Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 249 / Friday, December 28, 2001 / Notices 67267

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation

Act of 1990 (OBRA 90) amended the Act

by standardizing Medigap benefits and

requiring that no more than 10 Medigap

benefit packages, Plans ‘‘A’’ through ‘‘J,’’

be offered nationwide. Three States

(Wisconsin, Minnesota, and

Massachusetts) experimented with

standardizing benefits before the

enactment of Federal standards. These

States were permitted to keep their

alternative forms of Medigap

standardization and are referred to as

the ‘‘waivered States.’’

Plan ‘‘A’’ is the basic benefit package.

It covers Medicare Part A hospital

coinsurance plus coverage for 365

additional days after Medicare benefits

end, over the beneficiary’s lifetime,

Medicare Part B coinsurance (generally

20 percent of the Medicare-approved

amount or, in the case of hospital

outpatient department services under a

prospective payment system, the

applicable copayment), and coverage for

the first 3 pints of blood per year.

Medigap Plans ‘‘B’’ through ‘‘J’’ contain

this basic benefit package, as well as

different combinations of additional

benefits. Plans ‘‘F’’ and ‘‘J’’ contain:

• Medicare Part A inpatient hospital

deductible.

• Skilled-nursing facility

coinsurance.

• Part B deductible.

• Foreign travel health emergencies.

• 100% of Medicare Part B excess

charges.

In addition, Plan ‘‘J’’ includes:

• At-home recovery.

• Some prescription drug coverage.

• Preventive care.

B. High Deductible Medigap Policies

Section 4032 of the Balanced Budget

Act of 1997 (BBA) authorized high

deductible versions of Plans ‘‘F’’ and ‘‘J’’

and their closest counterparts in the

waivered States. Unlike the regular

versions of Plans ‘‘F’’ and ‘‘J,’’ the high

deductible versions of these policies do

not begin paying benefits until the

deductible amount is met. Out-of-pocket

expenses that can be applied toward

this deductible are expenses that would

ordinarily be paid by the policy,

including Medicare deductibles for

Parts A and B, emergency foreign travel

expenses in the case of both high

deductible policies, and outpatient

prescription drug costs in the case of the

high deductible version of Plan J. The

Plan ‘‘F’’ deductible does not include

the separate foreign travel emergency

deductible of $250. The Plan ‘‘J’’

deductible does not include the plan’s

separate $250 prescription drug

deductible or the plan’s separate $250

deductible for foreign travel

emergencies. Even though foreign travel

emergency expenses and prescription

drug expenses may be applied toward

meeting the plan’s overall deductible,

these types of expenses can only be paid

after the separate $250 deductible for

the benefit has been met.

II. Provisions of This Notice

The high deductible amount is

determined in accordance with section

1882(p)(11)(C)(i) of the Act. That

provision prescribed a deductible of

$1500 for 1998 and 1999, and directed

that the amount increase each

subsequent year by the percent increase

in the Consumer Price Index for all

urban consumers (CPI–U), all items,

U.S. city average. For 2001, the high

deductible amount was $1,580. For

2002, the high deductible amount is

increased by the percent increase in the

CPI–U for the 12-month period ending

August 2001. As reported by the Bureau

of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor,

the CPI–U index was 172.7 in August

2000 and 177.5 in August 2001,

resulting in a 2.78 percent increase for

the 12-month period ending August

2001. A 2.78 percent increase in

$1,580.00 is $1,623.92. Section

1882(p)(11)(C)(ii) of the Act stipulates

that this amount be rounded to the

nearest multiple of $10. After rounding

$1,623.92 to the nearest $10 multiple,

the 2002 deductible for the Medigap

high deductible options is $1,620.

