Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE), October 7, 2015, 57617-57619 [2015-24304]
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tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Notices
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), federal agencies are required to
publish notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of
information, including each proposed
extension or reinstatement of an existing
collection of information, and to allow
a second opportunity for public
comment on the notice. Interested
persons are invited to send comments
regarding the burden estimate or any
other aspect of this collection of
information, including any of the
following subjects: (1) The necessity and
utility of the proposed information
collection for the proper performance of
the agency’s functions; (2) the accuracy
of the estimated burden; (3) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(4) the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology to minimize the information
collection burden.
DATES: Comments on the collection(s) of
information must be received by the
OMB desk officer by October 26, 2015.
ADDRESSES: When commenting on the
proposed information collections,
please reference the document identifier
or OMB control number. To be assured
consideration, comments and
recommendations must be received by
the OMB desk officer via one of the
following transmissions: OMB, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Attention: CMS Desk Officer, Fax
Number: (202) 395–5806 or Email:
OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov.
To obtain copies of a supporting
statement and any related forms for the
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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA)
(44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), federal agencies
must obtain approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for each
collection of information they conduct
or sponsor. The term ‘‘collection of
information’’ is defined in 44 U.S.C.
3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and
includes agency requests or
requirements that members of the public
submit reports, keep records, or provide
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16:45 Sep 23, 2015
Jkt 235001
information to a third party. Section
3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)) requires federal agencies
to publish a 30-day notice in the
Federal Register concerning each
proposed collection of information,
including each proposed extension or
reinstatement of an existing collection
of information, before submitting the
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: Revision of a currently
approved collection; Title of
Information Collection: Solicitation for
Applications for Medicare Prescription
Drug Plan 2017 Contracts; Use: The
information will be collected under the
solicitation of proposals from
prescription drug plans, Medicare
Advantage (MA) plans that offer
integrated prescription drug and health
care coverage (MA–PD) plans, Cost Plan,
PACE, and Employer Group Waiver
Plan applicants. The information will be
used by CMS to: Ensure that applicants
meet CMS requirements and to support
the determination of contract awards.
Participation in the Part D program is
voluntary. Only organizations that are
interested in participating in the
program will respond to the solicitation.
The MA–PDs that voluntarily
participate in the Part C program must
submit a Part D application and
successful bid. Form Number: CMS–
10137 (OMB Control Number: 0938–
0936); Frequency: Yearly; Affected
Public: Private sector (Business or other
For-profits and Not-for-profit
institutions); Number of Respondents:
254; Total Annual Responses: 230; Total
Annual Hours: 2,109. (For policy
questions regarding this collection
contact Arianne Spaccarelli at 410–786–
5715).
2. Type of Information Collection
Request: Revision of a currently
approved collection; Title of
Information Collection: Part C—
Medicare Advantage and 1876 Cost Plan
Expansion Application; Use: The
information will be collected under the
solicitation of Part C applications from
Medicare Advantage, Employer Group
Waiver Plan, and Cost Plan applicants
and will be used by CMS to ensure that
applicants meet CMS requirements, and
to support the determination of contract
awards. Participation is voluntary
whereby only organizations that are
interested in participating in the
program will respond to the solicitation.
Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations
that offer integrated prescription drug
and health care products (MA–PD
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57617
plans) that voluntarily participate in the
Part C program must submit a Part D
application and successful bid. Form
Number: CMS–10237 (OMB Control
Number: 0938–0935); Frequency:
Yearly; Affected Public: Private sector
(Business or other For-profits and Notfor-profit institutions); Number of
Respondents: 566; Total Annual
Responses: 566; Total Annual Hours:
21,926. (For policy questions regarding
this collection contact Wanda PigattCanty at 410–786–6177).
Dated: September 21, 2015.
William N. Parham, III,
Director, Paperwork Reduction Staff, Office
of Strategic Operations and Regulatory
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015–24262 Filed 9–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–7038–N]
Health Insurance Marketplace,
Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s
Health Insurance Programs; Meeting of
the Advisory Panel on Outreach and
Education (APOE), October 7, 2015
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice announces a
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) 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, Medicare,
Medicaid, and the Children’s Health
Insurance Program (CHIP). This meeting
is open to the public.
