Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 180 / Monday, September 18, 2006 / Notices 54665 

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ 

DemoProjectsEvalRpts/. 

Paper copies can be obtained by 

writing to Lisa Waters at the address 

listed in the ADDRESSES section of this 

notice. 

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver applications 

to the following address: Centers for 

Medicare & Medicaid Services, 

Attention: Lisa Waters, Mail Stop: C4–

17–27, 7500 Security Boulevard, 

Baltimore, Maryland 21244. 

Because of staff and resource 

limitations, we cannot accept 

applications by facsimile (fax) 

transmission or by e-mail. 

Eligible Organizations: Section 5007 

of the DRA provides that hospitals 

receiving payment under section 

1886(d) of the Social Security Act are 

eligible to apply. 

For the purpose of this demonstration, 

hospitals may provide gainsharing 

payments to physicians (as defined in 

1861(r)(1) or (3) and practitioners (as 

described in 1842(b)(18)(C)). Section 

5007(g)(4) permits practitioners as 

described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) to 

participate in this demonstration. We 

believe that the reference to section 

1842(e)(18)(C) in DRA section 5007(g) is 

a scrivener’s error, and that the 

reference should be to section 

1842(b)(18)(C). Section 5007(g) 

explicitly provides that the reference to 

physicians who are permitted to 

participate in the demo is deemed to 

include certain practitioners, which we 

believe is clear evidence of Congress’

intent to include such practitioners in 

the demo. We also note the Conference 

Report language specifically refers to the 

inclusion of practitioners as part of the 

gainsharing arrangement. Since section 

1842(e)(18)(C) does not exist, and since 

section 1842(b)(18)(C) is, with the 

exception of substituting (b) for (e), 

identical to that section], specifically 

defines practitioners, we believe that 

section 1842(b)(18)(C) is the one that 

Congress actually intended to reference, 

and that the substitution of the (e) for 

the (b) is a scrivener’s error. We do not 

believe that this typographical error 

impedes any authority to otherwise 

implement this demonstration. 

Furthermore, a comprehensive list of all 

eligibility requirements can be found in 

the ‘‘Eligible Organizations’’ section of 

the solicitation. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

Section 5007 of the Deficit Reduction 

Act of 2005 (DRA) requires the 

establishment of a qualified gainsharing 

demonstration program that will test 

and evaluate methodologies and 

arrangements between hospitals and 

physicians designed to govern the 

utilization of inpatient hospital 

resources and physician work to 

improve the quality and efficiency of 

care provided to beneficiaries and to 

develop improved operational and 

financial hospital performance with the 

sharing of remuneration as specified in 

the project. It will have a short-term 

focus given the limited size of the 

demonstration. 

II. Provisions of the Notice 

This notice solicits applications to 

participate in the DRA Section 5007 

Medicare Hospital Gainsharing 

Demonstration that will assist in 

determining if gainsharing can align 

incentives between hospitals and 

physicians to improve the quality and 

efficiency of care provided to 

beneficiaries, which will promote 

improved operational and financial 

performance of hospitals. The focus of 

each demonstration will be to link 

physician incentive payments to 

improvements in quality and efficiency. 

Each demonstration will provide 

measures to ensure that the quality and 

efficiency of care provided to 

beneficiaries is monitored and 

improved. 

Overall, we seek demonstration 

models that result in savings to 

Medicare. We will assure the 

demonstration is budget neutral. 

III. Collection of Information 

Requirements 

This information collection 

requirement is subject to the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA); however, 

the collection is currently approved 

under OMB control number 0938–0880 

entitled ‘‘Medicare Demonstration 

Waiver Application.’’

Authority: Section 5007 of the Deficit 

Reduction Act of 2005, Pub. L. 109–171. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program No. 93.778, Medical Assistance 

Program; No. 93.773 Medicare—Hospital 

Insurance Program; and No. 93.774, 

Medicare—Supplementary Medical 

Insurance Program) 

Dated: August 7, 2006. 

Mark B. McClellan, 

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services. 

[FR Doc. 06–7738 Filed 9–13–06; 3:58 pm] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[CMS–8030–N] 

RIN 0938–A023 

Medicare Program; Medicare Part B 

Monthly Actuarial Rates, Premium 

Rates, and Annual Deductible for 

Calendar Year 2007 

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

monthly actuarial rates for aged (age 65 

and over) and disabled (under age 65) 

beneficiaries enrolled in Part B of the 

Medicare Supplementary Medical 

Insurance (SMI) program beginning 

January 1, 2007. In addition, this notice 

announces the standard monthly 

premium for aged and disabled 

beneficiaries, as well as the incomerelated monthly adjustment amounts to 

be paid by beneficiaries with modified 

adjusted gross income above certain 

threshold amounts, as required by 

section 811 of the Medicare Prescription 

Drug, Improvement, and Modernization 

Act of 2003, as modified by the Deficit 

Reduction Act of 2005. It also 

announces the annual deductible to be 

paid by all beneficiaries during 2007. 

The standard monthly Part B 

premium is equal to 50 percent of the 

monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees 

or approximately 25 percent of the 

expected average total cost of Part B 

coverage for aged enrollees, plus any 

applicable income-related monthly 

adjustment amount. If a beneficiary has 

to pay an income-related monthly 

adjustment amount, they may have to 

pay a total monthly premium equal to 

35, 50, 65, or 80 percent of the total cost 

of Part B coverage, by the end of the 3- 

year transition period. However, for 

2007, the beneficiary is only responsible 

for one-third of any applicable incomerelated monthly adjustment amount. 

The monthly actuarial rates for 2007 

are $187.00 for aged enrollees and 

$197.30 for disabled enrollees. The 

monthly Part B premium rates to be 

paid in 2007, including the incomerelated monthly adjustment amounts, 

are $93.50 (the standard premium), 

$106.00, $124.70, $143.40, and $162.10. 

The specific amount payable by 

beneficiaries depends on their income 

level and income tax filing status. (The 

2006 premium rate paid by all 

beneficiaries was $88.50.) 

