64578 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 241 / Monday, December 17, 2018 / Notices 

is particularly interested in comments 

that: 

(a) Evaluate whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary for the 

proper performance of the functions of the 

agency, including whether the information 

will have practical utility; 

(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection of information, including the 

validity of the methodology and assumptions 

used; 

(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 

of the information to be collected; 

(d) Minimize the burden of the collection 

of information on those who are to respond, 

including, through the use of appropriate 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or other 

forms of information technology, e.g., 

permitting electronic submission of 

responses; and 

(e) Assess information collection costs. 

To request additional information on 

the proposed project or to obtain a copy 

of the information collection plan and 

instruments, call (404) 639–7570 or 

send an email to omb@cdc.gov. Direct 

written comments and/or suggestions 

regarding the items contained in this 

notice to the Attention: CDC Desk 

Officer, Office of Management and 

Budget, 725 17th Street NW, 

Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 

395–5806. Provide written comments 

within 30 days of notice publication. 

Proposed Project 

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices 

of U.S. Large Animal Veterinarians 

Concerning Common Veterinary 

Infection Control Measures When 

Working with Animal Obstetric Cases— 

New—National Center for Emerging and 

Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC). 

Background and Brief Description 

Veterinarians are particularly at risk 

of contracting zoonotic infectious 

diseases due to their close proximity to 

animals, especially during times of 

injury or illness. Some veterinarians 

may be unaware of recommended 

personal protection measures or opt not 

to participate in measures that would 

decrease their risk of contracting a 

zoonotic disease. In 1977, a survey 

conducted of 1182 veterinarians showed 

that approximately 43% of the 

respondents had contracted an 

infectious zoonotic disease. Today, this 

elevated zoonotic disease risk persists; 

the seroprevalence of Q fever in U.S. 

veterinarians is 22% and the 

seroprevalence of leptospirosis is 2.5%. 

Within the veterinary profession, large 

animal practitioners might have an 

increased risk of occupational exposure 

to infectious zoonotic diseases for many 

reasons, including decreased biosecurity 

measures available in the field and the 

limited space available on a mobile 

practice for personal protective 

equipment (PPE). 

The goals of this study are to describe 

veterinarians’ knowledge of zoonotic 

infectious disease, identify 

veterinarians’ attitudes towards 

zoonotic infectious disease and personal 

risk, and determine practices to 

decrease personal risk of infection. By 

identifying knowledge gaps in personal 

protective equipment (PPE) use, 

transmission risk factors, and disease 

identification/diagnosis, we aim to 

determine the best methods for 

education of veterinarians on relevant 

abortion-associated zoonotic infectious 

diseases. 

The purpose of this study is to better 

describe veterinarians’ current 

knowledge of zoonotic diseases that 

cause abortion in large animals, 

determine common veterinary infection 

control practices when working up 

obstetric cases, and identify common 

barriers to PPE use. In order to develop 

effective messaging strategies, a deeper 

understanding of the attitudes and 

barriers to PPE use is needed. 

Information will be collected through 

a web-based ‘‘Livestock abortionassociated zoonoses’’ survey. The 

estimated burden per response is 15 

minutes. Respondents will be 

veterinarians interested in bovine, small 

ruminant, or swine medicine. 

Collaborating veterinary specialty 

organizations will distribute 

announcements about the survey to 

their memberships along with a link to 

the electronic survey. CDC anticipates 

that data analysis will be conducted on 

approximately 500 de-identified survey 

responses. 

Findings will be used to improve and 

enhance zoonotic disease education and 

PPE guidance targeted to veterinarians. 

OMB approval is requested for one year. 

Participation is voluntary and there are 

no costs to respondents other than their 

time. The total estimated annualized 

burden hours are 125. 

ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS

Type of respondents Form name Number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses per 

respondent 

Average 

burden per 

response 

(in hours) 

Veterinarian ..................................................... Livestock abortion-associated zoonoses ....... 500 1 15/60 

Jeffrey M. Zirger, 

Acting Lead, Information Collection Review 

Office, Office of Scientific Integrity, Office 

of Science, Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention. 

