Announcement of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) In-Person Meeting
| Published date | 26 March 2024 |
| Record Number | 2024-06424 |
| Citation | 89 FR 20975 |
| Court | Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services |
| Section | Notices |
Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 2024)
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20975-20976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06424]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-7074-N]
Announcement of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education
(APOE) In-Person 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: Thursday, April 18, 2024 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
eastern daylight time (e.d.t).
Deadline for Meeting Registration, Presentations, Special
Accommodations, and Comments: Thursday, April 4, 2024 5 p.m. (EDT).
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20201.
Presentations and Written Comments: Presentations and written
comments should be submitted to: Walt Gutowski, Designated Federal
Official (DFO), Office of Communications, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mailstop S1-04-08,
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, 410-786-6818, or via email at
[email protected].
Registration: Persons wishing to attend this meeting must register
at the website https://CMS-APOE-April2024.rsvpify.com 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: Walt Gutowski, Designated Federal
Official, Office of Communications, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mailstop
S1-04-08, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850, 410-786-6818, or via email at
[email protected].
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 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 Panel, which was first chartered in 1999, advises and makes
recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (the Department) and the Administrator of the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the effective implementation
of national Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program
(CHIP) and Health Insurance Marketplace outreach and education
programs.
The APOE has focused on a variety of laws, including the Medicare
Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173), and 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)).
The APOE helps the Department determine the best communication
channels and tactics for various programs and priorities, as well as
new rules and laws. In the coming years, we anticipate the American
Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the SUPPORT Act will be
some of the topics the Panel will discuss. The Panel will provide
feedback to CMS staff on outreach and education strategies,
communication tools and messages and how to best reach minority,
vulnerable and Limited English Proficiency populations.
B. Charter Renewal
The Panel's charter was renewed on January 19, 2023, and will
terminate on January 19, 2025, unless renewed by appropriate action.
The Charter can be found at https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-
guidance/guidance/faca/apoe.
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[supreg] and other CMS programs.
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 regarding these programs,
including public-private partnerships to leverage the resources of the
private sector in educating beneficiaries, providers, partners and
stakeholders.
Expanding outreach to minority and underserved
communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of
Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP,
[[Page 20976]]
and the Health Insurance Marketplace[supreg] 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 infrastructure
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 February 1, 2024 are as
follows:
Mitchell Balk, President, The Mt. Sinai Health Foundation.
Paula Campbell, Director of Health Equity and Emergency
Response, Illinois Primary Care Association.
Andrea Haynes, MD, Family Medicine Physician, PPC Austin
Family Health Center.
Lydia Isaac, Vice President for Health Equity and Policy,
National Urban League.
Vacheria Keys, Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs,
National Association of Community Health Centers.
Daisy Kim, Assistant Director for Government Relations and
Legislative Analysis, University of California System.
Lynn Kimball, Executive Director, Aging and Long-Term Care
of Eastern Washington.
Erin Loubier, Senior Director for Health and Legal
Integration and Payment Innovation, Whitman-Walker Health.
Dr. Alister Martin, Physician and Assistant Professor,
Harvard Medical School and Harvard Kennedy School.
Neil Meltzer, President and CEO, LifeBridge Health.
Dr. Carol Podgorski, Professor of Psychiatry, Associate
Chair of Academic Affairs, University of Rochester Medical Center.
Melanie Prince, CEO MAPYourWay, LLC; Immediate Past
President, Case Management Society of America.
Carrie Rogers, Associate Director, Community Catalyst.
Tricia Sandiego, Senior Advisor, Caregiving and Health
Team, AARP.
Marsha Schofield, President, Marsha Schofield & Associates
LLC.
Mina Schultz, Health Policy and Advocacy Manager, Young
Invincibles.
Daniel Spirn, Vice President, Government Relations,
Utilization Review Accreditation Commission.
Emily Whicheloe, Director of Education, Medicare Rights
Center.
II. Meeting Format and Agenda
In accordance with section 10(a) of the FACA, this notice announces
a meeting of the APOE. The agenda for the April 18, 2024 meeting will
include the following:
Welcome and opening remarks from CMS leadership.
Recap of the previous (February 1, 2024) meeting.
Presentations on CMS programs, initiatives, and
priorities; discussion of panel recommendations.
An opportunity for public comment.
Meeting adjourned.
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 the
space available. Persons wishing to attend this meeting must register
at the following weblink https://CMS-APOE-April2024.rsvpify.com or by
contacting the DFO at the address or telephone number listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice by the date
specified in the DATES section of this notice.
IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines
This meeting will be held in a Federal Government building, the
Hubert H. Humphrey (HHH) Building; therefore, Federal security measures
are applicable.
The REAL ID Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-13) establishes minimum
standards for the issuance of State-issued driver's licenses and
identification (ID) cards. It prohibits Federal agencies from accepting
an official driver's license or ID card from a State for any official
purpose unless the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
determines that the State meets these standards. Beginning October
2015, photo IDs (such as a valid driver's license) issued by a State or
territory not in compliance with the Real ID Act will not be accepted
as identification to enter Federal buildings. Visitors from these
States/territories will need to provide alternative proof of
identification (such as a valid passport) to gain entrance into Federal
buildings. The current list of States from which a Federal agency may
accept driver's licenses for an official purpose is found at http://www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief.
We recommend that confirmed registrants arrive reasonably early,
but no earlier than 45 minutes prior to the start of the meeting, to
allow additional time to clear security. Security measures include the
following:
Presentation of a government-issued photographic
identification to the Federal Protective Service or Guard Service
personnel.
Inspection, via metal detector or other applicable means,
of all persons entering the building. We note that all items brought
into the HHH Building, whether personal or for the purpose of
presentation or to support a presentation, are subject to inspection.
We cannot assume responsibility for coordinating the receipt, transfer,
transport, storage, set up, safety, or timely arrival of any personal
belongings or items used for presentation or to support a presentation.
Note: Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be
permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the
meeting.
V. 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 Chyana Woodyard, who is the Federal Register
Liaison, to electronically sign this document for purposes of
publication in the Federal Register.
Chyana Woodyard,
Federal Register Liaison, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2024-06424 Filed 3-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
