06-1648. 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 Health and Human Services (HHS) (the Secretary) 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 range of health plan options available under the Medicare program.

DATES:

Effective Date: Nominations will be considered if we receive them at the appropriate address, provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, no later than 5 p.m., e.s.t. on Friday, March 17, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Mail or deliver nominations to the following address: Lynne G. Johnson, Center for Beneficiary Choices, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail stop S1-20-21, 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, Mail stop S1-20-21, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, [phone]. 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/​04_​APME.asp) for additional information and updates on committee activities, or contact Ms. Johnson via e-mail at [e-mail]. Press inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a), as amended, grants to the Secretary the authority to establish an advisory council or committee for the purpose of advising him in connection with any of his functions. Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-463), the Secretary signed the charter establishing the Panel on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7899) and approved the renewal of the charter on January 14, 2005 (70 FR 4129). The Panel advises HHS and CMS 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 shall consist of a maximum of 20 members. The Chair shall either be appointed from among the 20 members, or a Federal official will be designated to serve as the Chair. The charter specifies that meetings shall be held approximately four times per year. Members will be expected to attend all meetings. The members and the Chair shall be selected from representatives of the general public and authorities knowledgeable in the fields of:

• Senior citizen advocacy.
• Outreach to minority communities.
• Health communications.
• Managing a prescription drug benefit.
• Disease-related health advocacy.
• Disability policy and access.
• Health economics research.
• Health insurers and plans.
• Providers and clinicians.
• Matters of labor and retirement.

This notice is an invitation to interested organizations or individuals to submit their nominations for membership on the Panel. 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. Current members whose terms expire in 2006 may be considered for reappointment, if renominated, subject to committee service guidelines.

Each nomination must state that the nominee has expressed a willingness to serve as a Panel member and must be accompanied by a resume and a brief biographical summary 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 will also be accepted.

Authority: (Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217(a)); Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2); and, 41 CFR section 102-3.5 through 102-3.175).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774, Medicare—Supplementary Medical Insurance Program.)

Dated: February 10, 2006.

Mark B. McClellan,

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.