Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs; Renewal of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) and Request for Nominations, 10688-10690 [2015-04174]
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10688
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 39 / Friday, February 27, 2015 / Notices
proposed collection(s) summarized in
this notice, you may make your request
using one of following:
1. Access CMS’ Web site address at
https://www.cms.hhs.gov/
PaperworkReductionActof1995.
2. Email your request, including your
address, phone number, OMB number,
and CMS document identifier, to
Paperwork@cms.hhs.gov.
3. Call the Reports Clearance Office at
(410) 786–1326.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Reports Clearance Office at (410) 786–
1326.
Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA)
(44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), federal agencies
must obtain approval from the Office of
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or sponsor. The term ‘‘collection of
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3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and
includes agency requests or
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3506(c)(2)(A)) requires federal agencies
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Federal Register concerning each
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including each proposed extension or
reinstatement of an existing collection
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collection to OMB for approval. To
comply with this requirement, CMS is
publishing this notice that summarizes
the following proposed collection(s) of
information for public comment:
1. Type of Information Collection
Request: Extension of a currently
approved collection; Title of
Information Collection: Affordable Care
Act Information and Collection
Requirements for Section 1115
Demonstration Projects; Use: This
collection is necessary to ensure that
states comply with regulatory and
statutory requirements related to the
development, implementation and
evaluation of demonstration projects.
States seeking waiver authority under
Section 1115 are required to meet
certain requirements for public notice,
the evaluation of demonstration
projects, and reports to the Secretary on
the implementation of approved
demonstrations. Form Number: CMS–
10341 (OMB control number 0938–
1162); Frequency: Yearly; Affected
Public: State, Local, or Tribal
Governments; Number of Respondents:
37; Total Annual Responses: 130; Total
Annual Hours: 13,910. (For policy
questions regarding this collection
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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contact Lane Terwilliger at 410–786–
2059.)
2. Type of Information Collection
Request: New collection (Request for a
new OMB control number); Title of
Information Collection: Executive
Summary Form for Research Identifiable
Data; Use: The Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) is responsible
for administering the Medicare,
Medicaid and State Children’s Health
Insurance Programs. We collect data to
support the Agency’s mission and
operations. These data include
information about Medicare
beneficiaries, Medicare claims,
Medicare providers, and Medicaid
eligibility and claims. We disclose the
identifiable data consistent with the
routine uses identified in the Privacy
Act Systems of Records notices that are
published in the Federal Register and
the limitations on uses and disclosures
that are set out in the HIPAA Privacy
Rule.
All requests for identifiable data are
received and reviewed by the Division
of Privacy Operations & Compliance
(DPOC) in the Office of E-Health
Standards and Services. The DPOC staff
and the CMS Privacy Officer review the
requests to determine if there is legal
authorization for disclosure of the data.
If legal authorization exists, the request
is reviewed to ensure that the minimal
data necessary is requested and
approved for the project. Requests for
identifiable data for research purposes
must be submitted to and approved by
the CMS Privacy Board. To assist the
CMS Privacy Board with its review of
research data requests, OIPDA has
developed the Executive Summary (ES)
forms. The ES collects all the
information that the CMS Privacy Board
needs to review and make a
determination on whether the request
meets the requirements for release of
identifiable data for research purposes.
We currently have three versions of the
ES Form and an ES Supplement for
Requestors of the National Death Index
(NDI) Causes of Death Variables. Each
meets the need for a different type of
requestor. Form Number: CMS–10522
(OMB control number: 0938–New);
Frequency: On occasion; Affected
Public: State, Local, or Tribal
Governments; Number of Respondents:
325; Total Annual Responses: 325; Total
Annual Hours: 650. (For policy
questions regarding this collection
contact Kim Elmo at 410–786–0161.)
