[Federal Register: May 22, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 98)]
[Notices]
[Page 24019-24020]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22my09-67]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-7014-N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare
Education, July 8, 2009
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the Advisory Panel on
Medicare Education (the Panel) in accordance with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act. The Panel advises and makes recommendations to the
Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on opportunities to enhance
the effectiveness of consumer education
[[Page 24020]]
strategies concerning the Medicare program. This meeting is open to the
public.
DATES: Meeting Date: July 8, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., eastern
daylight time (e.d.t.).
Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations and Comments: July
1, 2009, 5 p.m., e.d.t.
Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: June 24, 2009, 5
p.m., e.d.t.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: Hilton Washington Hotel Embassy Row, 2015
Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20036, (202) 265-6800.
Meeting Registration, Presentations, and Written Comments: Lynne
Johnson, Designated Federal Official, Division of Forum and Conference
Development, Office of External Affairs, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mailstop S1-05-06,
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or contact Ms. Johnson via e-mail at
Lynne.Johnson@cms.hhs.gov.
Registration: 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 Lynne Johnson at the address listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice or by telephone at (410) 786-0090, by
the date listed in the DATES section of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Johnson, (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/04_APME.asp) for additional information and
updates on committee activities. Press inquiries are handled through
the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act authorizes
the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish
an advisory panel if the Secretary determines that the panel is ``in
the public interest in connection with the performance of duties
imposed * * * by law.'' Such duties are imposed by section 1804 of the
Social Security Act (the Act), requiring the Secretary to provide
informational materials to Medicare beneficiaries about the Medicare
program, and section 1851(d) of the Act, requiring the Secretary to
provide for ``activities * * * to broadly disseminate information to
[M]edicare beneficiaries * * * on the coverage options provided under
[Medicare Advantage] in order to promote an active, informed selection
among such options.''
The Panel is also authorized by section 1114(f) of the Act (42
U.S.C. 1311(f)) and section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 217a). The Secretary signed the charter establishing this Panel
on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7899, February 17, 1999) and approved the
renewal of the charter on January 21, 2009 (74 FR 13442, March 27,
2009). The Panel advises and makes recommendations to 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 Medicare program.
The goals of the Panel are as follows:
To provide recommendations on the development and
implementation of a national Medicare education program that describes
benefit options under Medicare.
To enhance the Federal government's effectiveness in
informing the Medicare consumer.
To make recommendations on how to expand outreach to
vulnerable and underserved communities, including racial and ethnic
minorities, in the context of a national Medicare education program.
To assemble an information base of best practices for
helping consumers evaluate benefit options and build a community
infrastructure for information, counseling, and assistance.
The current members of the Panel are: Gwendolyn T. Bronson, SHINE/
SHIP Counselor, Massachusetts SHINE Program; Dr. Yanira Cruz, President
and Chief Executive Officer, National Hispanic Council on Aging;
Stephen L. Fera, Vice President, Social Mission Programs, Independence
Blue Cross; Nan Kirsten-Fort[eacute], Executive Vice President,
Consumer Services, WebMD; Cathy Graeff, R.Ph., M.B.A., National, Senior
Vice President, Communications and Industry Relations, National Council
for Prescription Drug Programs; Dr. Carmen R. Green, Director, Pain
Research Division, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, University of
Michigan Health System; Dr. Jessie C. Gruman, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Center for the Advancement of Health; Cindy
Hounsell, J.D., President, Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement;
Kathy Hughes, Vice Chairwoman, Oneida Nation; Gail Hunt, President and
Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance for Caregiving; Dr. Andrew
M. Kramer, Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver; Dr.
Frank B. McArdle, Manager, Hewitt Research Office, Hewitt Associates;
Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer, National Area Agencies on
Aging; Robert L. Mollica, Consumer; David Roberts, M.P.A., Vice
President, Government Relations, Healthcare Information and Management
Systems Society; Julie Bod[euml]n Schmidt, Associate Vice President,
Training and Technical Assistance Department, National Association of
Community Health Centers; Rebecca Snead, Executive Vice President and
Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance of State Pharmacy
Associations.
The agenda for the July 8, 2009 meeting will include the following:
Recap of the previous (April 22, 2009) meeting.
Subgroup Committee Work Summary.
Medicare Outreach and Education Strategies.
Public Comment.
Listening Session with CMS Leadership.
Next Steps.
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 Lynne Johnson 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 a presentation
may submit written comments to Ms. Johnson at the address listed in the
ADDRESSES 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 Ms. Johnson at the address listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date listed in the DATES
section of this notice.
Authority: Sec. 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
217a) and sec. 10(a) of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec.
10(a) and 41 CFR 102-3).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.733,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: May 14, 2009.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E9-12032 Filed 5-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P