80 FR 30684 - Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE), June 25, 2015

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 103 (May 29, 2015)

Page Range		30684-30685
FR Document		2015-13046

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.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 103 (Friday, May 29, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 103 (Friday, May 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30684-30685]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13046]

[[Page 30684]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-7037-N]

Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's
Health Insurance Programs; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach
and Education (APOE), June 25, 2015

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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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: Thursday, June 25, 2015, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
eastern daylight time (e.d.t).
Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations and Comments:
Thursday, June 11, 2015, 5:00 p.m., e.d.t.
Deadline for Requesting Special Accommodations: Thursday, June 11,
2015, 5:00 p.m., e.d.t.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services, Hubert H. 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 the DFO as listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
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/apoejune2015meeting 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 also
contact 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abigail Huffman, Designated Federal
Official (DFO), 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: http://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 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).
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\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, Public Law 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
marketplace, called Affordable Insurance Exchange (also called 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.

[[Page 30685]]

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 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: Samantha Artiga, Principal
Policy Analyst, Kaiser Family Foundation; Joseph Baker, President,
Medicare Rights Center; Kellan Baker, Senior Fellow, Center for
American Progress; Philip Bergquist, Manager, Health Center Operations,
Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA)
Outreach & Enrollment Project and Director, Michigan Primary Care
Association; Marjorie Cadogan, Executive Deputy Commissioner,
Department of Social Services; Barbara Ferrer, Chief Strategy Officer,
W. K. Kellogg Foundation; Shelby Gonzales, Senior Health Outreach
Associate, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities; Jan Henning, Benefits
Counseling & Special Projects Coordinator, North Central Texas Council
of Governments' Area Agency on Aging; Louise Knight, Director, The
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins; Miriam
Mobley-Smith, Dean, Chicago State University, College of Pharmacy; Ana
Natale-Pereira, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Rutgers-New
Jersey Medical School; Roanne Osborne-Gaskin, M.D., Associate Medical
Director, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island; Megan Padden, Vice
President, Sentara Health Plans; Jeanne Ryer, Director, New Hampshire
Citizens Health Initiative, University of New Hampshire; Carla Smith,
Executive Vice President, Healthcare Information and Management Systems
Society (HIMSS); Winston Wong, Medical Director, Community Benefit
Director, Kaiser Permanente 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 June 25, 2015 meeting will
include the following:

Welcome and listening session with CMS leadership
Recap of the previous (March 19, 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: May 19, 2015.
Andrew M. Slavitt,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-13046 Filed 5-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P

