01-15947. Medicare Program: Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education-July 12, 2001

AGENCY:

Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION:

Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2, section 10(a)(1) and (a)(2) (Pub. L. 92-463), this notice announces a meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (the Panel) on July 12, 2001. This meeting is open to the public.

DATES:

The Meeting. The meeting is scheduled for July 12, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.D.T

Deadline for Presentations and Comments: July 5, 2001, 12 noon, E.D.T.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn on the Hill, 415 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20001, [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy Caliman, Health Insurance Specialist, Partnership Development Group, Center for Beneficiary Services, Health Care Financing Administration, 7500 Security Boulevard, S2-23-05, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, [phone]. Please refer to the HCFA Advisory Committees Information Line (1-877-449-5659 toll free)/(410-786-9379 local) or the Internet (http://www.hcfa.gov/​events/​apme/​homepage.htm) for additional information and updates on committee activities, or contact Ms. Caliman via E-mail at [e-mail]. Press inquiries are handled through the HCFA 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 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 (64 FR 7849) and approved the renewal of the charter on January 18, 2001. The Panel advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (the Administrator) on opportunities for HCFA to optimize the effectiveness of the National Medicare Education Program and other HCFA programs that help Medicare beneficiaries understand Medicare and the range of Medicare options available with the passage of the Medicare+Choice 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: Diane Archer, J.D., President, Medicare Rights Center; David Baldridge, Executive Director, National Indian Council on Aging; Bruce Bradley, M.B.A., Director, Managed Care Plans, General Motors Corporation; Carol Cronin, Chairperson, Advisory Panel on Medicare Education; Joyce Dubow, M.U.P., Senior Policy Advisor, Public Policy Institute, AARP; Jennie Chin Hansen, Executive Director, On Lok Senior Health Services; Elmer Huerta, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Cancer Risk and Assessment Center, Washington Hospital Center; Bonita Kallestad, J.D., M.S., Mid Minnesota Legal Assistance; Steven Larsen, J.D., M.A., Maryland Insurance Commissioner, Maryland Insurance Administration; Brian Lindberg, M.M.H.S., Executive Director, Consumer Coalition for Quality Health Care; Heidi Margulis, B.A., Vice President, Government Affairs, Humana, Inc.; Patricia Neuman, Sc.D., Director, Medicare Policy Project, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation; Elena Rios, M.D., M.S.P.H., President, National Hispanic Medical Association; Samuel Simmons, B.A., President and CEO, The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc.; Nina Weinberg, M.A., President, National Health Council; and Edward Zesk, B.A., Executive Director, Aging 2000.

The agenda for the July 12, 2001 meeting will include the following:

• Recap of the previous (April 26, 2001) meeting.
• HCFA update/issues.
• Role of the Social Security Administration in Medicare.
• Medicare education operating priorities for 2002.
• Medicare education budget 2003.
• Annual report of the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education.
• Public comment.

Individuals or organizations that wish to make a 5-minute oral presentation on an agenda topic should contact Ms. Caliman by 12 noon, July 5, 2001. A written copy of the oral presentation should also be submitted to Ms. Caliman by 12 noon, July 5, 2001. The number of oral presentations may be limited by the time available. Individuals not wishing to make a presentation may submit written comments to Ms. Caliman by 12 noon, July 5, 2001. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to the space available. Individuals requiring sign language interpretation for the hearing impaired or other special accommodations should contact Ms. Caliman at least 15 days before the meeting.

Authority: Secs. 1102 and 1871 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1302 and 1395hh).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.733, Medicare—Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare—Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

Dated: June 19, 2001.

Thomas A. Scully,

Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.