Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs; Renewal of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) and Request for Nominations, 32661-32663 [2013-12957]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 105 / Friday, May 31, 2013 / Notices
2107(b)(1) of the Social Security Act
grants CMS authority to collect
information from the States. The IPIA
requires CMS to produce national error
rates in Medicaid and CHIP fee-forservice, including the managed care
component. The state-specific Medicaid
managed care and CHIP managed care
error rates will be based on reviews of
managed care capitation payments in
each program and will be used to
produce national Medicaid managed
care and CHIP managed care error rates.
Form Number: CMS–10178 (OCN:
0938–0994); Frequency: Occasionally;
Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal
Governments; Number of Respondents:
34; Total Annual Responses: 2040; Total
Annual Hours: 28,050. (For policy
questions regarding this collection
contact Monetha Dockery at 410–786–
0155. For all other issues call 410–786–
1326.)
8. Type of Information Collection
Request: Reinstatement with change of a
previously approved information
collection; Title of Information
Collection: Medical Necessity and
Claims Denial Disclosures under
MHPAEA; Use: The Paul Wellstone and
Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and
Addiction Equity Act of 2008
(MHPAEA) (P.L.110–343) requires that
group health plans and group health
insurance issuers offering mental health
or substance use disorder (MH/SUD)
benefits in addition to medical and
surgical (med/surg) benefits ensure that
that they do not apply any more
restrictive financial requirements (e.g.,
co-pays, deductibles) and/or treatment
limitations (e.g., visit limits) to MH/SUD
benefits than those requirements and/or
limitations applied to substantially all
med/surg benefits.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Medical Necessity Disclosure Under
MHPAEA
The MHPAEA section 512(b)
specifically amends the Public Health
Service (PHS) Act to require plan
administrators or health insurance
issuers to provide, upon request, the
criteria for medical necessity
determinations made with respect to
MH/SUD benefits to current or potential
participants, beneficiaries, or
contracting providers. The interim final
rules Under the Paul Wellstone and Pete
Domenici Mental Health Parity and
Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (75 FR
5410, February 2, 2010) set forth rules
for providing criteria for medical
necessity determinations. CMS oversees
non-federal governmental plans or
related health insurance.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:40 May 30, 2013
Jkt 229001
Claims Denial Disclosure Under
MHPAEA
The MHPAEA section 512(b)
specifically amends the Public Health
Service (PHS) Act to require plan
administrators or health insurance
issuers to supply, upon request, the
reason for any denial of payment for
MH/SUD services to the participant or
beneficiary involved in the case. The
interim final rules Under the Paul
Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental
Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
of 2008 (75 FR 5410, February 2, 2010)
implement 45 CFR 146.136(d)(2), which
sets forth rules for providing reasons for
denial of payment. We oversee nonfederal governmental plans or related
health insurance, and the regulation
provides a safe harbor such that plans
or issuers are deemed to comply with
requirements of paragraph (d)(2) of 45
CFR 166.136 if they provide the notice
in a form and manner consistent with
ERISA requirements found in 29 CFR
2560.503–1. Form Number: CMS–10307
(OMB Control No. 0938–1080);
Frequency: On Occasion; Affected
Public: State, Local, or Tribal
Governments; Number of Respondents:
20,300; Number of Responses: 509,600;
Total Annual Hours: 2,200. (For policy
questions regarding this collection,
contact Usree Bandyopadhyay at 410–
786–6650. For all other issues call (410)
786–1326.)
To obtain copies of the supporting
statement and any related forms for the
proposed paperwork collections
referenced above, access CMS’ Web site
address at https://www.cms.hhs.gov/
PaperworkReductionActof1995, or
Email your request, including your
address, phone number, OMB number,
and CMS document identifier, to
Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov, or call the
Reports Clearance Office on (410) 786–
1326.
In commenting on the proposed
information collections please reference
the document identifier or OMB control
number. To be assured consideration,
comments and recommendations must
be submitted in one of the following
ways by July 30, 2013:
1. Electronically. You may submit
your comments electronically to https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for ‘‘Comment or
Submission’’ or ‘‘More Search Options’’
to find the information collection
document(s) accepting comments.
2. By regular mail. You may mail
written comments to the following
address: CMS, Office of Strategic
Operations and Regulatory Affairs,
Division of Regulations Development,
Attention: Document Identifier/OMB
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
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32661
Control Number llll, Room C4–26–
05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore,
Maryland 21244–1850.
Dated: May 28, 2013.