The Part B deductible for 2007 is 

$131.00 for all beneficiaries. 


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54666 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 180 / Monday, September 18, 2006 / Notices 

DATES: Effective Date: January 1, 2007. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: M. 

Kent Clemens, (410) 786–6391. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

Part B is the voluntary portion of the 

Medicare program that pays all or part 

of the costs for physicians’ services, 

outpatient hospital services, certain 

home health services, services furnished 

by rural health clinics, ambulatory 

surgical centers, comprehensive 

outpatient rehabilitation facilities, and 

certain other medical and health 

services not covered by Medicare Part 

A, Hospital Insurance. Medicare Part B 

is available to individuals who are 

entitled to Medicare Part A, as well as 

to U.S. residents who have attained age 

65 and are citizens, and aliens who were 

lawfully admitted for permanent 

residence and have resided in the 

United States for 5 consecutive years. 

Part B requires enrollment and payment 

of monthly premiums, as provided for 

in 42 CFR part 407, subpart B, and part 

408, respectively. The difference 

between the premiums paid by all 

enrollees and total incurred costs is met 

from the general revenues of the Federal 

Government. 

The Secretary of Health and Human 

Services (the Secretary) is required by 

section 1839 of the Social Security Act 

(the Act) to announce the Part B 

monthly actuarial rates for aged and 

disabled beneficiaries, as well as the 

monthly Part B premium. The Part B 

annual deductible is included in this 

notice because its determination is 

directly linked to the aged actuarial rate. 

The monthly actuarial rates for aged 

and disabled enrollees are used to 

determine the correct amount of general 

revenue financing per beneficiary each 

month. These amounts, according to 

actuarial estimates, will equal, 

respectively, one-half the expected 

average monthly cost of Part B for each 

aged enrollee (age 65 or over) and onehalf the expected average monthly cost 

of Part B for each disabled enrollee 

(under age 65). 

The Part B deductible to be paid by 

enrollees is also announced. Prior to the 

Medicare Prescription Drug, 

Improvement, and Modernization Act of 

2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108–173), the Part 

B deductible was set in statute. After 

setting the 2005 deductible amount at 

$110.00, section 629 of the MMA 

(amending section 1833(b) of the Act) 

requires that the Part B deductible be 

indexed beginning in 2006. The 

indexing factor to be used each year is 

the annual percentage increase in the 

Part B actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 

and over. Specifically, the 2007 Part B 

deductible is calculated by multiplying 

the 2006 deductible by the ratio of the 

2007 aged actuarial rate over the 2006 

aged actuarial rate. The amount 

determined under this formula is then 

rounded to the nearest dollar. 

The monthly Part B premium rate to 

be paid by aged and disabled enrollees 

is also announced. (Although the costs 

to the program per disabled enrollee are 

different than for the aged, the statute 

provides that they pay the same 

premium amount.) Beginning with the 

passage of section 203 of the Social 

Security Amendments of 1972 (Pub. L. 

92–603), the premium rate, which was 

determined on a fiscal year basis, was 

limited to the lesser of the actuarial rate 

for aged enrollees, or the current 

monthly premium rate increased by the 

same percentage as the most recent 

general increase in monthly Title II 

Social Security benefits. 

However, the passage of section 124 

of the Tax Equity and Fiscal 

Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) 

(Pub. L. 97–248) suspended this 

premium determination process. 

Section 124 of TEFRA changed the 

premium basis to 50 percent of the 

monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees 

(that is, 25 percent of program costs for 

aged enrollees). Section 606 of the 

Social Security Amendments of 1983 

(Pub. L. 98–21), section 2302 of the 

Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (DEFRA 

84) (Pub. L. 98–369), section 9313 of the 

Consolidated Omnibus Budget 

Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA 85) 

(Pub. L. 99–272), section 4080 of the 

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 

1987 (OBRA 87) (Pub. L. 100–203), and 

section 6301 of the Omnibus Budget 

Reconciliation Act of 1989 (OBRA 89) 

(Pub. L. 101–239) extended the 

provision that the premium be based on 

50 percent of the monthly actuarial rate 

for aged enrollees (that is, 25 percent of 

program costs for aged enrollees). This 

extension expired at the end of 1990. 

The premium rates for 1991 through 

1995 were legislated by section 4301 of 

the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 

of 1990 (OBRA 90) (Pub. L. 101–508). In 

January 1996, the premium 

determination basis would have 

reverted to the method established by 

the 1972 Social Security Act 

Amendments. However, section 13571 

of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 

Act of 1993 (OBRA 93) (Pub. L. 103–66) 

changed the premium basis to 50 

percent of the monthly actuarial rate for 

aged enrollees (that is, 25 percent of 

program costs for aged enrollees) for 

1996 through 1998. 

Section 4571 of the Balanced Budget 

Act of 1997 (BBA) (Pub. L. 105–33) 

permanently extended the provision 

that the standard premium be based on 

50 percent of the monthly actuarial rate 

for aged enrollees (that is, 25 percent of 

program costs for aged enrollees). 

The BBA included a further provision 

affecting the calculation of the Part B 

actuarial rates and premiums for 1998 

through 2003. Section 4611 of the BBA 

modified the home health benefit 

payable under Part A for individuals 

enrolled in Part B. Under this section, 

beginning in 1998, expenditures for 

home health services not considered 

‘‘post-institutional’’ are payable under 

Part B rather than Part A. However, 

section 4611(e)(1) of the BBA required 

that there be a transition from 1998 

through 2002 for the aggregate amount 

of the expenditures transferred from 

Part A to Part B. Section 4611(e)(2) of 

the BBA also provided a specific yearly 

proportion for the transferred funds. 

The proportions were 1⁄6 for 1998, 1⁄3 for 

1999, 1⁄2 for 2000, 2⁄3 for 2001, and 5⁄6

for 2002. For the purpose of determining 

the correct amount of financing from 

general revenues of the Federal 

Government, it was necessary to include 

only these transitional amounts in the 

monthly actuarial rates for both aged 

and disabled enrollees, rather than the 

total cost of the home health services 

being transferred. 

