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[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 185 (Friday, September 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48981-48982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23122]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7015-N]

Medicare Program; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Medicare 
Education, October 20, 2009

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the Advisory Panel on 
Medicare Education (the Panel) in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. The Panel advises and makes recommendations to the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on opportunities to enhance 
the effectiveness of consumer education strategies concerning the 
Medicare program. This meeting is open to the public.

DATES: Meeting Date: October 20, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., eastern 
daylight time (e.d.t.).
    Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations and Comments: 
October 13, 2009, 5 p.m., e.d.t.
    Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: October 6, 2009, 5 
p.m., e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: Hilton Washington Hotel Embassy Row, 2015 
Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20036, (202) 265-6800.
    Meeting Registration, Presentations, and Written Comments: Lynne 
Johnson, Designated Federal Official, Division of Forum and Conference 
Development, Office of External Affairs, Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mailstop S1-05-06, 
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or contact Ms. Johnson via e-mail at 
[email protected].
    Registration: The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is 
limited to the space available. Persons wishing to attend this meeting 
must register by contacting Lynne Johnson at the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice or by telephone at (410) 786-0090, by 
the date listed in the DATES section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Johnson, (410) 786-0090. 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. Press inquiries are handled through 
the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(the Secretary) to establish an advisory panel if the Secretary 
determines that the panel is ``in the public interest in connection 
with the performance of duties imposed * * * by law.'' Such duties are 
imposed by section 1804 of the Social Security Act (the Act), requiring 
the Secretary to provide informational materials to Medicare 
beneficiaries about the Medicare program, and section 1851(d) of the 
Act, requiring the Secretary to provide for ``activities * * * to 
broadly disseminate information to [M]edicare beneficiaries * * * on 
the coverage options provided under [Medicare Advantage] in order to 
promote an active, informed selection among such options.''
    The Panel is also authorized by section 1114(f) of the Act (42 
U.S.C. 1311(f)) and section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 217a). The Secretary signed the charter establishing this Panel 
on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7899, February 17, 1999) and approved the 
renewal of the charter on January 21, 2009 (74 FR 13442, March 27, 
2009). The Panel advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary and 
the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 
on opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of consumer education 
strategies concerning the Medicare program.
    The goals of the Panel are as follows:
     To provide recommendations on the development and 
implementation of a national Medicare education program that describes 
benefit options under Medicare.
     To enhance the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare consumer.
     To make recommendations on how 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 benefit options and build a

[[Page 48982]]

community infrastructure for information, counseling, and assistance.
    The current members of the Panel are: Gwendolyn T. Bronson, SHINE/
SHIP Counselor, Massachusetts SHINE Program; Dr. Yanira Cruz, President 
and Chief Executive Officer, National Hispanic Council on Aging; 
Stephen L. Fera, Vice President, Social Mission Programs, Independence 
Blue Cross; Nan Kirsten-Fort[eacute], Executive Vice President, 
Consumer Services, WebMD; Cathy Graeff, R.Ph., M.B.A., National, Senior 
Vice President, Communications and Industry Relations, National Council 
for Prescription Drug Programs; Dr. Carmen R. Green, Director, Pain 
Research Division, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, University of 
Michigan Health System; Dr. Jessie C. Gruman, President and Chief 
Executive Officer, Center for the Advancement of Health; Cindy 
Hounsell, J.D., President, Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement; 
Kathy Hughes, Vice Chairwoman, Oneida Nation; Gail Hunt, President and 
Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance for Caregiving; Dr. Andrew 
M. Kramer, Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver; Dr. 
Frank B. McArdle, Manager, Hewitt Research Office, Hewitt Associates; 
Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer, National Area Agencies on 
Aging; David Roberts, M.P.A., Vice President, Government Relations, 
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society; Julie Bod[euml]n 
Schmidt, Associate Vice President, Training and Technical Assistance 
Department, National Association of Community Health Centers; Rebecca 
Snead, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, National 
Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations.
    The agenda for the October 20, 2009 meeting will include the 
following:
     Recap of the previous (July 8, 2009) meeting.
     Subgroup Committee Work Summary.
     Medicare Outreach and Education Strategies.
     Public Comment.
     Listening Session with CMS Leadership.
     Next Steps.
    Individuals or organizations that wish to make a 5-minute oral 
presentation on an agenda topic should submit a written copy of the 
oral presentation to Lynne Johnson at the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date listed in the DATES 
section of this notice. 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. Johnson at the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date listed in the DATES 
section of this notice.
    Individuals requiring sign language interpretation or other special 
accommodations should contact Ms. Johnson at the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date listed in the DATES 
section of this notice.

    Authority: Sec. 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
217a) and sec. 10(a) of Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10(a) 
and 41 CFR 102-3).

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

    Dated: September 18, 2009.
Charlene Frizzera,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E9-23122 Filed 9-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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