[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35877-35878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11679]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7071-N]


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 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, June 22, 2023 from 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
eastern daylight time (e.d.t).
    Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations, Special 
Accommodations, and Comments: Thursday, June 15, 2023 5:00 p.m. 
(e.d.t).

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting Location: Virtual. All those who RSVP will receive the link 
to attend.
    Presentations and Written Comments: Presentations and written 
comments should be submitted to: Walt Gutowski, Jill Darling, 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://CMS-APOE-June2023.rsvpify.com 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: Walt Gutowski, Jill Darling or 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: 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, which was first chartered in 1999, advises and makes 
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 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.

[[Page 35878]]

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 April 20, 2023, are as 
follows:
     Julie Carter, Council for Federal Policy, 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, Principal Legislative Analyst, University of 
California System.
     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 and Digital 
Health Clinical Leader, Cooper University Health Care.
     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.

II. 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 June 22, 2023 meeting will 
include the following:
     Welcome and opening remarks from CMS leadership
     Recap of the previous (April 20, 2023) 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.

III. 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 following weblink https://CMS-APOE-June2023.rsvpify.com 
or by contacting the DFO at the address or telephone 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 
unavailable 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).
    The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
(CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, having reviewed and approved this 
document, authorizes Evell J. Barco Holland, who is the Federal 
Register Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Dated: May 26, 2023.
Evell J. Barco Holland,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2023-11679 Filed 5-31-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P