Section 4611(e)(3) of the BBA also 

specified, for the purpose of 

determining the premium, that the 

monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 

65 and over be computed as though the 

transition would occur for 1998 through 

2003 and that 1⁄7 of the cost be 

transferred in 1998, 2⁄7 in 1999, 3⁄7 in 

2000, 4⁄7 in 2001, 5⁄7 in 2002, and 6⁄7 in 

2003. Therefore, the transition period 

for incorporating this home health 

transfer into the premium was 7 years 

while the transition period for including 

these services in the actuarial rate was 

6 years. 

Section 811 of the Medicare 

Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 

Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108–

173, also known as the Medicare 

Modernization Act, or MMA), which 

amended section 1839 of the Act, 

requires that, starting on January 1, 

2007, the Part B premium a beneficiary 

pays each month be based on their 

annual income. Specifically, if a 

beneficiary’s ‘‘modified adjusted gross 

income’’ is greater than the legislated 

threshold amounts (for 2007, $80,000 

for a beneficiary filing an individual 

income tax return, and $160,000 for a 

beneficiary filing a joint tax return) the 

beneficiary is responsible for a larger 

portion of the estimated total cost of 

Part B benefit coverage. In addition to 

the standard 25 percent premium, these 


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beneficiaries will now have to pay an 

income-related monthly adjustment 

amount. The MMA made no change to 

the actuarial rate calculation, and the 

standard premium, which will continue 

to be paid by beneficiaries whose 

modified adjusted gross income is 

below the applicable thresholds, still 

represents 25 percent of the estimated 

total cost to the program of Part B 

coverage for an aged enrollee. However, 

once the adjustments are fully phased 

in, and depending on income and tax 

filing status, a beneficiary could now be 

responsible for 35, 50, 65, or 80 percent 

of the estimated total cost of Part B 

coverage, rather than 25 percent. The 

end result of the higher premium is that 

the Part B premium subsidy is reduced 

and less general revenue financing is 

required for beneficiaries with higher 

income because they are paying a larger 

share of the total cost with their 

premium. That is, the premium subsidy 

will continue to be approximately 75 

percent for beneficiaries with income 

below the applicable income thresholds, 

but will be reduced for beneficiaries 

with income above these thresholds. 

The MMA specified that there be a 5- 

year transition to full implementation of 

this provision. However, the Deficit 

Reduction Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–171) 

(DRA) modified the transition to a 3- 

year period. 

Section 4732(c) of the BBA added 

section 1933(c) of the Act, which 

required the Secretary to allocate money 

from the Part B trust fund to the State 

Medicaid programs for the purpose of 

providing Medicare Part B premium 

assistance from 1998 through 2002 for 

the low-income Medicaid beneficiaries 

who qualify under section 1933 of the 

Act. This allocation, while not a benefit 

expenditure, was an expenditure of the 

trust fund and was included in 

calculating the Part B actuarial rates 

through 2002. For 2003, 2004, 2005, and 

2006, the expenditure was made from 

the trust fund because the allocation 

was temporarily extended. However, 

because the extension occurred after the 

Part B financing was determined, the 

allocation was not included in the 

calculation of the financing rates. For 

2007, the allocation has been 

temporarily extended and is included in 

the calculation of the financing rates. 

A further provision affecting the 

calculation of the Part B premium is 

section 1839(f) of the Act, as amended 

by section 211 of the Medicare 

Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 

(MCCA 88) (Pub. L. 100–360). (The 

Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Repeal 

Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 101–234) did not 

repeal the revisions to section 1839(f) 

made by MCCA 88.) Section 1839(f) of 

the Act referred to as the ‘‘holdharmless’’ provision, provides that if an 

individual is entitled to benefits under 

section 202 or 223 of the Act (the OldAge and Survivors Insurance Benefit 

and the Disability Insurance Benefit, 

respectively) and has the Part B 

premiums deducted from these benefit 

payments, the premium increase will be 

reduced, if necessary, to avoid causing 

a decrease in the individual’s net 

monthly payment. This decrease in 

payment occurs if the increase in the 

individual’s social security benefit due 

to the cost-of-living adjustment under 

section 215(i) of the Act is less than the 

increase in the premium. Specifically, 

the reduction in the premium amount 

applies if the individual is entitled to 

benefits under section 202 or 223 of the 

Act for November and December of a 

particular year and the individual’s Part 

B premiums for December and the 

following January are deducted from the 

respective month’s section 202 or 223 

benefits. The ‘‘hold-harmless’’ provision 

does not apply to beneficiaries who are 

required to pay an income-related 

monthly adjustment amount. 

A check for benefits under section 202 

or 223 of the Act is received in the 

month following the month for which 

the benefits are due. The Part B 

premium that is deducted from a 

particular check is the Part B payment 

for the month in which the check is 

received. Therefore, a benefit check for 

November is not received until 

December, but has December’s Part B 

premium deducted from it. 

Generally, if a beneficiary qualifies for 

hold-harmless protection, that is, if the 

beneficiary was in current payment 

status for November and December of 

the previous year, the reduced premium 

for the individual for that January and 

for each of the succeeding 11 months for 

which he or she is entitled to benefits, 

under section 202 or 203 of the Act, is 

the greater of the following: 

• The monthly premium for January 

reduced as necessary to make the 

December monthly benefits, after the 

deduction of the Part B premium for 

January, at least equal to the preceding 

November’s monthly benefits, after the 

deduction of the Part B premium for 

December. 

• The monthly premium for that 

individual for that December. 

In determining the premium 

limitations under section 1839(f) of the 

Act, the monthly benefits to which an 

individual is entitled under section 202 

or 223 of the Act do not include 

retroactive adjustments or payments and 

deductions on account of work. Also, 

once the monthly premium amount is 

established under section 1839(f) of the 

Act, it will not be changed during the 

year even if there are retroactive 

adjustments or payments and 

deductions on account of work that 

apply to the individual’s monthly 

benefits. 

