[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 35816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15223]



[[Page 35816]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Establishment of the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) 
Advisory Board

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Consumer 
Information & Insurance Oversight.

ACTION: Federal Register Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Authority: The Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Advisory 
Board is required under section 1322 of The Patient Protection and 
Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that calls for the establishment of the 
Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans (CO-OP) Program, which will foster 
the creation of qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers to offer 
qualified health plans in the individual and small group markets. The 
Advisory Board is governed by provisions of Public Law 92-463, as 
amended, (5 U.S.C. App. 2), which sets forth standards for the 
formation and use of advisory committees.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announces 
establishment of the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) 
Advisory Board, as directed by section 1322 of PPACA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roman Gurule, Office of Consumer 
Information & Insurance Oversight, Department of Health and Human 
Services; Telephone 202-260-6053; Fax 202-260-6108.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 111-148-Section 1322 of PPACA 
establishes the Advisory Board within the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS). To comply with the authorizing directive and 
guidelines under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), a charter 
has been filed with the Committee Management Secretariat in the General 
Services Administration (GSA), the appropriate committees in the Senate 
and U.S. House of Representatives, and the Library of Congress to 
establish the Advisory Board as a non-discretionary Federal advisory 
committee. The charter was filed on June 18, 2010.

Objectives and Scope of Activities

    The Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Advisory Board is 
the Department's statutory public advisory body to foster the creation 
of qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers. The Advisory Board 
will assist and advise the Secretary and Congress through the 
Department of Health and Human Services Office of Consumer Information 
and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) on the Department's strategy to foster 
the creation of qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers. 
Specifically, the Committee shall advise the Secretary and Congress 
concerning the award of grants and loans related to the CO-OP Program.

Membership and Designation

    PPACA gave the Comptroller General of the United States 
responsibility for appointing the Advisory Board's 15 members from 
among individuals with qualifications described in section 1805(c)(2) 
of the Social Security Act. Any individual appointed under the board 
shall meet ethics and conflict of interest standards protecting against 
insurance industry involvement and interference. Any vacancy on the 
advisory board shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment. All members, while so serving away from their homes or 
regular places of business, may be allowed travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as such expenses 
are authorized by subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code.

Administrative Management and Support

    HHS will provide funding and administrative support for the 
Advisory Board to the extent permitted by law within existing 
appropriations. Management and oversight for support services provided 
to the Advisory Board will be the responsibility of the Office of 
Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight, which is a staff division 
within HHS. Staff will be assigned to support the activities of the 
Advisory Board.
    A copy of the Commission charter can be obtained from the 
designated contacts or by accessing the FACA database that is 
maintained by the GSA Committee Management Secretariat. The website for 
the FACA database is http://fido.gov/facadatabase/.

    Dated: June 17, 2010.
Jay Angoff,
Director, Office of Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight.
[FR Doc. 2010-15223 Filed 6-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P