[FR Doc. 2018–27221 Filed 12–14–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[CMS–7056–N] 

Medicare and Medicaid Programs, and 

Other Program Initiatives, and 

Priorities; Request for Nominations to 

the Advisory Panel on Outreach and 

Education (APOE) 

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice requests 

nominations for individuals to serve on 

the Advisory Panel on Outreach and 

Education (APOE). 

DATES: 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., Eastern Savings Time (e.s.t.) on 

January 16, 2019. 

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations 

to the following address: Lynne 

Johnson, Acting Designated Federal 

Official, Office of Communications, 

CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail 

Stop S1–05–06, Baltimore, MD 21244– 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 241 / Monday, December 17, 2018 / Notices 64579 

1850 or email to Lynne.Johnson@

cms.hhs.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Lynne Johnson, Acting Designated 

Federal Official, Office of 

Communications, CMS, 7500 Security 

Boulevard, Mail Stop S1–05–06, 

Baltimore, MD 21244, 410–786–0897, 

email Lynne.Johnson@cms.hhs.gov or 

visit the website at http://www.cms.gov/ 

Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/ 

FACA/APOE.html. Press inquiries are 

handled through the CMS Press Office 

at (202) 690–6145. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

The Advisory Panel for Outreach and 

Education (APOE) (the Panel) is 

governed by the provisions of Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. 

L. 92–463), as amended (5 U.S.C. 

Appendix 2), which sets forth standards 

for the formation and use of federal 

advisory committees. The Panel is 

authorized by section 1114(f) of the 

Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1314(f)) 

and section 222 of the Public Health 

Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a). 

The Advisory Panel on Medicare 

Education (the predecessor to the 

APOE) was created in 1999 to advise 

and make recommendations to the 

Secretary of Health and Human 

Services, and the Administrator of the 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services (CMS) on the effective 

implementation of national Medicare 

education programs, including with 

respect to the Medicare+Choice (M+C) 

program added by the Balanced Budget 

Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105–33). 

The Medicare Prescription Drug, 

Improvement, and Modernization Act of 

2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108–173) 

expanded the existing health plan 

options and benefits available under the 

M+C program and renamed it the 

Medicare Advantage (MA) program. 

CMS has had substantial responsibilities 

to provide information to Medicare 

beneficiaries about the range of health 

plan options available and better tools 

to evaluate these options. Successful 

MA program implementation required 

CMS to consider the views and policy 

input from a variety of private sector 

constituents and to develop a broad 

range of public-private partnerships. 

In addition, Title I of MMA 

authorized the Secretary and the 

Administrator of CMS, by delegation, to 

establish the Medicare prescription drug 

benefit. The drug benefit allows 

beneficiaries to obtain qualified 

prescription drug coverage. In order to 

effectively administer the MA program 

and the Medicare prescription drug 

benefit, CMS has substantial 

responsibilities to provide information 

to Medicare beneficiaries about the 

range of health plan options and 

benefits available, and to develop better 

tools to evaluate these plans and 

benefits. 

The Affordable Care Act (Patient 

Protection and Affordable Care Act, 

Pub. L. 111–148, and Health Care and 

Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, 

Pub. L. 111–152) expanded the 

availability of other options for health 

care coverage and enacted a number of 

changes to Medicare as well as to 

Medicaid and the Children’s Health 

Insurance Program (CHIP). Qualified 

individuals and qualified employers are 

now able to purchase private health 

insurance coverage through a 

competitive marketplace, called an 

Affordable Insurance Exchange (also 

called Health Insurance MarketplaceSM, 

or MarketplaceSM). In order to 

effectively implement and administer 

these changes, we must provide 

information to consumers, providers, 

and other stakeholders through 

education and outreach programs 

regarding how existing programs will 

change and the expanded range of 

health coverage options available, 

including private health insurance 

coverage through the MarketplaceSM. 

The APOE allows us to consider a broad 

range of views and information from 

interested audiences in connection with 

this effort and to identify opportunities 

to enhance the effectiveness of 

education strategies concerning the 

Affordable Care Act. 

The scope of this Panel also includes 

advising on issues pertaining to the 

education of providers and stakeholders 

with respect to the Affordable Care Act 

and certain provisions of the Health 

Information Technology for Economic 

and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act 

enacted as part of the American 

Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 

(ARRA) (Pub. L. 111–5). 

