Announcement of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) September 15, 2021 Virtual Meeting
Notice.
Citation: "86 FR 48425"
Document Number: "CMS-7064-N"
Page Number: "48425"
"Notices"
Agency: "
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
DATES:
Meeting Date:
Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations, Special Accommodations, and Comments:
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:
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 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/apoe-september-15-2021-virtual-meeting-tickets-151113822511 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:
Additional information about the APOE is available at: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/APOE. Press inquiries are handled through the CMS Press Office at (202) 690-6145.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background and Charter Renewal Information
A. Background
The Secretary of the
FOOTNOTE 1 We note that the Citizen's
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 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(R), or Marketplace(R) /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(R). 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.
FOOTNOTE 2 Health Insurance Marketplace(R)SM and Marketplace(R)SM are service marks of the
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
On
In accordance with the
The charter will terminate on
In accordance with the renewed charter, the APOE will advise the Secretary and the CMS Administrator concerning optimal strategies for the following:
* Developing and implementing education and outreach programs for individuals enrolled in, or eligible for, Medicare, Medicaid, the CHIP, and coverage available through the Health Insurance Marketplace(R) and other CMS programs.
* Enhancing the federal government's effectiveness in informing Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or the Health Insurance Marketplace(R) 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.
* 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(R) education programs, and other CMS programs as designated.
* 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 as of
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
* Welcome and listening session with CMS leadership
* Recap of the previous (
* CMS programs, initiatives, and priorities
* 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.
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 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/apoe-september-15-2021-virtual-meeting-tickets-151113822511 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
The Administrator of the
Dated:
Federal Register Liaison,
[FR Doc. 2021-18472 Filed 8-27-21;
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
NH Prepares To Move 30,000 Or More Off Medicaid
Sen. Padilla Convenes Roundtable With Local Leaders to Announce Efforts to Improve Federal Wildfire Assistance
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News