Martique Jones,
Deputy Director, Regulations Development
Group, Office of Strategic Operations and
Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013–12950 Filed 5–30–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–7028–N]
Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s
Health Insurance Programs; Renewal
of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and
Education (APOE) and Request for
Nominations
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces that
the charter of the Advisory Panel on
Outreach and Education (APOE) has
been renewed. It also requests
nominations for individuals to serve on
the APOE.
DATES: Nominations will be considered
if we receive them at the appropriate
address, provided in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice, no later than 5
p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (e.d.t.) on
July 1, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations
to the following address: Kirsten
Knutson, Acting Designated Federal
Official, Office of Communications,
CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail
Stop S1–13–05, Baltimore, MD 21244–
1850 or email to
Kirsten.Knutson@cms.hhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kirsten Knutson, Acting Designated
Federal Official, Office of
Communications, CMS, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Mail Stop S1–13–05,
Baltimore, MD 21244, 410–786–5886,
email kirsten.knutson@cms.hhs.gov or
visit the Web site at https://
www.cms.gov/Regulations-andGuidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE.html.
Press inquiries are handled through the
CMS Press Office at (202) 690–6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Advisory Panel on Medicare
Education (the predecessor to the
APOE) was created in 1999 to advise
and make recommendations to the
E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM
31MYN1
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
32662
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 105 / Friday, May 31, 2013 / Notices
Secretary of Health and Human Services
(the Secretary), and the Administrator of
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) on the effective
implementation of national Medicare
education programs, including with
respect to the Medicare+Choice (M+C)
program added by the Balanced Budget
Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105–33).
The Medicare Modernization Act of
2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108–173)
expanded the existing health plan
options and benefits available under the
M+C program and renamed it the
Medicare Advantage (MA) program. We
have had substantial responsibilities to
provide information to Medicare
beneficiaries about the range of health
plan options available and better tools
to evaluate these options. Successful
MA program implementation required
us to consider the views and policy
input from a variety of private sector
constituents and to develop a broad
range of public-private partnerships.
In addition, the Secretary, and by
delegation, the Administrator of CMS
was authorized under Title I of MMA to
establish the Medicare prescription drug
benefit. The drug benefit allows
beneficiaries to obtain qualified
prescription drug coverage. In order to
effectively administer the MA program
and the Medicare prescription drug
benefit, we have substantial
responsibilities to provide information
to Medicare beneficiaries about the
range of health plan options and
benefits available, and to develop better
tools to evaluate these plans and
benefits.
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) enacted a number of
changes to Medicare as well as to
Medicaid and the Children’s Health
Insurance Program (CHIP), and also
expanded the availability of other
options for health care coverage. In
order to effectively implement and
administer these changes, we must
provide information to Medicare,
Medicaid, and CHIP consumers,
providers and other stakeholders
pursuant to education and outreach
programs regarding how these programs
will change and the expanded range of
health coverage options available. The
Advisory Panel on Outreach and
Education allows us to consider a broad
range of views and information from
interested audiences in connection with
this effort and to identify opportunities
to enhance the effectiveness of
education strategies concerning the
Affordable Care Act.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:40 May 30, 2013
Jkt 229001
II. Provisions of This Notice
A. Renewal of the APOE
Pursuant to the charter approved on
January 21, 2013, the APOE was
renewed. The APOE will advise the
Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS) and CMS on
developing and implementing education
programs that support individuals with
or who are eligible for Medicare,
Medicaid, and the Children’s Health
Insurance Program (CHIP) about options
for selecting health care coverage under
these and other programs envisioned
under health care reform to ensure
improved access to quality care,
including prevention services. The
scope of this Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA) group also
includes advising on education of
providers and stakeholders with respect
to health care reform and certain
provisions of the Health Information
Technology for Economic and Clinical
Health (HITECH) Act enacted as part of
the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
The charter will terminate on January
21, 2015, unless renewed by appropriate
action. The APOE was chartered under
42 U.S.C. 222 of the Public Health
Service Act, as amended. The APOE is
governed by provisions of Public Law
92–463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix
2), which sets forth standards for the
formation and use of advisory
committees.
Pursuant to the renewed charter, the
APOE will advise the Secretary of
Health and Human Services 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, and CHIP.
• Enhancing the Federal
government’s effectiveness in informing
the Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP
consumers, providers and stakeholders
pursuant to education and outreach
programs of issues regarding these and
other health coverage programs,
including the appropriate use of publicprivate partnerships to leverage the
resources of the private sector in
educating beneficiaries, providers and
stakeholders.
