[Federal Register: July 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 140)]
[Notices]
[Page 42328-42329]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22jy05-56]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-4093-N]
Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for the Advisory Panel
on Medicare Education
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice requests nominations for individuals to serve on
the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (the Panel). The Panel advises
and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) (the Secretary) and the Administrator of the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (the Administrator) on
opportunities for CMS to optimize the effectiveness of the National
Medicare Education Program and other CMS programs that help Medicare
beneficiaries understand the Medicare program and the range of health
plan options available. Nominees must be knowledgeable in the field of
labor and retirement benefits.
DATES: Nominations will be considered if received at the appropriate
address, provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, no later
than 5 p.m., e.d.t., on August 12, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations to the following address: Lynne
G. Johnson, Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop S2-23-05,
Baltimore MD 21244-1850.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne G. Johnson, Health Insurance
Specialist, Division of Partnership Development, Center for Beneficiary
Choices, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Mail stop S2-23-05, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, (410) 786-
0090. Please refer to the CMS Advisory Committees Information Line (1
877-449-5659 toll free)/(410-786-9379 local) or the Internet (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/faca/apme/default.asp
) for additional information and
updates on committee activities, or contact Ms. Johnson via e-mail at
ljohnson3@cms.hhs.gov. Press inquiries are handled through the CMS
Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 222 of the Public Health Service
Act, as amended, grants to the Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) (the Secretary) the authority to establish an
advisory panel if the Secretary finds the panel necessary and in the
public interest. The Secretary signed the charter establishing the
Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (the Panel) on January 21, 1999,
and renewed the charter on January 14, 2005. The Panel advises HHS and
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on opportunities to
enhance the effectiveness of consumer education materials serving the
Medicare program.
The goals of the Panel are to provide advice on the following:
Developing and implementing a national Medicare education
program that describes the options for selecting health plans and
prescription drug benefits under Medicare.
Enhancing the Federal government's effectiveness in
informing the Medicare consumer, including the appropriate use of
public-private partnerships.
Expanding outreach to vulnerable and underserved
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of
a national Medicare education program.
Assembling an information base of best practices for
helping consumers evaluate health plan options and building a community
infrastructure for information, counseling, and assistance.
The Panel shall consist of a maximum of 20 members. The charter
requires that meetings be held approximately four times per year.
Members are expected to attend all meetings.
This notice is an invitation to interested organizations or
individuals to submit their nominations for membership on the Panel.
The Secretary, or his designee, will appoint the new members to the
Panel 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.
Each nomination must state that the nominee has expressed a
willingness to serve as a Panel member and must be accompanied by a
resume and a brief summary of the nominee's experience. In order to
permit an evaluation of
[[Page 42329]]
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.
Self-nominations will also be accepted.
Authority: (Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 217(a)) and section 10(a) of Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2,
section 10(a) and 41 CFR 102-3).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program).
Dated: July 6, 2005.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 05-14153 Filed 7-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P