On January 21, 2011, the Panel’s 

charter was renewed and the Panel was 

renamed the Advisory Panel for 

Outreach and Education. The Panel’s 

charter was most recently renewed on 

January 19, 2017, and will terminate on 

January 19, 2019 unless renewed by 

appropriate action. 

II. Provisions of This Notice 

A. Renewal of the APOE 

On January 19, 2017, the APOE 

charter was renewed. The APOE will 

advise the Department of Health and 

Human Services and CMS on 

developing and implementing education 

programs that support individuals with 

or who are eligible for coverage through 

the Health Insurance Marketplace, 

Medicare, Medicaid, and the CHIP about 

options for selecting health care 

coverage under these and other 

programs envisioned under health care 

reform to ensure improved access to 

quality care, including prevention 

services. The scope of this FACA group 

also includes advising on education of 

providers and stakeholders with respect 

to health care reform and certain 

provisions of the HITECH Act enacted 

as part of the ARRA. 

The charter will terminate on January 

19, 2019, unless renewed by appropriate 

action. The APOE was chartered under 

42 U.S.C. 222 of the Public Health 

Service Act, as amended. The APOE is 

governed by provisions of Public Law 

92–463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 

2), which sets forth standards for the 

formation and use of advisory 

committees. 

In accordance with the renewed 

charter, the APOE will advise the 

Secretary of Health and Human Services 

and the CMS Administrator concerning 

optimal strategies for the following: 

• Developing and implementing 

education and outreach programs for 

individuals enrolled in, or eligible for, 

Medicare, Medicaid, and the CHIP, or 

coverage available through the Health 

Insurance MarketplaceSM, and other 

CMS programs. 

• Enhancing the federal government’s 

effectiveness in informing Health 

Insurance MarketplaceSM, Medicare, 

Medicaid, and CHIP consumers, issuers, 

providers, and stakeholders, through 

education and outreach programs, on 

issues regarding these programs, 

including the appropriate use of publicprivate partnerships to leverage the 

resources of the private sector in 

educating beneficiaries, providers, and 

stakeholders. 

• Expanding outreach to vulnerable 

and underserved communities, 

including racial and ethnic minorities, 

in the context of Health Insurance 

MarketplaceSM, Medicare, Medicaid, 

and CHIP education programs, and 

other CMS programs. 

• Assembling and sharing an 

information base of ‘‘best practices’’ for 

helping consumers evaluate health 

coverage options. 

• Building and leveraging existing 

community infrastructures for 

information, counseling, and assistance. 

• Drawing the program link between 

outreach and education, promoting 

consumer understanding of health care 

coverage choices, and facilitating 

consumer selection/enrollment, which 

in turn support the overarching goal of 

improved access to quality care, 


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64580 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 241 / Monday, December 17, 2018 / Notices 

including prevention services, 

envisioned under the Affordable Care 

Act. 

B. Requests for Nominations 

The APOE shall consist of no more 

than 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 requires that meetings shall be 

held up to four times per year. Members 

will be expected to attend all meetings. 

The members and the Chair shall be 

selected from authorities knowledgeable 

in one or more of the following fields: 

• Senior citizen advocacy. 

• Outreach to minority and 

underserved communities. 

• Health communications. 

• Disease-related advocacy. 

• Disability policy and access. 

• Health economics research. 

• Behavioral health. 

• Health insurers and plans. 

• Health IT. 

• Social Media. 

• Direct patient care. 

• Matters of labor and retirement. 

Representatives of the general public 

may also serve on the APOE. 

This notice also requests nominations 

for 10 individuals to serve on the APOE 

to fill current vacancies and 10 

vacancies that will become available in 

2019. This notice is an invitation to 

interested organizations or individuals 

to submit their nominations for 

membership (no self-nominations will 

be accepted). The CMS Administrator 

will appoint new members to the APOE 

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. We 

have an interest in ensuring that the 

interests of both women and men, 

members of all racial and ethnic groups, 

and disabled individuals are adequately 

represented on the APOE. Therefore, we 

encourage nominations of qualified 

candidates who can represent these 

interests. Any interested organization or 

person may nominate one or more 

qualified persons. 

