[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22872-22873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10609]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration
[HCFA-1073-N]
Medicare Program; May 13, 1999, Meeting of the Competitive
Pricing Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, this notice announces a meeting of the Competitive
Pricing Advisory Committee (the CPAC) on May 13, 1999. Section 4012 of
the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 requires the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to create the
CPAC. The CPAC meets periodically and makes recommendations to the
Secretary, including the designation of areas for inclusion in the
Medicare+Choice competitive pricing demonstration project and suggests
appropriate research designs for implementing the project. This meeting
is open to the public.
DATES: The meeting is scheduled for May 13, 1999, from 10 a.m. until 4
p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Ramada Hotel at the
Metropolitan Airport in Detroit, 8270 Wickham Road, Romulus, Michigan
48174, (734) 729-6300.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Arnold, Ph.D., Executive
Director, Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee, Health Care Financing
Administration, 7500 Security Boulevard C4-14-17, Baltimore, Maryland
21244-1850, (410) 786-6451.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4011 of the Balanced Budget Act of
1997, (BBA) (Public Law 105-33) 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 (the
CPAC) to meet periodically and make recommendations to the Secretary
concerning the designation of areas for inclusion in the project and
appropriate research designs for implementing the project. In previous
meetings, the CPAC designated the Kansas City metropolitan area and
Maricopa County in Arizona as demonstration sites.
Section 4012(b) of the BBA requires the Secretary to appoint an
Area Advisory Committee (AAC) in each demonstration site included in
the project to advise the Secretary on the implementation of the
demonstration. The Kansas City metropolitan area AAC met on March 26,
1999, and April 8, 1999. The Maricopa County AAC met on March 31, 1999.
Additional meetings are scheduled for the Kansas City metropolitan area
AAC on April 22, 1999, and May 12, 1999, and for the Maricopa County
AAC on April 20, 1999, and May 20, 1999.
The CPAC consists of 15 individuals who are independent actuaries;
experts in competitive pricing and the administration of the Federal
Employees Health Benefit Program; and representatives of health plans,
insurers, employers, unions, and beneficiaries. In accordance with
section 4012(a)(5) of the BBA, the CPAC will terminate on December 31,
2004.
The CPAC held meetings on May 7, 1998, June 24 and 25, 1998,
September 23 and 24, 1998, October 28, 1998, and January 6, 1999. The
CPAC members are: James Cubbin, Executive Director, General Motors
Health Care Initiative; Robert Berenson, M.D., Director, Center for
Health Plans and Providers, HCFA; John Bertko, CEO and Senior Actuary,
PM-Squared Inc.; Dave Durenberger, Senior Health Policy Fellow,
University of St. Thomas and Founder of Public Policy Partners; Gary
Goldstein, M.D., CEO, The Oschner Clinic; Samuel Havens, Healthcare
Consultant and Chairman of Health Scope/United; Margaret Jordan,
President and CEO, The Margaret Jordan Group; Chip Kahn, CEO, The
Health Insurance Association of America; Cleve Killingsworth,
President, Health Alliance Plan; Nancy Kichak, Director, Office of
Actuaries, Office of Personnel Management; Len Nichols, Principal
Research Associate, The Urban Institute; Robert Reischauer, Senior
Fellow, The Brookings Institute; John Rother, Director, Legislation and
Public Policy, American Association of Retired Persons; Andrew Stern,
President, Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO; and Jay
Wolfson, Director, The Florida Information Center, University of South
Florida. The Chairperson of the CPAC is James Cubbin and the Co-
Chairperson is Robert Berenson, M.D.
The agenda for May 13, 1999, CPAC meeting will include--
A discussion of a letter to the Congress requesting a
change in the demonstration's budget neutrality provision; and
An update and discussion of decisions made by the two
local AACs. This will include a discussion and decision on a request
from the Maricopa County AAC to delay the demonstration for one year
and a discussion and decision on a request from the Kansas City
metropolitan area AAC to permit an additional year to consider
alternative methods of risk adjustment.
Individuals or organizations that wish to make 5-minute oral
presentations on the agenda issues should contact Sharon Arnold, CPAC
Executive Director, by 12 noon, May 6, 1999, to be scheduled. The
number of oral presentations may be limited by the time available. A
written copy of the oral remarks should be submitted to the Executive
Director no later than 12 noon, May 11, 1999. Anyone who is not
scheduled to speak may submit written comments to the Executive
Director by 12 noon, May 11, 1999.
The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the
space available.
(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
[[Page 22873]]
Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--Supplementary Medical
Insurance Program)
Dated: April 22, 1999.
Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-10609 Filed 4-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
