Medicare Program; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education-September 9, 2004

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION:

Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2, section 10(a) (Pub. L. 92-463), this notice announces a meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education on September 9, 2004. 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 on opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of consumer education strategies concerning the Medicare program. This meeting is open to the public.

DATES:

The meeting is scheduled for September 9, 2004 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., e.d.t.

Deadline for Presentations and Comments: September 2, 2004, 12 noon, e.d.t.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held at the Wyndham Washington Hotel, 1400 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005, (202) 429-1700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lynne 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 Lynne Johnson by 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 (42 U.S.C. 217a), 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 the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (the Panel) on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7849) and approved the renewal of the charter on January 21, 2003. The Panel advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of consumer education strategies concerning the Medicare program.

The goals of the Panel are as follows:

• To develop and implement a national Medicare education program that describes the options for selecting a health plan under Medicare.
• To enhance the Federal government's effectiveness in informing the Medicare consumer, including the appropriate use of public-private partnerships.
• 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 health plan options and build a community infrastructure for information, counseling, and assistance.

The current members of the Panel are: James L. Bildner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, New Horizons Partners, LLC; and Clayton Fong, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Asian Pacific Center on Aging. A list of new members will be announced in the Federal Register on August 27, 2004.

The agenda for the September 9, 2004 meeting will include the following:

• Recap of the previous meeting (May 11, 2004).
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Update.
• Medicare Program Overview.
• Medicare Modernization Act Outreach and Education.
• 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 must submit a written copy of the oral presentation to Lynne 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 or by e-mail at ljohnson3@cms.hhs.gov no later than 12 noon, e.d.t., September 2, 2004. The number of oral presentations may be limited by the time available. Individuals not wishing to make a presentation may submit written comments to Lynne Johnson by 12 noon, (e.d.t.), September 2, 2004. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the space available.

Special Accommodation: Individuals requiring sign language interpretation or other special accommodations must contact Lynne Johnson at least 15 days before the meeting.

Authority: Sec. 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a) and sec. 10(a) of Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10(a) and 41 CFR 102-3).