DATES: Meeting Date: Wednesday,
October 7, 2015, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
eastern daylight time (e.d.t).
Deadline for Meeting Registration,
Presentations and Comments:
Wednesday, September 30, 2015, 5:00
p.m., e.d.t.
Deadline for Requesting Special
Accommodations: Wednesday,
September 30, 2015, 5:00 p.m., e.d.t.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting Location: U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services, Hubert H.
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Notices
Humphrey Building, 200 Independence
Avenue SW., Room 738 G, Conference
Room, Washington, DC 20201.
Presentations and Written Comments:
Presentations and written comments
should be submitted to: Abigail
Huffman, Designated Federal Official
(DFO), Division of Forum and
Conference Development, Office of
Communications, Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Mailstop S1–05–06,
Baltimore, MD 21244–1850 or via email
at Abigail.Huffman1@cms.hhs.gov.
Registration: The meeting is open to
the public, but attendance is limited to
the space available. Persons wishing to
attend this meeting must register at the
Web site https://www.regonline.com/
apoeoct2015meeting or by contacting
the DFO as 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 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this notice by the date listed
in the DATES section of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Abigail Huffman, Designated Federal
Official, Office of Communications,
CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail
Stop S1–05–06, Baltimore, MD 21244,
410–786–0897, email
Abigail.Huffman1@cms.hhs.gov.
Additional information about the APOE
is available on the Internet at: https://
www.cms.gov/Regulations-andGuidance/Guidance/FACA/
APOE.htmlPress inquiries are handled
through the CMS Press Office at (202)
690–6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
I. Background
The Advisory Panel for Outreach and
Education (APOE) (the Panel) is
governed by the provisions of 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 Act
(42 U.S.C. 1314(f)) and section 222 of
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
217a).
The Secretary of the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS)
(the Secretary) signed the charter
establishing the Citizen’s Advisory
Panel on Medicare Education1 (the
1 We note that the Citizen’s Advisory Panel on
Medicare Education is also referred to as the
Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (65 FR
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:45 Sep 23, 2015
Jkt 235001
predecessor to the APOE) on January 21,
1999 (64 FR 7899, February 17, 1999) to
advise and make recommendations to
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. The
successful MA program implementation
required CMS 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, Title I of the MMA
authorized the Secretary and the
Administrator of CMS (by delegation) 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,
Public Law 111–148, and Health Care
and Education Reconciliation Act of
2010, Pub. L. 111–152) expanded the
availability of other options 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
marketplaces, called Affordable
Insurance Exchanges (also called the
Health Insurance Marketplace, and
‘‘Marketplace’’). In order to effectively
implement and administer these
changes, we must provide information
to consumers, providers, and other
stakeholders through education and
outreach programs regarding how
4617). The name was updated in the Second
Amended Charter approved on July 24, 2000.
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
existing programs will change and the
expanded range of health coverage
options available, including private
health insurance coverage through the
Marketplace. The APOE (the Panel)
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.
The scope of this panel also includes
advising on issues pertaining to the
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).
On January 21, 2011, the Panel’s
charter was renewed and the Panel was
renamed the Advisory Panel for
Outreach and Education. The Panel’s
charter was most recently renewed on
January 21, 2015, and will terminate on
January 21, 2017 unless renewed by
appropriate action.
Under the current charter, the APOE
will advise the Secretary and the
Administrator on 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, through
education and outreach programs, on
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.