Individuals who have enrolled in Part 

B late or who have reenrolled after the 

termination of a coverage period are 

subject to an increased premium under 

section 1839(b) of the Act. The increase 

is a percentage of the premium and is 

based on the new premium rate before 

any reductions under section 1839(f) of 

the Act are made. 

II. Provisions of This Notice 

A. Notice of Medicare Part B Monthly 

Actuarial Rates, Monthly Premium 

Rates, and Annual Deductible 

The Medicare Part B monthly 

actuarial rates applicable for 2007 are 

$187.00 for enrollees age 65 and over 

and $197.30 for disabled enrollees 

under age 65. Section II.B. of this notice, 

presents the actuarial assumptions and 

bases from which these rates are 

derived. Listed below are the 2007 Part 

B monthly premium rates to be paid by 

beneficiaries who file an individual tax 

return (including those who are single, 

head of household, qualifying 

widow(er) with dependent child, or 

married filing separately who lived 

apart from their spouse for the entire 

taxable year), or a joint tax return. 

Beneficiaries who file an individual tax return with income Beneficiaries who file a joint tax return with income 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $80,000 ...................................... Less than or equal to $160,000 ................................... $0.00 $93.50 

Greater than $80,000 and less than or equal to 

$100,000.

Greater than $160,000 and less than or equal to 

$200,000.

12.50 106.00 

Greater than $100,000 and less than or equal to 

$150,000.

Grater than $200,000 and less than or equal to 

$300,00.

31.20 124.70 


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Beneficiaries who file an individual tax return with income Beneficiaries who file a joint tax return with income 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Greater than $150,000 and less than or equal to 

$200,000.

Greater than $300,000 and less than or equal to 

$400,000.

49.90 143.40 

Greater than $200,000 .................................................. Greater than $400,000 ................................................. 68.60 162.10 

In addition, the monthly premium 

rates to be paid by beneficiaries who are 

married and lived with their spouse at 

any time during the taxable year, but file 

a separate tax return from their spouse, 

are listed below. 

Beneficiaries who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the year, but file a separate tax 

return from their spouse 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $80,000 ................................................................................................................................ $0.00 $93.50 

Greater than $80,000 and less than or equal to $120,000 ..................................................................................... 49.90 143.40 

Greater than $120,000 ............................................................................................................................................ 68.60 162.10 

The Part B annual deductible for 2007 

is $131.00 for all beneficiaries. 

B. Statement of Actuarial Assumptions 

and Bases Employed in Determining the 

Monthly Actuarial Rates and the 

Monthly Premium Rates for Part B 

Beginning January 2007 

1. Actuarial Status of the Part B Account 

in the Supplementary Medical 

Insurance Trust Fund 

Under the statute, the starting point 

for determining the standard monthly 

premium is the amount that would be 

necessary to finance Part B on an 

incurred basis. This is the amount of 

income that would be sufficient to pay 

for services furnished during that year 

(including associated administrative 

costs) even though payment for some of 

these services will not be made until 

after the close of the year. The portion 

of income required to cover benefits not 

paid until after the close of the year is 

added to the trust fund and used when 

needed. 

The premium rates are established 

prospectively and are, therefore, subject 

to projection error. Additionally, 

legislation enacted after the financing 

was established, but effective for the 

period in which the financing is set, 

may affect program costs. As a result, 

the income to the program may not 

equal incurred costs. Therefore, trust 

fund assets must be maintained at a 

level that is adequate to cover a 

moderate degree of variation between 

actual and projected costs, and the 

amount of incurred, but unpaid, 

expenses. Numerous factors determine 

what level of assets is appropriate to 

cover a moderate degree of variation 

between actual and projected costs. The 

two most important of these factors are: 

(1) The difference from prior years 

between the actual performance of the 

program and estimates made at the time 

financing was established; and (2) the 

expected relationship between incurred 

and cash expenditures. Both factors are 

analyzed on an ongoing basis, as the 

trends vary over time. 

Table 1 summarizes the estimated 

actuarial status of the trust fund as of 

the end of the financing period for 2005 

and 2006. 

TABLE 1.—ESTIMATED ACTUARIAL STATUS OF THE PART B ACCOUNT IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL MEDICAL INSURANCE TRUST

FUND AS OF THE END OF THE FINANCING PERIOD

Financing period ending Assets 

(millions) 

Liabilities 

(millions) 

Assets less 

liabilities 

(millions) 

Dec. 31, 2005 .............................................................................................................................. $24,008 $10,386 $13,622 

Dec. 31, 2006 .............................................................................................................................. 29,605 7,498 22,107 

2. Monthly Actuarial Rate for Enrollees 

Age 65 and Older 

The monthly actuarial rate for 

enrollees age 65 and older is one-half of 

the sum of monthly amounts for: (a) The 

projected cost of benefits; and (b) 

administrative expenses for each 

enrollee age 65 and older, after 

adjustments to this sum to allow for 

interest earnings on assets in the trust 

fund and an adequate contingency 

margin. The contingency margin is an 

amount appropriate to provide for a 

moderate degree of variation between 

actual and projected costs and to 

amortize any surplus or unfunded 

liabilities. 

The monthly actuarial rate for 

enrollees age 65 and older for 2007 is 

determined by first establishing perenrollee cost by type of service from 

program data through 2005 and then 

projecting these costs for subsequent 

years. The projection factors used for 

financing periods from January 1, 2004 

through December 31, 2007 are shown 

in Table 2. 

As indicated in Table 3, the projected 

monthly rate required to pay for onehalf of the total of benefits and 

administrative costs for enrollees age 65 

and over for 2007 is $177.83. The 

monthly actuarial rate of $187.00 also 

provides an adjustment of ¥$1.86 for 

interest earnings and $11.03 for a 

contingency margin. Based on current 

estimates, the assets are not sufficient to 

cover the amount of incurred, but 

unpaid, expenses and to provide for a 

moderate degree of variation between 

actual and projected costs. Thus, a 

positive contingency margin is needed 

to increase assets to a more appropriate 

level. This situation has arisen primarily 

due to faster than expected expenditure 

growth, along with the enactment of the 

Consolidated Appropriations Resolution 


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(Pub. L. 108–7) in February 2003, the 

MMA in December 2003, and the DRA 

in February 2006. Each of these three 

legislative packages was enacted after 

the establishment of the Part B premium 

(for 2003, 2004, and 2006, respectively). 