III. Regulatory Impact Statement

We have examined the impacts of this

notice as required by Executive Order

12866 (September 1993, Regulatory

Planning and Review) and the

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

(September 19, 1980 Public Law 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 effects, distributive impacts,

and equity). A regulatory impact

analysis (RIA) must be prepared for

major rules with economically

significant effects ($100 million or more

annually). The aggregate impact of this

notice on beneficiaries is negligible,

therefore, this is not a major notice.

The RFA requires agencies to analyze

options for regulatory relief of small

businesses. This notice does not effect

small businesses, individuals and States

are not included in the definition of a

small business entities.

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 notice does not effect

small rural hospitals.

Executive Order 13132 establishes

certain requirements that an agency

must meet when it promulgates a

proposed rule (and subsequent final

rule) that imposes substantial direct

requirement costs on State and local

governments, preempts State law, or

otherwise has Federalism implications.

This notice does not require an impact

analysis because it does not have an

economic impact on small entities,

small rural hospitals, or State, local, or

tribal governments.

In accordance with the provisions of

Executive Order 12866, this notice was

reviewed by the Office of Management

and Budget.

IV. Collection of Information

Requirements

This document does not impose

information collection and

recordkeeping requirements.

Consequently it need not be reviewed

by the Office of Management and

Budget under the authority of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Authority: Section 1882 of the Social

Security Act. (Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance Program No. 93.773, Medicare—

Hospital Insurance, and Program No. 93.774,

Medicare—Supplementary Medical

Insurance Program)

Dated: November 21, 2001.

Thomas A. Scully,

Administrator, Centers for Medicare &

Medicaid Services.

[FR Doc. 01–31721 Filed 12–27–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and

Families

[Program Announcement No. ACYF–PA–

HS–02–01B

Discretionary Announcement of the

Availability of Funds and Request for

Applications for Select Service Areas

of Early Head Start; Correction

AGENCY: Administration for Children,

Youth and Families, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Correction.

SUMMARY: This document contains a

correction to the Notice that was

published in the Federal Register on

September 20, 2001.

On page 48474, Appendix A, Part I, in

the State of Washington, in the State

67268 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 249 / Friday, December 28, 2001 / Notices

and county column, delete ‘‘King’’, in

the FY 2002 funding level column

delete ‘‘805,124’’ and in the Service area

column delete ‘‘City of Seattle: Yesler

Terrace, Holly Park, High Point and

Ranier Vista Public Housing Districts’’.

On page 48476, Appendix A, Part II,

in the State of Washington, in the State

and county Column delete ‘‘None’’ and

add the county of ‘‘King’’, in the FY

2002 funding level column add

‘‘805,124’’, and in the Service area

column add ‘‘City of Seattle: Yesler

Terrace, Holly Park, High Point, and

Ranier Vista Public Housing Districts’’.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The

ACYF Operations Center at 1–800–351–

2293 or send an email to

ehs@lcgnet.com. You can also contact

Sherri Ash, Early Head Start, Head Start

Bureau at (202) 205–8562.

Dated: December 20, 2001.

James A. Harrell,

Acting Commissioner, Administration on

Children, Youth and Families.

[FR Doc. 01–31884 Filed 12–27–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs

Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration,

HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

This notice announces a forthcoming

meeting of a public advisory committee

of the Food and Drug Administration

(FDA). The meeting will be open to the

public.

Name of Committee: Cardiovascular

and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee.

General Function of the Committee:

To provide advice and

recommendations to the agency on

FDA’s regulatory issues.

Date and Time: The meeting will be

held on January 17 and 18, 2002, from

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location: Holiday Inn, Kennedy

Ballroom, 8777 Georgia Ave., Silver

Spring, MD.

Contact: Jaime Henriquez, Center for

Drug Evaluation and Research, (HFD–

21), Food and Drug Administration,

5600 Fishers Lane (for express delivery,

5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1093), Rockville,

MD 20857, 301–827–7001 or FDA

Advisory Committee Information Line,

1–800–741–8138 (301–443–0572 in the

Washington, DC area), code 12533.

Please call the Information Line for upto-date information on this meeting.