• Expanding outreach to vulnerable
and underserved communities,
including racial and ethnic minorities,
in the context of Medicare, Medicaid,
and CHIP education programs.
• Assembling and sharing an
information base of ‘‘best practices’’ for
helping consumers evaluate health plan
options.
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
• Building and leveraging existing
community infrastructures 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 health care reform.
B. Requests for Nominations
The APOE shall consist of no more
than 20 members. The Chair shall either
be appointed from among the 20
members, or a Federal official will be
designated to serve as the Chair. The
charter requires that meetings shall be
held approximately four times per year.
Members will be expected to attend all
meetings. The members and the Chair
shall be selected from authorities
knowledgeable in one or more of the
following fields:
• Senior citizen advocacy
• Outreach to minority communities
• Health communications
• Disease-related advocacy
• Disability policy and access
• Health economics research
• Health insurers and plans
• Health information technology (IT)
• Direct patient care
• Matters of labor and retirement
Representatives of the general public
may also serve on the APOE.
This notice also announces that in
July 2013, there will be 3 expired terms
of membership and in October 2013,
there will be an additional 3 expired
terms of membership. This notice is an
invitation to interested organizations or
individuals to submit their nominations
for membership for all six vacancies on
the APOE (no self-nominations will be
accepted). The CMS Administrator will
appoint new members to the APOE from
among those candidates determined to
have the expertise required to meet
specific agency needs, and in a manner
to ensure an appropriate balance of
membership. We have an interest in
ensuring that the interests of both
women and men, members of all racial
and ethnic groups, and disabled
individuals are adequately represented
on the APOE. Therefore, we encourage
nominations of qualified candidates
who can represent these interests. Any
interested organization or person may
nominate one or more qualified persons.
Current members whose terms expire
in 2013 may be considered for
reappointment, subject to committee
service guidelines.
Each nomination must include a letter
stating that the nominee has expressed
E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM
31MYN1
32663
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 105 / Friday, May 31, 2013 / Notices
a willingness to serve as a Panel
member and must be accompanied by a
curricula vitae and a brief biographical
summary of the nominee’s experience.
While we are looking for experts in a
number of fields, our most critical needs
are for experts in Health IT, Tribal
Affairs, Community Health Centers/
Medically Underserved Populations,
African-American Health/Disparities,
Health/Disability/Quality and State
Programs/Medicaid/Rural.
We are requesting that all curricula
vitae include the following:
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Title and current position
• Professional affiliation
• Home and business address
• Telephone and fax numbers
• Email address
• List of areas of expertise
Phone interviews of nominees may
also be requested after review of the
nominations.
In order to permit an evaluation of
possible sources of conflict of interest,
potential candidates will be asked to
provide detailed information concerning
such matters as financial holdings,
consultancies, and research grants or
contracts.
Members are invited to serve for 2year terms, contingent upon the renewal
of the APOE by appropriate action prior
to its termination. A member may serve
after the expiration of that member’s
term until a successor takes office. Any
member appointed to fill a vacancy for
an unexpired term shall be appointed
for the remainder of that term.
III. Copies of the Charter
The Secretary’s Charter for the APOE
is available on the CMS Web site at:
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and
Guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE.html,
or you may obtain a copy of the charter
by submitting a request to the contact
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this notice.
Authority: Sec. 222 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a) and sec. 10(a)
of Pub. L. 92–463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10(a)
and 41 CFR 102–3).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program No. 93.733, Medicare—Hospital
Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774,
Medicare—Supplementary Medical
Insurance Program)
Dated: May 23, 2013.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2013–12957 Filed 5–30–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–1459–N]
Medicare Program; Notification of
Closure of Teaching Hospitals and
Opportunity To Apply for Available
Slots
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
closure of two teaching hospitals and
the initiation of an application process
where hospitals must apply to the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) for consideration of
Infirmary West Hospital’s and
Montgomery Hospital’s full time
equivalent (FTE) resident cap slots.