• 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
E:\FR\FM\24SEN1.SGM
24SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 185 / Thursday, September 24, 2015 / Notices
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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 are:
Kellan Baker, Associate Director, Center
for American Progress; Phillip
Bergquist, Manager, Health Center
Operations, Children’s Health Insurance
Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA)
Outreach & Enrollment Project and
Director, Michigan Primary Care
Association; Robert Blancato, President,
Matz, Blancato & Associates; Dale
Blasier, Professor of Orthopaedic
Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics,
Arkansas Children’s Hospital; Deborah
Britt, Executive Director of Community
& Public Relations, Piedmont Fayette
Hospital; Deena Chisolm, Associate
Professor of Pediatrics & Public Health,
The Ohio State University, Nationwide
Children’s Hospital; Josephine DeLeon,
Director, Anti-Poverty Initiatives,
Catholic Charities of California; Robert
Espinoza, Vice President of Policy,
Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute;
Amy Jones, Director of Health & Social
Services, Southeast Asian Mutual
Assistance Associations Coalition
(SEAMAAC, Inc.); Louise Scherer
Knight, Director, The Sidney Kimmel
Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns
Hopkins; Miriam Mobley-Smith, Dean,
Chicago State University, College of
Pharmacy; Roanne Osborne-Gaskin,
M.D., Associate Medical Director,
Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode
Island; Kamila Pickett, Litigation
Support, Independent Contractor;
Jeanne Ryer, Director, New Hampshire
Citizens Health Initiative, University of
New Hampshire; Alvia Siddiqi,
Medicaid Managed Care Community
Network (MCCN) Medical Director,
Advocate Physician Partners, Carla
Smith, Executive Vice President,
Healthcare Information and
Management Systems Society (HIMSS);
Paula Villescaz, Senior Consultant,
Assembly Health Committee; and
Darlene Yee-Melichar, Professor &
Coordinator, San Francisco State
University.
II. Provisions of This Notice
In accordance with Section 10(a) of
the FACA, this notice announces a
meeting of the APOE. The agenda for
the October 7, 2015 meeting will
include the following:
• Welcome and listening session with
CMS leadership
• Recap of the previous (July 22, 2015)
meeting
• Affordable Care Act initiatives
• An opportunity for public comment
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Jkt 235001
• Meeting summary, review of
recommendations, and next steps
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.
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).
Dated: September 21, 2015.
Andrew M. Slavitt,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2015–24304 Filed 9–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[Document Identifiers: CMS–R–262 and
CMS–10142]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing
an opportunity for the public to
comment on CMS’ intention to collect
information from the public. Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the
PRA), federal agencies are required to
publish notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of
information (including each proposed
extension or reinstatement of an existing
collection of information) and to allow
60 days for public comment on the
proposed action. Interested persons are
invited to send comments regarding our
burden estimates or any other aspect of
this collection of information, including
any of the following subjects: (1) The
necessity and utility of the proposed
information collection for the proper
performance of the agency’s functions;
(2) the accuracy of the estimated
burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
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57619
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (4) the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology to
minimize the information collection
burden.
Comments must be received by
November 23, 2015.
ADDRESSES: When commenting, please
reference the document identifier or
OMB control number. To be assured
consideration, comments and
recommendations must be submitted in
any one of the following ways:
1. Electronically. You may send 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) that are 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
Control Number lllll, Room C4–
26–05, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, Maryland 21244–1850.
To obtain copies of a supporting
statement and any related forms for the
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.
DATES:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Contents
This notice sets out a summary of the
use and burden associated with the
following information collections. More
detailed information can be found in
each collection’s supporting statement
and associated materials (see
ADDRESSES).
CMS–R–262 Contract Year 2017 Plan
Benefit Package (PBP) Software and
Formulary Submission
CMS–10142 Bid Pricing Tool (BPT) for
Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans and
Prescription Drug Plans (PDP)
Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501–
3520), federal agencies must obtain
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 185 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57617-57619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24304]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-7038-N]
Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's
Health Insurance Programs; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach
and Education (APOE), October 7, 2015
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces a 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) 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, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance
Program (CHIP). This meeting is open to the public.
DATES: Meeting Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2015, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
eastern daylight time (e.d.t).
Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations and Comments:
Wednesday, September 30, 2015, 5:00 p.m., e.d.t.
Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: Wednesday,
September 30, 2015, 5:00 p.m., e.d.t.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting Location: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services,
Hubert H.
[[Page 57618]]
Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW., Room 738 G, Conference
Room, Washington, DC 20201.
Presentations and Written Comments: Presentations and written
comments should be submitted to: Abigail Huffman, Designated Federal
Official (DFO), Division of Forum and Conference Development, Office of
Communications, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Mailstop S1-05-06, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 or via email at
Abigail.Huffman1@cms.hhs.gov.