Because each Act raised Part B 

expenditures subsequent to the setting 

of the premium, total Part B revenues 

from premiums and general fund 

transfers have been inadequate to cover 

total costs. As a consequence, the assets 

of the Part B account in the 

Supplementary Medical Insurance trust 

fund were drawn on to cover the 

shortfall. Therefore, the remaining level 

of assets is inadequate for contingency 

purposes. 

The contingency margin included in 

establishing the 2006 actuarial rate and 

beneficiary premiums was intended to 

achieve significant progress towards 

restoring the assets to an adequate level. 

As noted previously, the subsequent 

enactment of the DRA increased Part B 

expenditures and thereby limited the 

growth in Part B account assets, with 

the result that the intended progress was 

not achieved. In an effort to balance the 

financial integrity of the Part B account 

with the increase in the Part B premium, 

the financing rates for 2007 are set to 

increase the asset level in the Part B 

account to the fully adequate level at the 

end of 2007 under current law (that is, 

in the absence of further legislation). 

3. Monthly Actuarial Rate for Disabled 

Enrollees 

Disabled enrollees are those persons 

under age 65 who are enrolled in Part 

B because of entitlement to social 

security disability benefits for more than 

24 months or because of entitlement to 

Medicare under the end-stage renal 

disease (ESRD) program. Projected 

monthly costs for disabled enrollees 

(other than those with ESRD) are 

prepared in a fashion parallel to the 

projection for the aged using 

appropriate actuarial assumptions (see 

Table 2). Costs for the ESRD program are 

projected differently because of the 

different nature of services offered by 

the program. 

As shown in Table 4, the projected 

monthly rate required to pay for onehalf of the total of benefits and 

administrative costs for disabled 

enrollees for 2007 is $201.12. The 

monthly actuarial rate of $197.30 also 

provides an adjustment of ¥$3.92 for 

interest earnings and $0.10 for a 

contingency margin. Based on current 

estimates, the assets associated with the 

disabled Medicare beneficiaries are 

sufficient to cover the amount of 

incurred, but unpaid, expenses and to 

provide for a moderate degree of 

variation between actual and projected 

costs. Thus, a minimal contingency 

margin is needed to maintain assets at 

an appropriate level. 

4. Sensitivity Testing 

Several factors contribute to 

uncertainty about future trends in 

medical care costs. It is appropriate to 

test the adequacy of the rates using 

alternative assumptions. The results of 

those assumptions are shown in Table 5. 

One set represents program cost 

increases that are lower and, therefore, 

more optimistic than the current 

estimate. The other set represents 

increases that are higher and, therefore, 

more pessimistic than the current 

estimate. The values for the alternative 

assumptions were determined from a 

statistical analysis of the historical 

variation in the respective increase 

factors. 

Table 5 indicates that, under the 

assumptions used in preparing this 

report, the monthly actuarial rates 

would result in an excess of assets over 

liabilities of $32,807 million by the end 

of December 2007. This amounts to 17.3 

percent of the estimated total incurred 

expenditures for the following year. 

Assumptions that are somewhat more 

pessimistic (and that therefore test the 

adequacy of the assets to accommodate 

projection errors) produce a surplus of 

$13,579 million by the end of December 

2007, which amounts to 6.4 percent of 

the estimated total incurred 

expenditures for the following year. 

Under fairly optimistic assumptions, the 

monthly actuarial rates would result in 

a surplus of $43,867 million by the end 

of December 2007, or 26.2 percent of the 

estimated total incurred expenditures 

for the following year. 

The above analysis indicates that the 

premium and general revenue financing 

established for 2007, together with 

existing Part B account assets, would be 

adequate to cover estimated Part B costs 

for 2007 under current law, even if 

actual costs prove to be somewhat 

greater than expected. 

5. Premium Rates and Deductible 

As determined pursuant to section 

1839 of the Act, listed below are the 

2007 Part B monthly premium rates to 

be paid by beneficiaries who file an 

individual tax return (including those 

who are single, head of household, 

qualifying widow(er) with dependent 

child, or married filing separately who 

lived apart from their spouse for the 

entire taxable year), or a joint tax return. 

Beneficiaries who file an individual tax return with income Beneficiaries who file a joint tax return with income 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $80,000 ...................................... Less than or equal to $160,000 ................................... $0.00 $93.50 

Greater than $80,000 and less than or equal to 

$100,000.

Greater than $160,000 and less than or equal to 

$200,000.

12.50 106.00 

Greater than $100,000 and less than or equal to 

$150,000.

Greater than $200,000 and less than or equal to 

$300,000.

31.20 124.70 

Greater than $150,000 and less than or equal to 

$200,000.

Greater than $300,000 and less than or equal to 

$400,000.

49.90 143.40 

Greater than $200,000 .................................................. Greater than $400,000 ................................................. 68.60 162.10 

In addition, the monthly premium 

rates to be paid by beneficiaries who are 

married and lived with their spouse at 

any time during the taxable year, but file 

a separate tax return from their spouse, 

are listed below. 

Beneficiaries who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the year, but file a separate tax 

return from their spouse 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $80,000 ................................................................................................................................ $0.00 $93.50 

Greater than $80,000 and less than or equal to $120,000 ..................................................................................... 49.90 143.40 


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Beneficiaries who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the year, but file a separate tax 

return from their spouse 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Greater than $120,000 ............................................................................................................................................ 68.60 162.10 

Also, as specified by section 1833(b) 

of the Act, the annual deductible for 

2007 is $131.00 for all beneficiaries. 