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Dated: February 24, 2015.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office
of Strategic Operations and Regulatory
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015–04113 Filed 2–26–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–7036–N]
Health Insurance Marketplace,
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:
This notice announces the
renewal of the Advisory Panel (the
Panel) on Outreach and Education
(APOE) charter. 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
March 30, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Mail nominations to the
following address: Abigail Huffman,
Designated Federal Official, Office of
Communications, CMS, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Mail Stop S1–13–05,
Baltimore, MD 21244–1850 or email
nominations to
Abigail.Huffman1@cms.hhs.gov.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Abigail Huffman, Designated Federal
Official, Office of Communications,
CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail
Stop S1–13–05, Baltimore, MD 21244,
410–786–0897, email
Abigail.Huffman1@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 (the Panel) on
Medicare Education (the predecessor to
the APOE) was created in 1999 to advise
and make recommendations to the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS), and
E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM
27FEN1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 39 / Friday, February 27, 2015 / Notices
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) expanded the
availability of other option for health
care coverage and enacted a number of
changes to Medicare as well as to
Medicaid and the Children’s Health
Insurance Program (CHIP). Qualified
individuals and qualified employers are
now able to purchase private health
insurance coverage through competitive
marketplace called Affordable Insurance
Exchange, (also called Health Insurance
Marketplace, or ‘‘Marketplace’’). In
order to effectively implement and
administer these changes, we must
provide information to 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,
including private health insurance
coverage through the Marketplace. The
APOE allows us to consider a broad
range of views and information from
interested audiences in connection with
this effort and to identify opportunities
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:05 Feb 26, 2015
Jkt 235001
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, 2015, the APOE was
renewed. The APOE will advise HHS
and CMS on developing and
implementing education programs that
support individuals with or who are
eligible for Health Insurance
Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and
the 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 the Affordable Care Act 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, 2017, 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 and the
Administrator concerning optimal
strategies for the following:
• Developing and implementing
education and outreach programs for
individuals enrolled in, or eligible for,
Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s
Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or
coverage available through the Health
Insurance Marketplace.
• Enhancing the federal government’s
effectiveness in informing Health
Insurance Marketplace, Medicare,
Medicaid, and CHIP consumers, issuers,
providers, and stakeholders pursuant to
education and outreach programs of
issues regarding these 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 Health Insurance
Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and
CHIP education programs.
PO 00000
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Sfmt 4703
10689
• Assembling and sharing an
information base of ‘‘best practices’’ for
helping consumers evaluate health
coverage 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 the Affordable Care
Act.
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 and underserved
communities
• Health communications
• Disease-related advocacy
• Disability policy and access
• Health economics research
• Behavioral health
• Health insurers and plans
• Health IT
• Social media
• 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 2015, there will be 11 expired terms
of membership and in October 2015,
there will be an additional 2 expired
terms of membership. This notice is an
invitation to interested organizations or
individuals to submit their nominations
for membership for all 13 vacancies on
the APOE (no self-nominations will be
accepted). The 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
E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM
27FEN1
10690
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 39 / Friday, February 27, 2015 / Notices
who can represent these interests. Any
interested organization or person may
nominate one or more qualified persons.
Each nomination must include a letter
stating that the nominee has expressed
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 aging, social media,
tribal affairs, matters of labor and
retirement, health economics research,
behavioral health, health insurers and
plans, direct patient care, racial/ethnic
health/disparities, disability, quality,
pharmacy, social work, rural health,
CHIP, and state programs/Medicaid.
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
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
The Secretary’s Charter for the APOE
is available on the CMS Web site at:
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-andGuidance/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)
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18:05 Feb 26, 2015
Jkt 235001
Dated: February 23, 2015.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2015–04174 Filed 2–26–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–1636–N]
Medicare Program: Notice of Four
Membership Appointments to the
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient
Payment
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces four
new membership appointments to the
Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient
Payment (the Panel). The four new
appointments to the Panel will each
serve a four-year period. The new
members have terms that began on
January 14, 2015 and continue through
January 31, 2019. The purpose of the
Panel is to advise the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human
Services and the Administrator of the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services concerning the clinical
integrity of the Ambulatory Payment
Classification groups and their relative
payment weights. The Panel also
addresses and makes recommendations
regarding supervision of hospital
outpatient services. The advice
provided by the Panel will be
considered as we prepare the annual
updates for the hospital outpatient
prospective payment system.
DATES: March 30, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Web site: For additional
information on the Panel meeting dates,
agenda topics, copy of the charter, and
updates to the Panel’s activities, we
refer readers to our Web site at the
following address: https://
www.cms.gov/Regulations-andGuidance/Guidance/FACA/Advisory
PanelonAmbulatoryPayment
ClassificationGroups.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Designated Federal Official (DFO): Carol
Schwartz, DFO, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Mail Stop: C4–04–25,
Woodlawn, MD 21244–1850. Phone:
(410) 786–3985. Email: APCPanel@
cms.hhs.gov.
SUMMARY:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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I. Background
The Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services (the
Secretary) is required by section
1833(t)(9)(A) of the Social Security Act
(the Act) (42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)(9)(A)) and
is allowed by section 222 of the Public
Health Service Act (PHS Act) (42 U.S.C.