Registration: The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is
limited to the space available. Persons wishing to attend this meeting
must register at the Web site https://www.regonline.com/apoeoct2015meeting or by contacting the DFO as 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 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this notice by the date listed in the DATES section of this
notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abigail Huffman, Designated Federal
Official, Office of Communications, CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail
Stop S1-05-06, Baltimore, MD 21244, 410-786-0897, email
Abigail.Huffman1@cms.hhs.gov. Additional information about the APOE is
available on the Internet at: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE.htmlPress inquiries are handled through the
CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Advisory Panel for Outreach and Education (APOE) (the Panel) is
governed by the provisions of 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 Act (42 U.S.C. 1314(f))
and section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 217a).
The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) (the Secretary) signed the charter establishing the Citizen's
Advisory Panel on Medicare Education\1\ (the predecessor to the APOE)
on January 21, 1999 (64 FR 7899, February 17, 1999) to advise and make
recommendations to 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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ We note that the Citizen's Advisory Panel on Medicare
Education is also referred to as the Advisory Panel on Medicare
Education (65 FR 4617). The name was updated in the Second Amended
Charter approved on July 24, 2000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. The successful MA program
implementation required CMS 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, Title I of the MMA authorized the Secretary and the
Administrator of CMS (by delegation) 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, Public Law 111-148, and Health Care and Education Reconciliation
Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111-152) expanded the availability of other
options 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
marketplaces, called Affordable Insurance Exchanges (also called the
Health Insurance Marketplace, and ``Marketplace''). In order to
effectively implement and administer these changes, we must provide
information to consumers, providers, and other stakeholders through
education and outreach programs regarding how existing programs will
change and the expanded range of health coverage options available,
including private health insurance coverage through the Marketplace.
The APOE (the Panel) 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.
The scope of this panel also includes advising on issues pertaining
to the 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).
On January 21, 2011, the Panel's charter was renewed and the Panel
was renamed the Advisory Panel for Outreach and Education. The Panel's
charter was most recently renewed on January 21, 2015, and will
terminate on January 21, 2017 unless renewed by appropriate action.
Under the current charter, the APOE will advise the Secretary and
the Administrator on 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, through education and
outreach programs, on 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
[[Page 57619]]
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 are: Kellan Baker, Associate
Director, Center for American Progress; Phillip Bergquist, Manager,
Health Center Operations, Children's Health Insurance Program
Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) Outreach & Enrollment Project and
Director, Michigan Primary Care Association; Robert Blancato,
President, Matz, Blancato & Associates; Dale Blasier, Professor of
Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Arkansas Children's
Hospital; Deborah Britt, Executive Director of Community & Public
Relations, Piedmont Fayette Hospital; Deena Chisolm, Associate
Professor of Pediatrics & Public Health, The Ohio State University,
Nationwide Children's Hospital; Josephine DeLeon, Director, Anti-
Poverty Initiatives, Catholic Charities of California; Robert Espinoza,
Vice President of Policy, Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute; Amy
Jones, Director of Health & Social Services, Southeast Asian Mutual
Assistance Associations Coalition (SEAMAAC, Inc.); Louise Scherer
Knight, Director, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at
Johns Hopkins; Miriam Mobley-Smith, Dean, Chicago State University,
College of Pharmacy; Roanne Osborne-Gaskin, M.D., Associate Medical
Director, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island; Kamila Pickett,
Litigation Support, Independent Contractor; Jeanne Ryer, Director, New
Hampshire Citizens Health Initiative, University of New Hampshire;
Alvia Siddiqi, Medicaid Managed Care Community Network (MCCN) Medical
Director, Advocate Physician Partners, Carla Smith, Executive Vice
President, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
(HIMSS); Paula Villescaz, Senior Consultant, Assembly Health Committee;
and Darlene Yee-Melichar, Professor & Coordinator, San Francisco State
University.
II. Provisions of This Notice
In accordance with Section 10(a) of the FACA, this notice announces
a meeting of the APOE. The agenda for the October 7, 2015 meeting will
include the following:
Welcome and listening session with CMS leadership
Recap of the previous (July 22, 2015) meeting
Affordable Care Act initiatives
An opportunity for public comment
Meeting summary, review of recommendations, and next steps
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.
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).
Dated: September 21, 2015.
Andrew M. Slavitt,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-24304 Filed 9-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