TABLE 2.—PROJECTON FACTORS 1 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31 OF 2004–2007 

[In percent] 

Calendar year 

Physician’s services Durable 

medical 

equipment 

Carrier 

lab 4

Other 

carrier 

services 5

Outpatient 

hospital 

Home 

health 

agency 

Hospital 

lab 6

Other 

intermediary 

services 7

Managed 

care Fees 2 Residual 3

Aged: 

2004 ............................. 3.8 6.0 ¥0.4 7.7 7.7 11.1 14.6 7.4 15.5 11.4 

2005 ............................. 2.1 3.7 1.4 7.0 3.8 8.7 10.3 6.1 14.7 9.7 

2006 ............................. 0.2 5.8 7.4 7.8 10.7 12.5 8.0 14.0 13.2 10.1 

2007 ............................. ¥7.2 7.5 3.7 5.9 12.8 10.1 8.1 4.0 ¥2.6 0.8 

Disabled: 

2004 ............................. 3.8 5.9 0.4 9.3 14.0 12.3 14.8 9.5 2.1 16.0 

2005 ............................. 2.1 3.9 3.2 7.9 10.0 9.4 9.6 5.9 10.1 3.4 

2006 ............................. 0.2 3.8 7.3 6.3 2.2 11.2 8.1 12.3 13.2 7.8 

2007 ............................. ¥7.2 7.4 3.6 5.7 11.3 9.9 8.4 3.8 ¥3.4 3.4 

1All values for services other than managed care are per fee-for-service enrollee. Managed care values are per managed care enrollee. 2As recognized for payment under the program. 

3 Increase in the number of services received per enrollee and greater relative use of more expensive services. 

4 Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the physician’s office or an independent lab. 5 Includes physician-administered drugs, ambulatory surgical center facility costs, ambulance services, parenteral and enteral drug costs, supplies, etc. 6 Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the outpatient department of a hospital. 

7 Includes services furnished in dialysis facilities, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals, etc. 

TABLE 3.—DERIVATION OF MONTLY ACTUARIAL RATE FOR ENROLLEES AGE 65 AND OVER FOR FINANCING PERIODS

ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2004 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2007 

Financing periods 

CY 2004 CY 2005 CY 2006 CY 2007 

Covered services (at level recognized): 

Physician fee schedule ............................................................................................................. $76.19 $79.78 $81.55 $79.18 

Durable medical equipment ...................................................................................................... 9.65 9.67 10.02 10.12 

Carrier lab 1 ............................................................................................................................... 3.44 3.64 3.79 3.91 

Other carrier services 2 ............................................................................................................. 18.96 19.46 20.77 22.81 

Outpatient hospital .................................................................................................................... 26.60 28.58 31.03 33.26 

Home health ............................................................................................................................. 6.66 7.26 7.56 7.96 

Hospital lab 3 ............................................................................................................................. 2.69 2.83 3.11 3.15 

Other intermediary services 4 ................................................................................................... 10.98 12.45 13.59 12.88 

Managed care ........................................................................................................................... 22.39 26.16 34.15 38.32 

Total services .................................................................................................................... 177.56 189.82 205.57 211.59 

Cost-sharing: 

Deductible ................................................................................................................................. ¥4.07 ¥4.47 ¥5.05 ¥5.33 

Coinsurance .............................................................................................................................. ¥30.83 ¥31.97 ¥32.68 ¥32.32 

Total benefits ..................................................................................................................... 142.65 153.38 167.85 173.93 

Administrative expenses .................................................................................................................. 3.06 3.39 3.48 3.90 

Incurred expenditures ............................................................................................................... 145.72 156.77 171.33 177.83 

Value of interest ............................................................................................................................... ¥1.63 ¥1.28 ¥1.30 ¥1.86 

Contingency margin for projection error and to amortize the surplus or deficit .............................. ¥10.88 0.91 6.87 11.03 

Monthly actuarial rate ............................................................................................................... 133.20 156.40 176.90 187.00 

1 Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the physician’s office or an independent lab. 2 Includes physician-administered drugs, ambulatory surgical center facility costs, ambulance services, parenteral and enteral drug costs, supplies, etc. 3 Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the outpatient department of a hospital. 

4 Includes services furnished in dialysis facilities, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals, 

etc. 


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TABLE 4.—DERIVATION OF MONTHLY ACTUARIAL RATE FOR DISABLED ENROLLEES FINANCING PERIODS ENDING

DECEMBER 31, 2004 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2007 

Financing periods 

CY 2004 CY 2005 CY 2006 CY 2007 

Covered services (at level recognized): 

Physician fee schedule ............................................................................................................. $77.90 $82.21 $84.21 $82.95 

Durable medical equipment ...................................................................................................... 16.41 16.90 17.87 18.29 

Carrier lab 1 ............................................................................................................................... 4.17 4.47 4.69 4.90 

Other carrier services 2 ............................................................................................................. 22.66 24.87 25.26 27.81 

Outpatient hospital .................................................................................................................... 35.79 38.74 42.57 46.22 

Home health ............................................................................................................................. 5.40 5.88 6.25 6.70 

Hospital lab 3 ............................................................................................................................. 4.10 4.30 4.76 4.88 

Other intermediary services 4 ................................................................................................... 37.40 39.75 43.99 41.65 

Managed care ........................................................................................................................... 11.09 12.56 16.38 19.05 

Total services .................................................................................................................... 214.92 229.69 245.98 252.44 

Cost-sharing: 

Deductible ................................................................................................................................. ¥3.79 ¥4.15 ¥4.71 ¥4.98 

Coinsurance .............................................................................................................................. ¥44.22 ¥46.39 ¥48.23 ¥50.13 

Total benefits ..................................................................................................................... 166.91 179.14 193.03 197.34 

Administrative expenses .................................................................................................................. 5 9.16 3.83 3.76 3.78 

Incurred expenditures ............................................................................................................... 176.07 182.98 196.79 201.12 

Value of interest ....................................................................................................................... ¥1.37 ¥2.35 ¥2.86 ¥3.92 

Contingency margin for projection error and to amortize the surplus or deficit .............................. 0.80 11.18 9.77 0.10 

Monthly actuarial rate ............................................................................................................... 175.50 191.80 203.70 197.30 

1 Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the physician’s office or an independent lab. 2 Includes physician-administered drugs, ambulatory surgical center facility costs, ambulance services, parenteral and enteral drug costs, supplies, etc. 3 Includes services paid under the lab fee schedule furnished in the outpatient department of a hospital. 