DATES: We will consider applications
received no later than 5 p.m. (e.s.t)
August 29, 2013. Applications must be
received, not postmarked, by this date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Miechal Lefkowitz, (212) 616–2517.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 5506 of the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111–
148), as amended by the Health Care
and Education Reconciliation Act of
2010 (Pub. L. 111–152) (collectively, the
‘‘Affordable Care Act’’), ‘‘Preservation of
Resident Cap Positions from Closed
Hospitals,’’ authorizes the Secretary to
redistribute residency slots after a
hospital that trained residents in an
approved medical residency program
closes. Specifically, section 5506 of the
Affordable Care Act amended the Social
Security Act (the Act) by adding
subsection (vi) to section 1886(h)(4)(H)
of the Act and modifying language at
section 1886(d)(5)(B)(v) of the Act, to
instruct the Secretary to establish a
process to increase the full time
equivalent (FTE) resident caps for other
hospitals based upon the FTE resident
caps in teaching hospitals that closed
‘‘on or after a date that is 2 years before
the date of enactment’’ (that is, March
23, 2008). In the November 24, 2010
Calendar Year (CY) 2011 Outpatient
Prospective Payment System (OPPS)
final rule (75 FR 72212), we established
regulations and an application process
for qualifying hospitals to apply to CMS
for consideration of the direct graduate
medical education (GME) and indirect
medical education (IME) FTE resident
cap slots from the hospital that closed.
We made certain modifications to those
regulations in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013
Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment
System and FY 2013 Long Term Care
Hospital Prospective Payment System
final rule (FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS
final rule (77 FR 53434 through 53447)).
II. Provisions of the Notice
a. Notice of Closure of Teaching
Hospitals and Application Process
CMS has learned of the closure of two
teaching hospitals; Infirmary West
Hospital of Mobile, AL and Montgomery
Hospital of Morristown, PA. The
purpose of this notice is to notify the
public of the closure of these two
teaching hospitals, and to initiate
another round of the application and
selection process described in section
5506 of the Affordable Care Act. This
round will be the fifth round (‘‘Round
5’’) of the application and selection
process. The table below identifies the
two closed teaching hospitals, which are
part of the Round 5 application process
under section 5506 of the Affordable
Care Act:
TEACHING HOSPITALS CLOSURE
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Provider No.
Provider name
City and state
010152 .........
Infirmary West Hospital.
Mobile, AL ................
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17:40 May 30, 2013
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PO 00000
Frm 00042
CBSA
code
33660
Fmt 4703
Terminating date
November 1, 2012 ...
Sfmt 4703
IME Cap (including
+/¥ MMA Sec. 422 1
and +/¥ ACA Sec.
5503 2 Adjustments)
Direct GME Cap
(including +/¥ MMA
Sec. 422 1 and +/¥
ACA Sec. 5503 2
Adjustments)
10.08 + 21.66 section 422 increase
= 31.74 3.
10.08 + 21.76 section 422 increase
= 31.84 4.
E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM
31MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32661-32663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12957]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-7028-N]
Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs;
Renewal of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) and
Request for Nominations
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces that the charter of the Advisory Panel
on Outreach and Education (APOE) has been renewed. It also requests
nominations for individuals to serve on the APOE.
DATES: Nominations will be considered if we receive them at the
appropriate address, provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice,
no later than 5 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (e.d.t.) on July 1, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver nominations to the following address:
Kirsten Knutson, Acting Designated Federal Official, Office of
Communications, CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop S1-13-05,
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or email to Kirsten.Knutson@cms.hhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kirsten Knutson, Acting Designated
Federal Official, Office of Communications, CMS, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Mail Stop S1-13-05, Baltimore, MD 21244, 410-786-5886, email
kirsten.knutson@cms.hhs.gov or visit the Web site at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE.html. Press
inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (the predecessor to the
APOE) was created in 1999 to advise and make recommendations to the
[[Page 32662]]
Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary), and the
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on
the effective implementation of national Medicare education programs,
including with respect to the Medicare+Choice (M+C) program added by
the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-33).
The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173)
expanded the existing health plan options and benefits available under
the M+C program and renamed it the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. We
have had substantial responsibilities to provide information to
Medicare beneficiaries about the range of health plan options available
and better tools to evaluate these options. Successful MA program
implementation required us to consider the views and policy input from
a variety of private sector constituents and to develop a broad range
of public-private partnerships.
In addition, the Secretary, and by delegation, the Administrator of
CMS was authorized under Title I of MMA to establish the Medicare
prescription drug benefit. The drug benefit allows beneficiaries to
obtain qualified prescription drug coverage. In order to effectively
administer the MA program and the Medicare prescription drug benefit,
we have substantial responsibilities to provide information to Medicare
beneficiaries about the range of health plan options and benefits
available, and to develop better tools to evaluate these plans and
benefits.