217(a)) to consult with an expert outside
advisory panel on the clinical integrity
of the Ambulatory Payment
Classification groups and relative
payment weights, which are major
elements of the Medicare Hospital
Outpatient Prospective Payment System
(OPPS), and the appropriate supervision
level for hospital outpatient services.
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
advisory panels. The Panel Charter
provides that the Panel shall meet up to
three times annually. We consider the
technical advice provided by the Panel
as we prepare the proposed and final
rules to update the OPPS for the
following calendar year.
The Panel shall consist of a chair and
up to 15 members who are full-time
employees of hospitals, hospital
systems, or other Medicare providers.
The Secretary or a designee selects the
Panel membership based upon either
self-nominations or nominations
submitted by Medicare providers and
other interested organizations. New
appointments are made in a manner that
ensures a balanced membership under
the FACA guidelines.
The Panel presently consists of the
following members and a Chair.
• Edith Hambrick, M.D., J.D., Chair,
CMS Medical Officer
• Karen Borman, M.D., F.A.C.S.
• Jim Nelson, M.B.A., C.P.A.,
F.H.F.M.A.
• Leah Osbahr, M.A., M.P.H.
• Jacqueline Phillips
• Johnathan Pregler, M.D.
• Traci Rabine
• Michael Rabovsky, M.D.
• Wendy Resnick, F.H.F.M.A.
• Marianna V. Spanaki-Varelas, M.D.,
Ph.D., M.B.A.
• Gale Walker
• Kris Zimmer
II. Provisions of the Notice
We published a notice in the Federal
Register on September 23, 2014, entitled
‘‘Medicare Program; Solicitation of
Nominations to the Advisory Panel on
Hospital Outpatient Payment (79 FR
56808). The notice solicited
nominations for up to four new
members to fill the vacancies on the
E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10688-10690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04174]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-7036-N]
Health Insurance Marketplace, 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 the renewal of the Advisory Panel (the
Panel) on Outreach and Education (APOE) charter. 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 March 30, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Mail nominations to the following address: Abigail Huffman,
Designated Federal Official, Office of Communications, CMS, 7500
Security Boulevard, Mail Stop S1-13-05, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or
email nominations to Abigail.Huffman1@cms.hhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abigail Huffman, Designated Federal
Official, Office of Communications, CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail
Stop S1-13-05, Baltimore, MD 21244, 410-786-0897, email
Abigail.Huffman1@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 (the Panel) on Medicare Education (the
predecessor to the APOE) was created in 1999 to advise and make
recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS), and
[[Page 10689]]
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) expanded the availability of other option for
health care coverage and enacted a number of changes to Medicare as
well as to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Qualified individuals and qualified employers are now able to purchase
private health insurance coverage through competitive marketplace
called Affordable Insurance Exchange, (also called Health Insurance
Marketplace, or ``Marketplace''). In order to effectively implement and
administer these changes, we must provide information to 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, including private health
insurance coverage through the Marketplace. The APOE 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, 2015, the APOE was
renewed. The APOE will advise HHS and CMS on developing and
implementing education programs that support individuals with or who
are eligible for Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and
the 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 the
Affordable Care Act 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, 2017, 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
and the Administrator concerning optimal strategies for the following:
Developing and implementing education and outreach
programs for individuals enrolled in, or eligible for, Medicare,
Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or
coverage available through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Enhancing the federal government's effectiveness in
informing Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP
consumers, issuers, providers, and stakeholders pursuant to education
and outreach programs of issues regarding these 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
Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP education
programs.
Assembling and sharing an information base of ``best
practices'' for helping consumers evaluate health coverage 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 the Affordable Care Act.
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 and underserved communities
Health communications
Disease-related advocacy
Disability policy and access
Health economics research
Behavioral health
Health insurers and plans
Health IT
Social media
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 2015, there will be 11
expired terms of membership and in October 2015, there will be an
additional 2 expired terms of membership. This notice is an invitation
to interested organizations or individuals to submit their nominations
for membership for all 13 vacancies on the APOE (no self-nominations
will be accepted). The 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
[[Page 10690]]
who can represent these interests. Any interested organization or
person may nominate one or more qualified persons.
Each nomination must include a letter stating that the nominee has
expressed 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 aging, social media, tribal affairs,
matters of labor and retirement, health economics research, behavioral
health, health insurers and plans, direct patient care, racial/ethnic
health/disparities, disability, quality, pharmacy, social work, rural
health, CHIP, and state programs/Medicaid.
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: February 23, 2015.
Marilyn Tavenner,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-04174 Filed 2-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P