[Federal Register: February 27, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 39)]
[Page 9321-9322]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27fe04-57]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-4070-N]
Medicare Program; Request for Nominations for the Advisory Panel
on Medicare Education
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), 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 Medicare health plan options available under
the Medicare+Choice and Medicare Advantage Program.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Nominations will be considered if we receive them at
the appropriate address, provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on March,
19, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations to the following address: Lynne
G. Johnson, Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, 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, 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 (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 this
Panel on January 21, 1999 and the charter renewing the Panel on January
18, 2003. The Advisory Panel on Medicare Education advises the
Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services 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 must consist of a maximum of 20 members. The Chair must
either be appointed from among the 20 members, or a Federal official
will be designated to serve as the Chair. The charter requires that
meetings must be held approximately four times per year. Members will
be expected to attend all meetings. The members and the Chair must be
selected from authorities knowledgeable in the fields of senior citizen
advocacy; outreach to minority communities; health communications;
disease-related health advocacy; disability policy and access; health
economics research; health insurers and plans; providers and
clinicians; and matters of labor and retirement; and from
representatives of the general public.
This notice is an invitation to interested organizations or
individuals to submit their nominations for membership on the Panel.
Current members whose terms expire in 2004 will be considered for
reappointment, if renominated, subject to committee service guidelines.
The Secretary, or his designee, will appoint 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.
[[Page 9322]]
Each nomination must state that the nominee has expressed a
willingness to serve as a Panel member and must be accompanied by a
short resume or description of the nominee's experience. In order to
permit an evaluation of 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 also will 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: February 24, 2004.
Dennis G. Smith,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 04-4383 Filed 2-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P