage available through the 
Health Insurance Marketplace\SM\ and other CMS programs. The Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA) group will also advise on issues relating 
to education of providers and stakeholders with respect to health care 
reform and certain provisions of the HITECH Act enacted as part of the 
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, the CHIP, and 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, partners and stakeholders.
     Expanding outreach to vulnerable and underserved 
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of 
Medicare, Medicaid, the CHIP and the 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 as of September 9, 2019 are--Angie 
Boddie, Director of Health Programs, National Caucus and Center on 
Black Aging, Inc.; Julie Carter, Senior Federal Policy Associate, 
Medicare Rights Center; Scott Ferguson, Director of Care Transitions 
and Population Health, Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospital; Leslie Fried, 
Senior Director, Center for Benefits Access, National Council on Aging; 
David Goldberg, President and CEO of Mon Health System; Jean-Venable R. 
Goode, Professor, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, 
School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University; Louise Scherer 
Knight, Director, Harry J. Duffey Family Patient and Family Services 
Program, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center; Cheri 
Lattimer, Executive Director, National Transitions of Care Coalition; 
Michael Minor, National Director, H.O.P.E. HHS Partnership, National 
Baptist Convention USA, Incorporated; Cathy Phan, Business Development 
Coordinator, Asian American Health Coalition dba HOPE Clinic; Margot 
Savoy, Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temple 
University Physicians; Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, President and 
CEO, Better Medicare Alliance; and Tobin Van Ostern, Co-Founder, Young 
Invincibles Advisors; Tia Whitaker, Statewide Director, Outreach and 
Enrollment, Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers.

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 November 14, 2019 meeting 
will include the following:

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


[[Page 57025]]


    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 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: October 10, 2019.
Seema Verma,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2019-23136 Filed 10-23-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P