Agenda: On January 17, 2002, the

committee will discuss new drug

application (NDA) 20–757/S–021,

AVAPRO (irbesartan), SanofiSynthelabo (c/o Bristol-Myers Squibb),

for the treatment of hypertensive

patients with type 2 diabetic renal

disease. On January 18, 2002, the

committee will discuss NDA 21–387,

pravastatin/aspirin, Bristol-Myers

Squibb, co-package, for long-term

management to reduce the risk of death,

nonfatal myocardial infarction,

myocardial revascularization

procedures, and ischemic stroke in

patients with clinically evident

coronary heart disease.

Procedure: Interested persons may

present data, information, or views,

orally or in writing, on issues pending

before the committee. Written

submissions may be made to the contact

person by January 7, 2002. Oral

presentations from the public will be

scheduled each day between

approximately 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Time

allotted for each presentation may be

limited. Those desiring to make formal

oral presentations should notify the

contact person before January 7, 2002,

and submit a brief statement of the

general nature of the evidence or

arguments they wish to present, the

names and addresses of proposed

participants, and an indication of the

approximate time requested to make

their presentation.

Notice of this meeting is given under

the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5

U.S.C. app. 2).

Dated: December 14, 2001.

Linda A. Suydam,

Senior Associate Commissioner.

[FR Doc. 01–31879 Filed 12–27–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160–01–S

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory

Committee; Notice of Meeting

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration,

HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

This notice announces a forthcoming

meeting of a public advisory committee

of the Food and Drug Administration

(FDA). At least one portion of the

meeting will be closed to the public.

Name of Committee: PulmonaryAllergy Drugs Advisory Committee.

General Function of the Committee:

To provide advice and

recommendations to the agency on

FDA’s regulatory issues.

Date and Time: The meeting will be

held on January 17, 2002, from 8 a.m.

to 5 p.m., and January 18, 2002, from 8

a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Holiday Inn, The Ballrooms,

Two Montgomery Village Ave.,

Gaithersburg, MD.

Contact: Kimberly L. Topper, Center

for Drug Evaluation and Research (HFD–

21), Food and Drug Administration,

5600 Fishers Lane (for express delivery,

5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1093), Rockville,

MD 20857, 301–827–7001, or FDA

Advisory Committee Information Line,

1–800–741–8138 (301–443–0572 in the

Washington, DC area), code 12545.

Please call the Information Line for upto-date information on this meeting.

Agenda: On January 17, 2002, the

committee will discuss the use of two

new drug applications (NDAs): NDA

20–833, Flovent Diskus, and NDA 21–

077, Advair Diskus, GlaxoSmithKline,

as maintenance therapy in patients with

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

(COPD). On January 18, 2002, the

meeting will be open to the public from

8 a.m. to 9 a.m., unless public

participation does not last that long;

from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the meeting will

be closed to permit discussion and

review of trade secret and/or

confidential information.

Procedure: On January 17, 2002, from

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on January 18,

2002, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., the meeting

will be open to the public. Interested

persons may present data, information,

or views, orally or in writing, on issues

pending before the committee. Written

submissions may be made to the contact

person by January 11, 2002. Oral

presentations from the public will be

scheduled between approximately 1

p.m. and 2 p.m. on January 17, 2002,

and between approximately 8 a.m. and

9 a.m. on January 18, 2002. Time

allotted for each presentation may be

limited. Those desiring to make formal

oral presentations should notify the

contact person before January 11, 2002,

and submit a brief statement of the

general nature of the evidence or

arguments they wish to present, the

names and addresses of proposed

participants, and an indication of the

approximate time requested to make

their presentation.

Closed Committee Deliberations: On

January 18, 2002, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,

the meeting will be closed to permit

discussion and review of trade secret

and/or confidential information (5

U.S.C. 552b(c)(4)).

Notice of this meeting is given under

the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5

U.S.C. app. 2).