4 Includes services furnished in dialysis facilities, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals, 

etc. 5 Includes payment of estimated contingent liability payable to States (to reimburse them for payments they have made on behalf of beneficiaries) for probable unasserted claims that resulted from processing errors where incorrect Medicare eligibility determinations were made. 

TABLE 5.—ACTUARIAL STATUS OF THE PART B ACCOUNT IN THE SMI TRUST FUND UNDER THREE SETS OF

ASSUMPTIONS FOR FINANCING PERIODS THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2007 

As of December 31 2005 2006 2007 

This projection: 

Actuarial status (in millions): 

Assets .............................................................................................................................................. $24,008 $29,605 $39,921 

Liabilities .......................................................................................................................................... 10,386 7,498 7,114 

Assets less liabilities ................................................................................................................ 13,622 22,107 32,807 

Ratio (in percent) 1 .......................................................................................................................... 8 .1 12 .5 17 .3 

Low cost projection: 

Actuarial status (in millions): 

Assets .............................................................................................................................................. 24,008 29,605 50,192 

Liabilities .......................................................................................................................................... 10,386 6,684 6,325 

Assets less liabilities ................................................................................................................ 13,622 22,921 43,867 

Ratio (in percent) 1 .......................................................................................................................... 8 .5 14 .2 26 .2 

High cost projection: 

Actuarial status (in millions): 

Assets .............................................................................................................................................. 24,008 29,605 21,464 

Liabilities .......................................................................................................................................... 10,386 8,270 7,885 

Assets less liabilities ................................................................................................................ 13,622 21,336 13,579 

Ratio (in percent) 1 .......................................................................................................................... 7 .7 11 .1 6 .4 

1 Ratio of assets less liabilities at the end of the year to the total incurred expenditures during the following year, expressed as a percent. 

III. Regulatory Impact Analysis 

We have examined the impact of this 

notice under the Executive Order 12866 

(September 1993, Regulatory Planning 

and Review) and the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (RFA) (September 19, 

1980, Pub. L. 96–354). Executive Order 

12866 directs agencies to assess all costs 

and benefits of available regulatory 

alternatives and, if regulation is 

necessary, to select regulatory 

approaches that maximize net benefits 

(including potential economic, 

environmental, public health and safety 


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effects, distributive impacts, and 

equity). 

The RFA requires agencies to analyze 

options for regulatory relief of small 

businesses. For purposes of the RFA, 

small entities include small businesses, 

nonprofit organizations, and small 

governmental jurisdictions. Most 

hospitals and most other providers and 

suppliers are small entities, either by 

nonprofit status or by having revenues 

of $6 million to $29 million in any 1- 

year. 

In addition, section 1102(b) of the Act 

requires us to prepare a regulatory 

impact analysis if a rule may have a 

significant impact on the operations of 

a substantial number of small rural 

hospitals. This analysis must conform to 

the provisions of section 604 of the 

RFA. For purposes of section 1102(b) of 

the Act, we define a small rural hospital 

as a hospital that is located outside of 

a Metropolitan Statistical Area and has 

fewer than 100 beds. We have 

determined that this notice will not 

have a significant effect on a substantial 

number of small entities or on the 

operations of a substantial number of 

small rural hospitals. Therefore, we are 

not preparing analyses for either the 

RFA or section 1102(b) of the Act. 

Section 202 of the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) 

requires that agencies assess anticipated 

costs and benefits before issuing any 

proposed or final rule that contains 

mandates that may result in the 

expenditure in any one year by State, 

local, and tribal governments, or by the 

private sector, of $100 million in 1995 

dollars. This notice contains no 

mandates for expenditures by State, 

local, or tribal governments or the 

private sector. Accordingly, it does not 

trigger the threshold set under UMRA. 

Executive Order 13132 establishes 

certain requirements that an agency 

must meet when it publishes a proposed 

rule (and subsequent final rule) that 

imposes substantial direct compliance 

costs on State and local governments, 

preempts State law, or otherwise has 

Federalism implications. We have 

determined that this notice does not 

significantly affect the rights, roles, and 

responsibilities of States. 

This notice announces that the 

monthly actuarial rates applicable for 

2007 are $187.00 for enrollees age 65 

and over and $197.30 for disabled 

enrollees under age 65. It also 

announces the 2007 monthly Part B 

premium rates to be paid by 

beneficiaries who file an individual tax 

return (including those who are single, 

head of household, qualifying 

widow(er) with a dependent child, or 

married filing separately who lived 

apart from their spouse for the entire 

taxable year), or a joint tax return. 

Beneficiaries who file an individual tax return with income Beneficiaries who file a joint tax return with income 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $80,000 ...................................... Less than or equal to $160,000 ................................... $0.00 $93.50 

Greater than $80,000 and less than or equal to 

$100,000.

Greater than $160,000 and less than or equal to 

$200,000.

12.50 106.00 

Greater than $100,000 and less than or equal to 

$150,000.

Greater than $200,000 and less than or equal to 

$300,000.

31.20 124.70 

Greater than $150,000 and less than or equal to 

$200,000.

Greater than $300,000 and less than or equal to 

$400,000.

49.90 143.40 

Greater than $200,000 .................................................. Greater than $400,000 ................................................. 68.60 162.10 

In addition, the monthly premium 

rates to be paid by beneficiaries who are 

married and lived with their spouse at 

any time during the taxable year, but file 

a separate tax return from their spouse, 

are also announced and listed below. 

Beneficiaries who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the year, but file a separate tax 

return from their spouse 

Income-related 

monthly 

adjustment 

amount 

Total monthly 

premium 

amount 

Less than or equal to $80,000 ................................................................................................................................ $0.00 $93.50 

Greater than $80,000 and less than or equal to $120,000 ..................................................................................... 49.90 143.40 

Greater than $120,000 ............................................................................................................................................ 68.60 162.10 

The Part B deductible for calendar 

year 2007 is $131.00. The standard Part 

B premium rate of $93.50 is 5.6 percent 

higher than the $88.50 premium rate for 

2006. We estimate that this increase will 

cost approximately 41 million Part B 

enrollees about $2.5 billion for 2007. 