30684 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 103 / Friday, May 29, 2015 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND this notice by the date listed in the In addition, Title I of the MMA
HUMAN SERVICES DATES section of this notice. authorized the Secretary and the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administrator of CMS (by delegation) to
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Abigail Huffman, Designated Federal establish the Medicare prescription drug
Services Official (DFO), Office of benefit. The drug benefit allows
Communications, CMS, 7500 Security beneficiaries to obtain qualified
[CMS–7037–N]
Boulevard, Mail Stop S1–05–06, prescription drug coverage. In order to
Health Insurance Marketplace, Baltimore, MD 21244, 410–786–0897, effectively administer the MA program
Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s email Abigail.Huffman1@cms.hhs.gov. and the Medicare prescription drug
Health Insurance Programs; Meeting of Additional information about the APOE benefit, we have substantial
the Advisory Panel on Outreach and is available on the Internet at: http:// responsibilities to provide information
Education (APOE), June 25, 2015 www.cms.gov/Regulations-and- to Medicare beneficiaries about the
Guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE.html. range of health plan options and
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Press inquiries are handled through the benefits available, and to develop better
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. CMS Press Office at (202) 690–6145. tools to evaluate these plans and
ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: benefits.
The Affordable Care Act (Patient
SUMMARY: This notice announces a I. Background Protection and Affordable Care Act,
meeting of the Advisory Panel on The Advisory Panel for Outreach and Public Law 111–148, and Health Care
Outreach and Education (APOE) (the Education (APOE) (the Panel) is and Education Reconciliation Act of
Panel) in accordance with the Federal governed by the provisions of Federal 2010, Public Law 111–152) expanded
Advisory Committee Act. The Panel Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. the availability of other options for
advises and makes recommendations to L. 92–463), as amended (5 U.S.C. health care coverage and enacted a
the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Appendix 2), which sets forth standards number of changes to Medicare as well
Health and Human Services (HHS) and for the formation and use of federal as to Medicaid and the Children’s
the Administrator of the Centers for advisory committees. The Panel is Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on authorized by section 1114(f) of the Act Qualified individuals and qualified
opportunities to enhance the (42 U.S.C. 1314(f)) and section 222 of employers are now able to purchase
effectiveness of consumer education the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. private health insurance coverage
strategies concerning the Health 217a). through competitive marketplace, called
Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, The Secretary of the U.S. Department Affordable Insurance Exchange (also
Medicaid, and the Children’s Health of Health and Human Services (HHS) called Health Insurance Marketplace,
Insurance Program (CHIP). This meeting (the Secretary) signed the charter and ‘‘Marketplace’’). In order to
is open to the public. establishing the Citizen’s Advisory effectively implement and administer
DATES: Meeting Date: Thursday, June 25, Panel on Medicare Education 1 (the these changes, we must provide
2015, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. eastern predecessor to the APOE) on January 21, information to consumers, providers,
daylight time (e.d.t). 1999 (64 FR 7899, February 17, 1999) to and other stakeholders through
Deadline for Meeting Registration, advise and make recommendations to education and outreach programs
Presentations and Comments: Thursday, the Secretary and the Administrator of regarding how existing programs will
June 11, 2015, 5:00 p.m., e.d.t. the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid change and the expanded range of
Deadline for Requesting Special Services (CMS) on the effective health coverage options available,
Accommodations: Thursday, June 11, implementation of national Medicare including private health insurance
2015, 5:00 p.m., e.d.t. education programs, including with coverage through the Marketplace. The
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: U.S. respect to the Medicare+Choice (M+C) APOE (the Panel) allows us to consider
Department of Health & Human program added by the Balanced Budget a broad range of views and information
Services, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105–33). from interested audiences in connection
200 Independence Avenue SW., Room The Medicare Modernization Act of with this effort and to identify
738 G, Conference Room, Washington, 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108–173) opportunities to enhance the
DC 20201. expanded the existing health plan effectiveness of education strategies
Presentations and Written Comments: options and benefits available under the concerning the Affordable Care Act.
Presentations and written comments M+C program and renamed it the The scope of this panel also includes
should be submitted to the DFO as Medicare Advantage (MA) program. We advising on issues pertaining to the
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION have had substantial responsibilities to education of providers and stakeholders
CONTACT section of this notice. provide information to Medicare with respect to the Affordable Care Act
Registration: The meeting is open to beneficiaries about the range of health and certain provisions of the Health
the public, but attendance is limited to plan options available and better tools Information Technology for Economic
the space available. Persons wishing to to evaluate these options. The and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act
attend this meeting must register at the successful MA program implementation enacted as part of the American
Web site https://www.regonline.com/ required CMS to consider the views and Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
apoejune2015meeting or by contacting policy input from a variety of private (ARRA).
the DFO as listed in the FOR FURTHER sector constituents and to develop a On January 21, 2011, the Panel’s
Lhorne on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

INFORMATION CONTACT section of this broad range of public-private charter was renewed and the Panel was
notice by the date listed in the DATES partnerships. renamed the Advisory Panel for
section of this notice. Individuals Outreach and Education. The Panel’s
1 We note that the Citizen’s Advisory Panel on
requiring sign language interpretation or charter was most recently renewed on
Medicare Education is also referred to as the
other special accommodations should Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (65 FR
January 21, 2015, and will terminate on
also contact the DFO as listed in the FOR 4617). The name was updated in the Second January 21, 2017 unless renewed by
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of Amended Charter approved on July 24, 2000. appropriate action.

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:31:53
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:31:53

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of meeting.
Contact		Abigail Huffman, Designated Federal Official (DFO), Office of Communications, CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop S1-05-06, Baltimore, MD 21244, 410-786-0897, email [email protected] Additional information about the APOE is available on the Internet at: http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and- Guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE.html. Press inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
FR Citation		80 FR 30684

80 FR 30684 - Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE), June 25, 2015

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 103 (May 29, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services