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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 6 (Friday, January 10, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2003-2005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00385]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7077-N]

Announcement of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education 
(APOE) Virtual Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the next meeting of the Advisory Panel 
on Outreach and Education (APOE) (the Panel) in accordance with the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Panel advises and makes 
recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) (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 Health Insurance Marketplace[supreg],\1\ Medicare, Medicaid, and 
the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This meeting is open to 
the public.
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    \1\ The Health Insurance Marketplace[supreg] is a registered 
service mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

DATES: 
    Meeting Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
eastern standard time (e.s.t).
    Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations, Special 
Accommodations, and Comments: Thursday, January 23, 2025 by 5 p.m. 
e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting Location: Virtual. All those who RSVP will receive the link 
to attend.
    Presentations and Written Comments: Presentations and written 
comments should be submitted to: Hailey Gutzmer, Acting Designated 
Federal Official (DFO), Office of Communications, Centers for Medicare 
& Medicaid Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 315D.02, 
Washington, DC 20201, 410-786-1307, or via email at [email protected].
    Registration: Persons wishing to attend this meeting must register 
at the website https://CMS-APOE-February2025.rsvpify.com or by 
contacting the DFO listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
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 the DFO at the address listed in 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date listed in the DATES 
section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hailey Gutzmer, Acting Designated 
Federal Official, Office of Communications, Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 315D.02, 
Washington, DC 20201, 410-786-1307, or via email at [email protected].
    Additional information about the APOE is available at: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE. Press 
inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Charter Renewal Information

A. Background

    The Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) (the Panel) is 
governed by the provisions of the 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 (the 
Act) (42 U.S.C. 1314(f)) and section 222 of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 217a).

[[Page 2004]]

    The Panel, which was first chartered in 1999, advises and makes 
recommendations to the Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services (CMS) on the effective implementation of national 
Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and 
Health Insurance Marketplace[supreg] outreach and education programs.
    The APOE has focused on a variety of laws, including the Medicare 
Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173), and 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)).
    The APOE helps the Department determine the best communication 
channels and tactics for various programs and priorities, as well as 
new rules and laws. In the coming years, we anticipate the American 
Rescue Plan (Pub. L. 117-2), the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Pub. 
L. 117-169), and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT) 
Act (Pub. L. 115-271) will be some of the topics the Panel will 
discuss. The Panel will provide feedback to CMS staff on outreach and 
education strategies, communication tools and messages and how to best 
reach minority, vulnerable, and Limited English Proficiency 
populations.

B. Charter Renewal

    The Panel's charter was renewed on January 19, 2023, and will 
terminate on January 19, 2025, unless renewed by appropriate action. 
The Charter is currently under review for renewal. The Charter can be 
found at https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/guidance/faca/
apoe.
    In accordance with the renewed charter, the APOE will advise the 
Secretary 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, CHIP, and coverage available through the Health Insurance 
Marketplace[supreg] and other CMS programs.
     Enhancing the federal government's effectiveness in 
informing Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or the Health Insurance 
Marketplace[supreg] consumers, issuers, providers, and stakeholders, 
pursuant to education and outreach programs regarding these programs, 
including public-private partnerships to leverage the resources of the 
private sector in educating beneficiaries, providers, partners and 
stakeholders.
     Expanding outreach to minority and underserved 
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of 
Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Health Insurance Marketplace[supreg] 
education programs and other CMS programs as designated.
     Assembling and sharing an information base of ``best 
practices'' for helping consumers evaluate health coverage options.
     Building and leveraging existing community infrastructure 
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 the Affordable Care Act.
    The current members of the Panel as of September 19, 2024 are as 
follows:
     Mitchell Balk, President, The Mt. Sinai Health Foundation.
     Paula Campbell, Director of Health Equity and Emergency 
Response, Illinois Primary Care Association.
     Dr. Matthew Fullen, Associate Professor of Counselor 
Education, Virginia Tech.
     Justin Gust, Vice President of Community Engagement, El 
Centro, Inc.
     Andrea Haynes, MD, Family Medicine Physician, PPC Austin 
Family Health Center.
     Lydia Isaac, Vice President for Health Equity and Policy, 
National Urban League.
     Vacheria Keys, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, 
National Association of Community Health Centers.
     Daisy Kim, Assistant Director for Government Relations and 
Legislative Analysis, University of California System.
     Lynn Kimball, Executive Director, Aging and Long-Term Care 
of Eastern Washington.
     Erin Loubier, Senior Director for Health and Legal 
Integration and Payment Innovation, Whitman-Walker Health.
     Dr. Alister Martin, Physician and Assistant Professor, 
Harvard Medical School and Harvard Kennedy School.
     Neil Meltzer, President and CEO, LifeBridge Health.
     Dr. Carol Podgorski, Professor of Psychiatry, Associate 
Chair of Academic Affairs, University of Rochester Medical Center.
     Melanie Prince, CEO MAPYourWay, LLC; Immediate Past 
President, Case Management Society of America.
     Carrie Rogers, Associate Director, Community Catalyst.
     Tricia Sandiego, Senior Advisor, Caregiving and Health 
Team, AARP.
     Marsha Schofield, President, Marsha Schofield & Associates 
LLC.
     Mina Schultz, Health Policy and Advocacy Manager, Young 
Invincibles.
     Daniel Spirn, Vice President, Government Relations, 
Utilization Review Accreditation Commission.
     Emily Whicheloe, Director of Education, Medicare Rights 
Center.

II. Meeting Format and Agenda

    In accordance with section 10(a) of the FACA, this notice announces 
a meeting of the APOE. The agenda for the February 6, 2025 meeting will 
include the following:
     Welcome and opening remarks from CMS leadership.
     Recap of the previous (September 19, 2024) meeting.
     Presentations on CMS programs, initiatives, and 
priorities; discussion of panel recommendations.
     An opportunity for public comment.
     Meeting adjourned.
    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 the DFO 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 an oral presentation may 
submit written comments to the DFO at the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice by the date listed in the DATES 
section of this notice.

III. Meeting Participation

    The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to 
registered participants. Persons wishing to attend this meeting must 
register at the following weblink https://CMS-APOE-February2025.rsvpify.com or by contacting the DFO at the address or 
telephone number listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
of this notice by the date specified in the DATES section of this 
notice. This meeting will be held virtually. Individuals who are not 
registered in advance will be unable to attend this meeting.

IV. Collection of Information

    This document does not impose information collection requirements, 
that is, reporting, recordkeeping, or third-party disclosure 
requirements. Consequently, there is no need for

[[Page 2005]]

review by the Office of Management and Budget under the authority of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
(CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, having reviewed and approved this 
document, authorizes Chyana Woodyard, who is the Federal Register 
Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of 
publication in the Federal Register.

Chyana Woodyard,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2025-00385 Filed 1-8-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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