[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29765-29767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10409]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-2214-N]
Medicaid Program; Establishment of the Medicaid Commission and
Request for Nominations for Members
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the establishment of the Medicaid
Commission and discusses the group's purpose and charter. It also
solicits nominations for members.
DATES: Nominations for membership will be considered if they are
received by June 3, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Send nominations to: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore Maryland 21244-1850,
Policy Coordination and Planning Group, Mail stop S2-26-12, Attention:
Mary Beth Hance
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Beth Hance, (410) 786-4299. Press
inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is
establishing a Medicaid Commission under Pub. L. 92-463, Federal
Advisory Committee Act, to advise the Secretary on ways to modernize
the Medicaid program so that it can provide high-quality health care to
its beneficiaries in a financially sustainable way.
[[Page 29766]]
II. Charter, General Responsibilities, and Composition of the Medicaid
Commission
A. Charter Information and General Responsibilities
On May 19, 2005, the Secretary signed the charter establishing the
Medicaid Commission. The Commission will terminate 30 days after the
date of submission of the final report to the Secretary, but no later
than January 31, 2007. The Commission, as chartered under the legal
authority of 42 U.S.C 217a, section 222 of the Public Health Service
Act, is also governed by the provisions of the Pub. L. 92-463, as
amended (5 U.S.C. appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the
formation and use of advisory committees, and the provisions of the
Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(b).
You may view obtain a copy of the Secretary's charter for the
Medicaid Commission at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca/stcomm.asp.
The Commission shall submit two reports to the Secretary for his
consideration and submission to Congress. By September 1, 2005, the
Commission will provide recommendations on options to achieve $10
billion in scorable Medicaid savings over five years while at the same
time make progress toward meaningful longer-term program changes to
better serve beneficiaries. The Commission will also consider, to the
extent feasible, specific performance goals for the Medicaid program,
as a basis for its longer-term recommendations. By December 31, 2006,
the Commission is tasked with making longer-term recommendations on the
future of the Medicaid program that ensures the long-term
sustainability of the program.
Meetings shall be open to the public except when closure is
specifically allowed by statute, and after all statutory and regulatory
requirements for doing so have been met. The Secretary or other
official to whom the authority has been delegated shall make such
determinations. Notice of all meetings shall be given to the public.
The Commission shall develop proposals that address the following
long-term issues:
Eligibility, benefits design, and delivery;
Expanding the number of people covered with quality care
while recognizing budget constraints;
Long term care;
Quality of care, choice, and beneficiary satisfaction;
Program administration; and
Other topics that the Secretary may submit to the
Commission.
The Secretary will request the representatives of the three public
policy organizations (as referenced below) to consider these issues and
provide relevant information to the Commission within specified
timeframes. The Commission shall consider how to address these issues
under a budget scenario that assumes Federal and State spending under
the current baseline; a scenario that assumes Congress will choose to
lower the rate of growth in the program; and a scenario that may
increase spending for coverage. The Commission shall assume that the
basic matching relationship between the Federal Government and States
will be continued.
B. Composition of the Medicaid Commission
The Commission shall consist of three types of member groups, of
which only one will have authority to vote on the recommendations to be
provided to the Secretary. The first group will consist of up to 15
voting members.
Voting Members:
Former or current Governors.
Three representatives of public policy organizations
involved in major health care policy issues for families, individuals
with disabilities, low-income individuals, or the elderly.
Former or current State Medicaid Directors.
Individuals with expertise in health, finance, or
administration.
Federal officials who administer programs that serve the
Medicaid population.
The Secretary (or the Secretary's designee) and such other
members as the Secretary may specify.
Ex Officio Members.
Non-Voting Advisor Members:
A group of up to 15 non-voting advisors will support the
Commission's deliberations with their special expertise. These will
include State and local government officials, consumer and provider
representatives who have an inherent interest in the Medicaid program.
Non-voting Congressional Advisor Members:
The Congressional Members will consist of eight non-voting members
who are current members of the Senate and House of Representatives. The
Secretary will request the following legislative leaders to make one
Congressional selection each:
Senate Majority Leader.
Senate Minority Leader.
Chairman, Senate Finance Committee.
Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee.
Speaker, House of Representatives.
Minority Leader, House of Representatives.
Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Ranking Member, House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
III. Submission of Nominations
We are requesting nominations for membership as voting members or
as non-voting members on the Medicaid Commission. We will consider
qualified individuals who are self-nominated or are nominated by
organizations representing States, beneficiaries, and providers when we
select these representatives. The Secretary will appoint members to
serve on the Commission from among those candidates that we determine
have the technical expertise to meet specific agency needs in a manner
to ensure an appropriate balance of membership.
Any interested person may nominate one or more qualified
individuals for each of the categories listed in section II.B of this
notice. Each nomination must include the following information:
1. A letter of nomination that contains contact information for
both the nominator and nominee (if not the same).
2. A statement from the nominee that he or she is willing to serve
on the Commission for its duration (that is, through January 31, 2007)
and an explanation of the nominee's interest in serving on the
Commission. (For self-nominations, this information may be included in
the nomination letter.)
3. A curriculum vitae that indicates the nominee's educational and
Medicaid experiences.
4. Two letters of reference that support the nominee's
qualifications for participation on the Commission. (For nominations
other than self-nominations, a nomination letter that includes
information supporting the nominee's qualifications may be counted as
one of the letters of reference.)
To ensure that a nomination is considered, we must receive all of
the nomination information specified in section III of this notice by
June 3, 2005. Nominations should be mailed to the address specified in
the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Authority: 42 U.S.C 217 (a), section 222 of the Public Health
Service Act, as amended. The Medicaid Commission is governed by the
provisions of Pub. L. 92-463 as amended (5 U.S.C. appendix 2), which
sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory
committees.
[[Page 29767]]
Dated: May 10, 2005.
Mark McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-10409 Filed 5-20-05; 12:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P