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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32661-32663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12957]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7028-N]

Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs; 
Renewal of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) and 
Request for Nominations

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the charter of the Advisory Panel 
on Outreach and Education (APOE) has been renewed. It also requests 
nominations for individuals to serve on the 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 Daylight Time (e.d.t.) on July 1, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations to the following address: 
Kirsten Knutson, Acting Designated Federal Official, Office of 
Communications, CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop S1-13-05, 
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or email to Kirsten.Knutson@cms.hhs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kirsten Knutson, Acting Designated 
Federal Official, Office of Communications, CMS, 7500 Security 
Boulevard, Mail Stop S1-13-05, Baltimore, MD 21244, 410-786-5886, email 
kirsten.knutson@cms.hhs.gov or visit the Web site 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 on Medicare Education (the predecessor to the 
APOE) was created in 1999 to advise and make recommendations to the

[[Page 32662]]

Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary), 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 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. We 
have 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 us 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, the Secretary, and by delegation, the Administrator of 
CMS was authorized under Title I of MMA 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, 
we have 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) enacted a number of changes to Medicare as 
well as to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), 
and also expanded the availability of other options for health care 
coverage. In order to effectively implement and administer these 
changes, we must provide information to Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP 
consumers, providers and other stakeholders pursuant to education and 
outreach programs regarding how these programs will change and the 
expanded range of health coverage options available. The Advisory Panel 
on Outreach and Education 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.

II. Provisions of This Notice

A. Renewal of the APOE

    Pursuant to the charter approved on January 21, 2013, the APOE was 
renewed. The APOE will advise the Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS) and CMS on developing and implementing education 
programs that support individuals with or who are eligible for 
Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (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 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) group also includes advising on 
education of providers and stakeholders with respect to health care 
reform 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).
    The charter will terminate on January 21, 2015, 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.
    Pursuant to 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 CHIP.
     Enhancing the Federal government's effectiveness in 
informing the Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP consumers, providers and 
stakeholders pursuant to education and outreach programs of issues 
regarding these and other health coverage programs, including the 
appropriate use of public-private 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 
Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP education programs.
     Assembling and sharing an information base of ``best 
practices'' for helping consumers evaluate health plan 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, including 
prevention services, envisioned under health care reform.

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 approximately 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 communities
 Health communications
 Disease-related advocacy
 Disability policy and access
 Health economics research
 Health insurers and plans
 Health information technology (IT)
 Direct patient care
 Matters of labor and retirement

    Representatives of the general public may also serve on the APOE.
    This notice also announces that in July 2013, there will be 3 
expired terms of membership and in October 2013, there will be an 
additional 3 expired terms of membership. This notice is an invitation 
to interested organizations or individuals to submit their nominations 
for membership for all six vacancies on the APOE (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.
    Current members whose terms expire in 2013 may be considered for 
reappointment, subject to committee service guidelines.
    Each nomination must include a letter stating that the nominee has 
expressed

[[Page 32663]]

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 
critical needs are for experts in Health IT, Tribal Affairs, Community 
Health Centers/Medically Underserved Populations, African-American 
Health/Disparities, Health/Disability/Quality and State Programs/
Medicaid/Rural.
    We are requesting that all 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
 List of 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 Web 
site at: http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and Guidance/Guidance/FACA/
APOE.html, or you may obtain a copy of the charter by submitting a 
request to the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
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: May 23, 2013.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-12957 Filed 5-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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