[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 19 (Monday, January 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5884-5886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01797]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7069-N]


Request for Nominations and Announcement of the Advisory Panel on 
Outreach and Education (APOE) Virtual Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice invites all interested parties to submit 
nominations to fill vacancies on the Advisory Panel on Outreach and 
Education (APOE). This notice also 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) (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 Health Insurance Marketplace[supreg], 
Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 
This meeting is open to the public.

DATES: 
    Meeting date: Thursday, February 9, 2023 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
eastern time (e.t.).
    Deadline for meeting registration, presentations, special 
accommodations, and comments: Thursday, February 2, 2023, 5 p.m. 
(e.t.).
    Deadline for submitting nominations: 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.t.) on 
February 24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting location: Virtual. All those who RSVP will receive the link 
to attend.
    Nominations, presentations, and written comments: Nominations, 
presentations and written comments

[[Page 5885]]

should be submitted to: Walt Gutowski or 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: Persons wishing to attend this meeting must register 
at the website https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JM5NRcwRSI6_6lkFVoON-g 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 this section of this notice by the 
date listed in the DATES section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walt Gutowski or Lisa Carr, Designated 
Federal Official, Office of Communications, 200 Independence Avenue SW, 
Mailstop 325G HHH, Washington, DC 20201, 202-690-6003, or via email at 
[email protected].
    Additional information about the APOE is available at: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE. 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 (the 
Act) (42 U.S.C. 1314(f)) and section 222 of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 217a).
    The Panel was first chartered in 1999 to advise and make 
recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services (the Department) and the Administrator of the Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the effective implementation 
of national Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program 
(CHIP) and Health Insurance Marketplace outreach and education 
programs.
    The APOE has focused on a variety of laws, including the Medicare 
Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173), and the Affordable Care 
Act (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (Pub. L. 111-148) and 
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-
152)).
    The APOE helps the Department determine the best communication 
channels and tactics for various programs and priorities, as well as 
new rules and legislation. In the coming years, we anticipate the 
American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the SUPPORT Act 
will be some of many of the topics the Panel will discuss. The Panel 
will provide feedback to CMS staff on outreach and education 
strategies, communication tools and messages and how to best reach 
minority, vulnerable and Limited English Proficiency populations.

B. Charter Renewal

    The Panel's charter was renewed on January 19, 2023, and will 
terminate on January 19, 2025, unless renewed by appropriate action. 
The Charter can be found at https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-
guidance/guidance/faca/apoe.
    In accordance with the renewed charter, the APOE will advise the 
Secretary 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[supreg] and other CMS programs.
     Enhancing the federal government's effectiveness in 
informing Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or the Health Insurance 
Marketplace[supreg] 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 minority and underserved 
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of 
Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Health Insurance Marketplace[supreg] 
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 15, 2022, are as 
follows:
     Julie Carter, Senior Federal Policy Associate, Medicare 
Rights Center.
     Scott Ferguson, Psychotherapist, Scott Ferguson 
Psychotherapy.
     Jean-Venable Robertson Goode, Professor, Department of 
Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, School of Pharmacy, Virginia 
Commonwealth University.
     Ted Henson, Director of Health Center Performance and 
Innovation, National Association of Community Health Centers.
     Joan Ilardo, Director of Research Initiatives, Michigan 
State University, College of Human Medicine.
     Lydia Isaac, Vice President for Health Equity and Policy, 
National Urban League.
     Daisy Kim, Policy Manager, Asian & Pacific Islander 
American Health Forum.
     Cheri Lattimer, Executive Director, National Transitions 
of Care Coalition.
     Erin Loubier, Senior Director for Health and Legal 
Integration and Payment innovation, Whitman-Walker Health.
     Cori McMahon, Behavioral Medicine Psychologist, Cooper 
University Hospital.
     Alan Meade, Director of Rehabilitation Services, Holston 
Medical Group.
     Neil Meltzer, President and CEO, LifeBridge Health.
     Michael Minor, National Director, H.O.P.E. HHS 
Partnership, National Baptist Convention USA, Incorporated.
     Jina Ragland, Associate State Director of Advocacy and 
Outreach, AARP Nebraska.
     Morgan Reed, Executive Director, Association for 
Competitive Technology.
     Carrie Rogers, Associate Director, Community Catalyst.
     Margot Savoy, Senior Vice President, American Academy of 
Family Physicians.
     Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, Senior Advisor, FTI 
Consulting.
     Matthew Snider, JD, Senior Policy Analyst, Unidos US.
     Tia Whitaker, Statewide Director, Outreach and Enrollment, 
Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers.

[[Page 5886]]

II. Request 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 up to 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 and underserved communities
 Health communications
 Disease-related health advocacy
 Disability policy and access
 Health economics research
 Behavioral health
 Health insurers and plans
 Health IT
 Social media
 Direct patient care
 Labor and retirement

    Representatives of the general public may also serve on the APOE.
    This notice also requests nominations for 14 individuals to serve 
on the APOE to fill vacancies that will become available later in 2023. 
This notice is an invitation to interested organizations or individuals 
to submit their nominations for membership (no self-nominations will be 
accepted). 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 all genders, members of all racial and ethnic groups, and 
disabled individuals are adequately represented on the APOE. Therefore, 
we encourage nominations of qualified candidates who can represent 
these interests. Any interested organization or person may nominate one 
or more qualified persons.
    Each nomination must include a letter stating 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.
    We are requesting that all submitted curricula vitae include the 
following:

 Date of birth
 Place of birth
 Title and current position
 Professional affiliation(s)
 Home and business addresses
 Telephone and fax numbers
 Email address
 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. Meeting Format and Agenda

    In accordance with section 10(a) of the FACA, this notice announces 
a meeting of the APOE. The agenda for the February 9, 2023 meeting will 
include the following:

 Welcome and opening remarks from CMS leadership
 Recap of the previous (September 15, 2022) meeting
 Presentations on CMS programs, initiatives, and priorities; 
discussion of panel recommendations
 An opportunity for public comment
 Meeting adjourned

    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.

IV. Meeting Participation

    The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to 
registered participants. Persons wishing to attend this meeting must 
register at the website https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JM5NRcwRSI6_6lkFVoON-g or contact the DFO at the address or 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 virtually. Individuals who are not registered in advance 
will be unable to attend the meeting.

V. 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).
    The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
(CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, having reviewed and approved this 
document, authorizes Lynette Wilson, who is the Federal Register 
Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Dated: January 25, 2023.
Lynette Wilson,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2023-01797 Filed 1-25-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P