Each nomination must include a letter 

stating that the nominee has expressed 

a willingness to serve as a Panel 

member and must be accompanied by a 

curricula vitae and a brief biographical 

summary of the nominee’s experience. 

While we are looking for experts in a 

number of fields, our most specific 

needs are for experts in outreach to 

minority and underserved communities, 

health communications, disease-related 

advocacy, disability policy and access, 

health economics research, behavioral 

health, health insurers and plans, 

Health IT, social media, direct patient 

care, and matters of labor and 

retirement. 

We are requesting that all submitted 

curricula vitae include the following: 

• Date of birth. 

• Place of birth. 

• Title and current position. 

• Professional affiliation. 

• Home and business address. 

• Telephone and fax numbers. 

• Email address. 

• Areas of expertise. 

Phone interviews of nominees may 

also be requested after review of the 

nominations. 

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. 

Members are invited to serve for 2- 

year terms, contingent upon the renewal 

of the APOE by appropriate action prior 

to its termination. A member may serve 

after the expiration of that member’s 

term until a successor takes office. Any 

member appointed to fill a vacancy for 

an unexpired term shall be appointed 

for the remainder of that term. 

III. Copies of the Charter 

The Secretary’s Charter for the APOE 

is available on the CMS website at: 

https://www.facadatabase.gov/FACA/ 

apex/FACAPublicCommittee?id

=a10t0000001gzsCAAQ, or you may 

obtain a copy of the charter by 

submitting a request to the contact listed 

in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section 

of this notice. 

Dated: December 3, 2018. 

Seema Verma, 

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services. 

[FR Doc. 2018–27198 Filed 12–14–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Administration for Children and 

Families 

Proposed Information Collection 

Activity; Comment Request 

Proposed Projects: Trafficking Victim 

Assistance Program Data Collection. 

Title: Trafficking Victim Assistance 

Program Data Collection. 

OMB No.: 0970–0467. 

Description: The Trafficking Victims 

Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), as 

amended, authorizes the Secretary of 

Health and Human Services to expand 

benefits and services to foreign 

nationals in the United States who are 

victims of severe forms of trafficking in 

persons. Such benefits and services may 

include services to assist potential 

victims of trafficking (Section 

107(b)(1)(B) of the TVPA, 22 U.S.C. 

7105(b)(1)(B)). The Office on Trafficking 

in Persons (OTIP) awards cooperative 

agreements to organizations to provide 

case management services to foreign 

national victims of human trafficking 

pursuing HHS Certification and their 

qualified family members. The awarded 

organizations must provide 

comprehensive case management and 

referrals to qualified persons, either 

directly through its own organization or 

by partnering with other organizations 

through subcontracts or both. 

Persons qualified for services under 

this grant are victims of a severe form 

of trafficking in persons who have 

received HHS Certification or Eligibility, 

potential victims of a severe form of 

trafficking who are actively seeking to 

achieve HHS Certification or Eligibility, 

family members with derivative T visas, 

and minor dependent children of 

foreign victims of severe forms of 

trafficking in persons or potential 

victims of trafficking. 

To help measure each grant project’s 

performance and the success of the 

program in assisting the target 

population, to assist grantees to assess 

and improve their projects over the 

course of the project period, and to 

fulfill instructions for a consolidated 

report to several committees of the 

House of Representatives, OTIP 

proposes to collect information from 

TVAP grantees on a monthly, quarterly, 

or annual basis, including participant 

demographics (e.g., age, sex, and 

country of origin), types of trafficking 

experienced (sex, labor, or both), types 

of enrollment, types of services 

provided, types of health screening and 

medical services received, the names of 

the entities providing medical services, 

the amount of money expended on each 

type of service provided, the amount of 

money expended on each type of client 

enrollment, types of partnerships 

developed through the grant, and the 

types of training and technical 

assistance provided to subrecipient 

organizations or other partners. 

This information will help OTIP 

assess the project’s performance in 

assisting foreign national victims of 

trafficking and will better enable TVAP 

grantees to meet the program objectives 

and to monitor and evaluate the quality 

of case management services provided 

by any subcontractors. OTIP will also 

include aggregate information in reports 


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