04-22323. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation; Medicare Program; Meeting of the Technical Advisory Panel on Medicare Trustee Reports

AGENCY:

Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces a public meeting of the Technical Advisory Panel on Medicare Trustee Reports (Panel). Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2)). The Panel will discuss the long-term rate of change in health spending and may make recommendations to the Medicare Trustees on how the Trustees might more accurately estimate health spending in the long run. The Panel's discussion is expected to be very technical in nature and will focus on the actuarial and economic methods by which Trustees might more accurately measure health spending. Although panelists are not limited in the topics they may discuss, the Panel is not expected to discuss or recommend changes in current or future Medicare provider payment rates or coverage policy.

DATES:

October 15, 2004, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. e.d.t.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held at HHS headquarters at 200 Independence Ave., SW., 20201, Room 705A.

Comments: The meeting will allocate time on the agenda to hear public comments. In lieu of oral comments, formal written comments may be submitted for the record to Jacob Kaplan, OASPE, 200 Independence Ave., SW., 20201, Room 447D. Those submitting written comments should identify themselves and any relevant organizational affiliations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jacob Kaplan at [phone], [e-mail]. Note: Although the meeting is open to the public, procedures governing security procedures and the entrance to Federal buildings may change without notice. Those wishing to attend the meeting should call or e-mail Mr. Kaplan by October 11, 2004, so their name may be put on a list of expected attendees and forwarded to the security officers at HHS Headquarters.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On April 22, 2004, we published a notice announcing the establishment and requesting nominations for individuals to serve on the Panel. The panel members are: Mark Pauly, Edwin Hustead, Alice Rosenblatt, Michael Chernew, David Meltzer, John Bertko, and William Scanlon.

Topics of the Meeting: The Panel is specifically charged with discussing and possibly making recommendations to the Medicare Trustees on how the Trustees might more accurately estimate the long term rate of health spending in the United States. The discussion is expected to focus on highly technical aspects of estimation involving economics and actuarial science. Panelists are not restricted, however, in the topics they choose to discuss.

Procedure and Agenda: This meeting is open to the public. Interested persons may observe the deliberations and discussions, but the Panel will not hear public comments until the end of Panel deliberations. The Commission will also allow an open public session for any attendee to address issues specific to the topic.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 217a; Section 222 of the Public Health Services Act, as amended. The panel is governed by provisions of Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 USC Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Dated: September 29, 2004.

Michael J. O'Grady,

Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.