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) enacted a number of changes to Medicare as
well as to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP),
and also expanded the availability of other options for health care
coverage. In order to effectively implement and administer these
changes, we must provide information to Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP
consumers, providers and other stakeholders pursuant to education and
outreach programs regarding how these programs will change and the
expanded range of health coverage options available. The Advisory Panel
on Outreach and Education allows us to consider a broad range of views
and information from interested audiences in connection with this
effort and to identify opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of
education strategies concerning the Affordable Care Act.
II. Provisions of This Notice
A. Renewal of the APOE
Pursuant to the charter approved on January 21, 2013, the APOE was
renewed. The APOE will advise the Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS) and CMS on developing and implementing education
programs that support individuals with or who are eligible for
Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
about options for selecting health care coverage under these and other
programs envisioned under health care reform to ensure improved access
to quality care, including prevention services. The scope of this
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) group also includes advising on
education of providers and stakeholders with respect to health care
reform and certain provisions of the Health Information Technology for
Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act enacted as part of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
The charter will terminate on January 21, 2015, unless renewed by
appropriate action. The APOE was chartered under 42 U.S.C. 222 of the
Public Health Service Act, as amended. The APOE is governed by
provisions of Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2),
which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory
committees.
Pursuant to the renewed charter, the APOE will advise the Secretary
of Health and Human Services 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, and CHIP.
Enhancing the Federal government's effectiveness in
informing the Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP consumers, providers and
stakeholders pursuant to education and outreach programs of issues
regarding these and other health coverage programs, including the
appropriate use of public-private partnerships to leverage the
resources of the private sector in educating beneficiaries, providers
and stakeholders.
Expanding outreach to vulnerable and underserved
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of
Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP education programs.
Assembling and sharing an information base of ``best
practices'' for helping consumers evaluate health plan options.
Building and leveraging existing community infrastructures
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 health care reform.
B. Requests for Nominations
The APOE shall consist of no more than 20 members. The Chair shall
either be appointed from among the 20 members, or a Federal official
will be designated to serve as the Chair. The charter requires that
meetings shall be held approximately four times per year. Members will
be expected to attend all meetings. The members and the Chair shall be
selected from authorities knowledgeable in one or more of the following
fields:
Senior citizen advocacy
Outreach to minority communities
Health communications
Disease-related advocacy
Disability policy and access
Health economics research
Health insurers and plans
Health information technology (IT)
Direct patient care
Matters of labor and retirement
Representatives of the general public may also serve on the APOE.
This notice also announces that in July 2013, there will be 3
expired terms of membership and in October 2013, there will be an
additional 3 expired terms of membership. This notice is an invitation
to interested organizations or individuals to submit their nominations
for membership for all six vacancies on the APOE (no self-nominations
will be accepted). The CMS Administrator will appoint new members to
the APOE from among those candidates determined to have the expertise
required to meet specific agency needs, and in a manner to ensure an
appropriate balance of membership. We have an interest in ensuring that
the interests of both women and men, members of all racial and ethnic
groups, and disabled individuals are adequately represented on the
APOE. Therefore, we encourage nominations of qualified candidates who
can represent these interests. Any interested organization or person
may nominate one or more qualified persons.
Current members whose terms expire in 2013 may be considered for
reappointment, subject to committee service guidelines.
Each nomination must include a letter stating that the nominee has
expressed
[[Page 32663]]
a willingness to serve as a Panel member and must be accompanied by a
curricula vitae and a brief biographical summary of the nominee's
experience.
While we are looking for experts in a number of fields, our most
critical needs are for experts in Health IT, Tribal Affairs, Community
Health Centers/Medically Underserved Populations, African-American
Health/Disparities, Health/Disability/Quality and State Programs/
Medicaid/Rural.
We are requesting that all curricula vitae include the following:
Date of birth
Place of birth
Title and current position
Professional affiliation
Home and business address
Telephone and fax numbers
Email address
List of areas of expertise
Phone interviews of nominees may also be requested after review of
the nominations.
In order to permit an evaluation of possible sources of conflict of
interest, potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed
information concerning such matters as financial holdings,
consultancies, and research grants or contracts.
Members are invited to serve for 2-year terms, contingent upon the
renewal of the APOE by appropriate action prior to its termination. A
member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a
successor takes office. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an
unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of that term.
III. Copies of the Charter
The Secretary's Charter for the APOE is available on the CMS Web
site at: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and Guidance/Guidance/FACA/
APOE.html, or you may obtain a copy of the charter by submitting a
request to the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this notice.
Authority: Sec. 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
217a) and sec. 10(a) of Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10(a)
and 41 CFR 102-3).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.733,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; and Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: May 23, 2013.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2013-12957 Filed 5-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
