[Federal Register: March 11, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 47)] [Notices] [Page 12172-12173] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr11mr99-55] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Care Financing Administration [HCFA-1068-N] RIN 0938-AJ46 Medicare Program; Meetings of the Competitive Pricing Demonstration Area Advisory Committee, Kansas City Metropolitan Area AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS. ACTION: Notice of meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces four meetings of the Area Advisory Committee for the Kansas City metropolitan area Competitive Pricing Demonstration. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish a demonstration project under which payments to Medicare+Choice organizations in designated areas are determined in accordance with a competitive pricing methodology. The BBA requires the Secretary to appoint an Area Advisory Committee (AAC) in the designated areas to advise on the marketing and pricing of the plan and other factors. AAC meetings are open to the public. DATES: The meetings are scheduled for March 26, 1999, from 9:45 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.s.t.; April 8, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t.; April 22, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t.; and May 12, 1999, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t. ADDRESSES: The March 26, April 8, and April 22, 1999, meetings will be held at the Crowne Plaza Kansas City, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. The May 12, 1999, meeting will be held at the Hilton-Kansas City Airport, 8801 NW. 112th Street, Kansas City, MO 64153. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard P. Brummel, Deputy Regional Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration, Richard Bolling Federal Building, Room 235, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106, (816) 426-5233. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4011 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish a demonstration project under which payments to Medicare+Choice organizations in designated areas are determined in accordance with a competitive pricing methodology. Section 4012(a) of the BBA requires the Secretary to appoint a Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee to make recommendations concerning the designation of areas for the project and appropriate research designs for implementation. Once an area is designated as a demonstration site, section 4012(b) of the BBA requires the Secretary to appoint an Area Advisory Committee (AAC) to advise on the marketing and pricing of the plan in the area along with other factors. This notice announces four meetings of the Kansas City metropolitan area AAC. The meetings will be held on: March 26, 1999, from 9:45 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.s.t., at the Crowne Plaza Kansas City, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. April 8, 1999, 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t., at the Crowne Plaza Kansas City, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. April 22, 1999, 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t., at the Crowne Plaza Kansas City, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. May 12, 1999, 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., c.d.s.t., at the Hilton-Kansas City Airport, 8801 NW. 112th Street, Kansas City, MO 64153. The Kansas City metropolitan area AAC will meet four times for the purpose of advising the Secretary on how the project will be implemented. The AAC is currently being assembled and will be composed of representatives of health plans, providers, and Medicare beneficiaries in the area. In accordance with section 4012(b) of the BBA, the AAC will exist for the duration of the project in the area, expected to be 5 years from the January 1, 2000, start date. The Kansas City metropolitan area AAC will hold its first meeting on March 26, 1999. The agenda will include an introduction of the AAC members, a discussion of background materials related to the demonstration design, a presentation of the AAC mission, and a discussion of the process that will be utilized to provide advice on the implementation of the Medicare Competitive Pricing Demonstration. The second meeting on April 8, 1999, will include a discussion and possible decisions on risk adjustment and the bidding process, various options on the government contribution or payment, the standard benefit package, and any other outstanding issues. The third meeting on April 22, 1999, will continue discussion, and include possible decisions, on the government contribution or payment, the standard benefit package, and any other outstanding issues. The fourth meeting on May 12, 1999, will summarize decisions made in earlier meetings and continue discussions and make final decisions on any outstanding issues from the previous meetings. Individuals or organizations that wish to make 5-minute oral presentations on the agenda issues listed above should contact the Kansas City Deputy Regional Administrator by 12 noon for each of the following days: March 18, 1999, for the first meeting. March 30, 1999, for the second meeting. April 14, 1999, for the third meeting. May 4, 1999, for the fourth meeting. Anyone who is not scheduled to speak may submit written comments to the Kansas City Deputy Regional Administrator by 12 noon for each of the following days: March 19, 1999, for the first meeting. April 1, 1999, for the second meeting. April 16, 1999, for the third meeting. May 6, 1999, for the fourth meeting. The meetings are open to the public, but attendance is limited to the space available. [[Page 12173]] (Section 4012 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Public Law 105-33 (42 U.S.C.1395w-23 note) and section 10(a) of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App.2, section 10(a)) (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare-- Supplementary Medical Insurance Program) Dated: March 8, 1999. Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration. [FR Doc. 99-6116 Filed 3-10-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4120-01-P