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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 241 (Monday, December 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 71412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6057]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Expert Meeting on Disease Management Outcomes Measurement

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the date and location of the Department 
of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Planning and Evaluation (HHS/ASPE) Expert Meeting on Disease Management 
Outcomes Measurement. The objective of the meeting is to convene a 
panel of experts from government, academia, and private industry to 
discuss measurement of the impact of disease management on health 
outcomes and costs of care, with a focus on potential for public sector 
programs.

DATES: Wednesday, January 16, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: The Expert Meeting will be held at 1200 South Hayes Street, 
Room 4204, Arlington, VA 22202-5050. Telephone: (703) 413-1100. 
Registration procedures are described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adelle Simmons, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 200 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201. Telephone: (202) 690-5924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In the face of increasing health care costs, evidence of the need 
for system-wide health care quality improvement, and an aging 
population, disease management seems an intuitively appealing way to 
improve the coordination and quality of care, and ultimately improve 
health outcomes. In broad terms, disease management refers to a system 
of coordinated health care interventions and communications to help 
patients address chronic health conditions. Commercial health plans and 
large employers are embracing this strategy, and public purchasers of 
health care services including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services (CMS) have implemented demonstration programs to evaluate 
disease management for certain conditions.
    Questions about the effectiveness of disease management remain, in 
part, because the evaluation methods of vendors of large, population-
based programs often lack scientific validity. Conversely, vendors 
often argue that scientifically credible approaches, like a randomized 
controlled experiment that the Medicare Health Support pilot uses, are 
not feasible for routine operation. Thus, the lack of universally 
accepted yet feasible evaluation methods are a major obstacle to 
adopting and improving disease management, because potential purchasers 
of such programs find it hard to identify the best program design and 
to monitor its success. A primary goal of this meeting is to consider 
the variety of disease management programs and identify strategies to 
improve the assessment of their impact on individuals with multiple 
chronic conditions.

II. Registration

    The meeting is open to the public, and pre-registration is 
encouraged. Seating capacity is limited, so registration will be 
accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration can be 
completed by sending an e-mail message to Ms. Emily Taylor of the RAND 
Corporation at [email protected] (The RAND Corporation is the Contractor 
to HHS/ASPE to provide logistical support for the Expert Meeting.) To 
register by telephone, contact Ms. Taylor at (703) 413-1100 ext. 5793.
    The following information must be provided when registering: Name, 
Company/Organization, and address. A RAND Corporation staff member will 
confirm registrations by mail, e-mail, or fax.

    Note: In the event that the meeting must be canceled due to 
inclement weather, the meeting will be held at a later date, and 
registrants will be notified by RAND.

III. Special Accommodations

    Individuals who are hearing- or visually-impaired and have special 
requirements or a condition that requires special assistance must 
request accommodation when registering for the meeting in order to 
ensure that accommodations will be made.

    Dated: December 12, 2007.
Mary M. McGeein,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 07-6057 Filed 12-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-24-M
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