Notice2021-14830
Announcement of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) July 28, 2021 Virtual Meeting
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Published
July 13, 2021
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Abstract
This notice announces the next meeting of the 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) (the Secretary) 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[supreg], Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This meeting is open to the public.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 131 (Tuesday, July 13, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36749-36751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14830]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-7063-N]
Announcement of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education
(APOE) July 28, 2021 Virtual Meeting
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Health and
Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the next meeting of the 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) (the Secretary) 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[supreg],
Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
This meeting is open to the public.
DATES:
Meeting Date: Wednesday, July 28, 2021 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
eastern daylight time (e.d.t).
Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations, Special
Accommodations, and Comments: Wednesday, July 14, 2021, 5:00 p.m.
(e.d.t).
ADDRESSES:
Meeting Location: Virtual. All those who RSVP will receive the link
to attend.
Presentations and Written Comments: Presentations and written
comments should be submitted to: Lisa Carr, Designated Federal Official
(DFO), Office of Communications, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 325G HHH, Washington, DC
20201, 202-690-5742, or via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3170617e7471525c421f5959421f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="87c6d7c8c2c7e4eaf4a9efeff4a9e0e8f1">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 website <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/apoe-july-28-2021-virtual-meeting-tickets-151112584809">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/apoe-july-28-2021-virtual-meeting-tickets-151112584809</a> or by contacting the DFO
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 ADDRESSES section
of this notice by the date listed in the DATES section of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Carr, Designated Federal
Official, Office of Communications, 200 Independence Avenue SW,
Mailstop 325G HHH, Washington, DC 20201, 202-690-5742, or via email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1253425d5752717f613c7a7a613c757d64"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2e3f2ede7e2c1cfd18ccacad18cc5cdd4">[email protected]</span></a>.
Additional information about the APOE is available at: <a href="https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE">https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE</a>. Press
inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background and Charter Renewal Information
A. Background
The Advisory Panel for Outreach and Education (APOE) (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 federal advisory committees. The
Panel is authorized by section 1114(f) of the Social Security Act (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) 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.
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The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 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. CMS has 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
[[Page 36750]]
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 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111-148)
and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-
152) (collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act) expanded the
availability of other options for health care coverage and enacted a
number of changes to Medicare as well as to Medicaid and CHIP.
Qualified individuals and qualified employers are now able to purchase
private health insurance coverage through a competitive marketplace,
called an Affordable Insurance Exchange (also called Health Insurance
Marketplace[supreg], or Marketplace[supreg] \2\). 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[supreg]. 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.
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\2\ Health Insurance Marketplace[supreg]<SUP>SM</SUP> and
Marketplace[supreg]<SUP>SM</SUP> are service marks of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.
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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) (Pub.
L. 111-5).
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 19, 2021, and will
terminate on January 19, 2023 unless renewed by appropriate action.
B. Charter Renewal
In accordance with the January 19, 2021, charter, the APOE will
advise the HHS and CMS on developing and implementing education
programs that support individuals who are enrolled in or eligible for
Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or coverage available through the Health
Insurance Marketplace[supreg] and other CMS programs. The scope of this
FACA group also includes advising on education of providers and
stakeholders with respect to health care reform and certain provisions
of the HITECH Act enacted as part of the ARRA.
The charter will terminate on January 19, 2023, unless renewed by
appropriate action. The APOE was chartered under 42 U.S.C. 217a,
section 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.
In accordance with the renewed charter, the APOE will advise the
Secretary and the CMS Administrator concerning optimal strategies for
the following:
<bullet> Developing and implementing education and outreach
programs for individuals enrolled in, or eligible for, Medicare,
Medicaid, the CHIP, and coverage available through the Health Insurance
Marketplace[supreg] and other CMS programs.
<bullet> Enhancing the federal government's effectiveness in
informing Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or the Health Insurance
Marketplace[supreg] 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, partners and stakeholders.
<bullet> Expanding outreach to vulnerable and underserved
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of
Medicare, Medicaid, the CHIP and the Health Insurance
Marketplace[supreg] education programs, and other CMS programs as
designated.
<bullet> Assembling and sharing an information base of ``best
practices'' for helping consumers evaluate health coverage options.
<bullet> Building and leveraging existing community infrastructures
for information, counseling, and assistance.
<bullet> 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 as of June 3, 2021, are: E.
Lorraine Bell, Chief Officer, Population Health, Catholic Charities
USA; Nazleen Bharmal, Medical Director of Community Partnerships,
Cleveland Clinic; Julie Carter, Senior Federal Policy Associate,
Medicare Rights Center; Scott Ferguson, Director of Care Transitions
and Population Health, Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospital; Leslie Fried,
Senior Director, Center for Benefits Access, National Council on Aging;
Jean-Venable Robertson Goode, Professor, Department of Pharmacotherapy
and Outcomes Science, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth
University; Ted Henson, Director of Health Center Performance and
Innovation, National Association of Community Health Centers; Joan
Ilardo, Director of Research Initiatives, Michigan State University,
College of Human Medicine; Cheri Lattimer, Executive Director, National
Transitions of Care Coalition; Cori McMahon, Vice President, Tridiuum;
Alan Meade, Director of Rehabilitation Services, Holston Medical Group;
Michael Minor, National Director, H.O.P.E. HHS Partnership, National
Baptist Convention USA, Incorporated; Jina Ragland, Associate State
Director of Advocacy and Outreach, AARP Nebraska; Morgan Reed,
Executive Director, Association for Competitive Technology; Margot
Savoy, Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temple
University Physicians; Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, President and
CEO, Better Medicare Alliance; and; Tia Whitaker, Statewide Director,
Outreach and Enrollment, Pennsylvania Association of Community Health
Centers.
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 July 28, 2021 meeting will
include the following:
<bullet> Welcome and listening session with CMS leadership
<bullet> Recap of the previous (May 26, 2021) meeting
<bullet> CMS programs, initiatives, and priorities
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<bullet> An opportunity for public comment
<bullet> 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.
III. Meeting Participation
The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to
registered participants. Persons wishing to attend this meeting must
register at the website <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/apoe-july-28-2021-virtual-meeting-tickets-151112584809">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/apoe-july-28-2021-virtual-meeting-tickets-151112584809</a> or contact the DFO at the address
or number listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice by the date specified in the DATES section of this notice. This
meeting will be held virtually. Individuals who are not registered in
advance will be unable to attend the meeting.
IV. Collection of Information
This document does not impose information collection requirements,
that is, reporting, recordkeeping, or third-party disclosure
requirements. Consequently, there is no need for review by the Office
of Management and Budget under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, having reviewed and approved this
document, authorizes Lynette Wilson, who is the Federal Register
Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of
publication in the Federal Register.
Dated: June 30, 2021.
Lynette Wilson,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2021-14830 Filed 7-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
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