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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21908-21909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9439]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part F of the Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations 
of Authority for the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (last amended at 75 FR 14176-
14178, dated March 24, 2010), is amended to reflect the abolishment of 
the Office of External Affairs and Beneficiary Services and the 
establishment of the Office of Public Engagement and the Office of 
Communications.
    The specific amendments to part F are described below:
    (1) Under Part F, CMS, Office of the Administrator, FC. 10 
Organizations, delete the Office of External Affairs and Beneficiary 
Services (FCB) and insert the following Office of Public Engagement 
(FCS) and the Office of Communications (FCT) after the Chief Operating 
Officer.
    (2) Under Part F, CMS, FC. 20 Functions, delete the description of 
the Office of External Affairs and Beneficiary Services (FCB) and 
insert the following descriptions of the Office of Public Engagement 
(FCS) and the Office of Communications (FCT):

Office of Public Engagement (FCS)

     Serves as CMS' focal point for outreach to beneficiaries 
and partners, provides leadership for CMS in the areas of Medicare 
Ombudsman activities, partnerships with providers and stakeholders, and 
tribal affairs. Advises the Administrator and other CMS components in 
all activities related to these functions and on matters that affect 
other units and levels of government.
     Formulates and implements a customer service plan that 
serves as a roadmap for the effective treatment and advocacy of 
customers and the quality of information provided to them.
     Coordinates a State and local program of counseling 
assistance for people with Medicare and their families through the 
administration of grants to State Health Insurance Assistance Program 
(SHIP), implementation of continuous quality improvement activities, 
ongoing performance measurement, and regular communication with SHIP 
grantees.
     Contributes to the formulation of policies, programs, and 
systems as well

[[Page 21909]]

as oversees beneficiary services and tribal affairs, including CMS' 
Ombudsman program, partner and provider relations, and program 
training. Coordinates with the Office of Legislation on the development 
and advancement of new legislative initiatives and improvements.
     Oversees all CMS interactions and collaboration with 
stakeholders relating to beneficiary services including but not limited 
to external advocacy groups, Medicare beneficiary customer service, 
Native American and Alaskan Native tribes, HHS, the White House, other 
CMS components, and other Federal government entities.
     Liaison between CMS and AI/AN communities including tribal 
leaders, health providers, beneficiaries and other Federal Agencies in 
regards to AI/AN health and CMS programs.
     Oversees all CMS interactions and collaborations with key 
stakeholders (external advocacy groups, contractors, local and State 
governments, HHS, the White House, other CMS components, and other 
Federal entities) related to the Medicare and Medicaid and other Agency 
programs.
     Coordinates stakeholder relations, community outreach, and 
public engagement with the CMS Regional Offices.
     Directs and administers CMS' programs for emergency 
preparedness and continuity of operations. Provides direction for all 
essential on-site services for Central Office and consultation and 
direction to Consortia/Regional Offices with respect to these programs.

Office of Communications (FCT)

     Serves as CMS' focal point for strategic and tactical 
communications--internal and external--providing leadership for CMS in 
the areas of traditional and new media, including Web initiatives such 
as social media supported by innovative, increasingly mobile 
technologies; media relations; public information campaigns; and 
speechwriting.
     Serves as CMS' focal point in all activities related to 
the media. Provides consultation, advice, and training to CMS' senior 
staff with respect to relations with the news media.
     Coordinates with external partners including the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the White House on 
key communication and public engagement initiatives, leveraging CMS 
resources to strategically support these activities.
     Contributes to the formulation of policies, programs, and 
systems as related to strategic and tactical communications.
     Coordinates with the Office of Legislation on the 
development and advancement of new legislative initiatives and 
improvements.
     Oversees communications research, design and development, 
evaluation and continuous improvement activities to improving internal 
and external communication tools, including but not limited to 
brochures, public information campaigns, handbooks, Web sites, reports, 
presentations/briefings.
     Identifies communication best practices for the benefit of 
CMS beneficiaries (i.e., of the Medicare and Medicaid programs) and 
other CMS customers.
     Contributes to the formulation of policies, programs, and 
systems as well as oversees beneficiary services provided by the 
beneficiary call centers. Serves as CMS' focal point for telephone 
services to beneficiaries, and provides leadership for CMS in the area 
of call center operations.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3101)

    Dated: March 27, 2011.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Principal Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer, Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-9439 Filed 4-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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