The monthly impact on the beneficiaries 

who are required to pay a higher 

premium for 2007 because their 

incomes exceed specified thresholds is 

$12.50, $31.20, $49.90, or $68.60, which 

is in addition to the standard monthly 

premium. Therefore, this notice is a 

major rule as defined in Title 5, United 

States Code, section 804(2) and is an 

economically significant rule under 

Executive Order 12866. 

In accordance with the provisions of 

Executive Order 12866, this notice was 

reviewed by the Office of Management 

and Budget. 

IV. Waiver of Proposed Notice and 

Comment 

The Medicare statute requires the 

publication of the monthly actuarial 

rates and the Part B premium amounts 

in September. We ordinarily use general 

notices, rather than notice and comment 

rulemaking procedures, to make such 

announcements. In doing so, we note 

that, under the Administrative 

Procedure Act, interpretive rules, 

general statements of policy, and rules 

of agency organization, procedure, or 

practice are excepted from the 

requirements of notice and comment 

rulemaking. 

We considered publishing a proposed 

notice to provide a period for public 

comment. However, we may waive that 

procedure if we find, for good cause, 

that prior notice and comment are 

impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary 

to the public interest. We find that the 

procedure for notice and comment is 

unnecessary because the formula used 

to calculate the Part B premium and the 

income-related monthly adjustment 

amounts are statutorily directed and we 

can exercise no discretion in applying 


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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 180 / Monday, September 18, 2006 / Notices 54673 

those formulas. Moreover, the statute 

establishes the time period for which 

the premium rates will apply, and 

delaying publication of the Part B 

premium rate such that it would not be 

published before that time would be 

contrary to the public interest. 

Therefore, we find good cause to waive 

publication of a proposed notice and 

solicitation of public comments. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program No. 93.773, Medicare—Hospital 

Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, 

Medicare—Supplementary Medical 

Insurance Program) 

Dated: September 11, 2006. 

Mark B. McClellan, 

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services. 

Approved: September 12, 2006. 

Michael O. Leavitt, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 06–7709 Filed 9–12–06; 4:00 pm] 

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Administration for Children and 

Families 

Submission for OMB Review: 

Comment Request 

Title: Tribal Temporary Assistance for 

Needy Families (TANF) Program Data 

Reporting Instructions and 

Requirements. 

OMB No.: 0970–0215. 

Description: 42 U.S.C. 612 (Section 

412 of the Social Security Act as 

amended by Public Law 104–193, the 

Personal Responsibility and Work 

Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 

(PRWORA)) mandates that federally 

recognized Indian Tribes with an 

approved Tribal TANF program collect 

and submit to the Secretary of the 

Department of Health and Human 

Services data on the recipients served 

by the Tribes’ programs. This 

information includes both aggregated 

and disaggregated data on case 

characteristics and individual 

characteristics. In addition, Tribes that 

are subject to a penalty are allowed to 

provide reasonable cause justifications 

as to why a penalty should not be 

imposed or may develop and implement 

corrective compliance procedures to 

eliminate the source of the penalty. 

Finally, there is an annual report, which 

requires the Tribes to describe program 

characteristics. All of the above 

requirements are currently approved by 

OMB and the Administration for 

Children and Families is simply 

proposing to extend them without any 

changes. 

Respondents: Indian Tribes. 

ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES

Instrument Number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses per 

respondent 

Average 

burden hours 

per response 

Total burden 

hours 

Final Tribal TANF Data Report ........................................................ 56 4 451 101,024 

Tribal TANF Annual Report ............................................................. 56 1 40 2,240 

Tribal TANF Reasonable Cause/Corrective Action Documentation 

Process ........................................................................................ 56 1 60 3,360 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 106,624. 

Additional Information: Copies of the 

proposed collection may be obtained by 

writing to the Administration for 

Children and Families, Office of 

Administration, Office of Information 

Services, 370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW., 

Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF 

Reports Clearance Officer. All requests 

should be identified by the title of the 

Information collection. E-mail address: 

infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. 

OMB Comment: OMB is required to 

make decision concerning the collection 

of information between 30 and 60 days 

after publication of this document in the 

Federal Register. Therefore, a comment 

is best assured of having its full effect 

if OMB receives it within 30 days of 

publication. Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

directly to the following: Office of 

Management and Budget, Paperwork 

Reduction Project, Attn: Desk Officer for 

ACF; E-mail address: 

Katherine_T._Astrich@omb.eop.gov. 

Dated: September 12, 2006. 

Robert Sargis, 

Reports Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 06–7727 Filed 9–15–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4184–01–M 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

Notice 

The National Institute on Aging and 

several other Institutes of the National 

Institutes of Health will hold a 

conference entitled ‘‘Conference on 

Alzheimer’s Disease: Setting the 

Research Agenda a Century after 

Auguste D’’ on October 26–27, 2006. 

The purpose of the conference is to 

discuss future directions for the NIH 

Alzheimer’s disease research agenda. 

The focus of the conference will be on 

discussing the research issues that must 

be addressed in order to provide more 

efficacious diagnostics and therapeutics 

to patients and their families. 

The conference will include a series 

of 30 minute presentations by experts in 

covering a broad spectrum of 

Alzheimer’s disease research. The 

speakers will provide an overview of 

where research in a particular field is 

now and discuss what the critical 

questions and issues are that must be 

addressed to move the field forward. 

Persons interested in attending the 

conference should register at: http:// 

www.tech-res-intl.com/nia/ 

alzheimers_conference/default.htm. 

Registration is free but seating is 

limited. The Web site also provides 

information about hotel 

accommodations. 

Dated: September 12, 2006. 

Neil Buckholtz, 

Chief, Dementias of Aging Branch, 

Neuroscience and Neuropsychology of Aging 

Program, National Institute on Aging, 

National Institutes of Health. 

[FR Doc. 06–7732 Filed 9–15–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M 


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