Medicare Program; May 7, 1998, Meeting of the Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-1040-N]

Medicare Program; May 7, 1998, Meeting of the Competitive Pricing

Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory

Committee Act, this notice announces a meeting of the Competitive

Pricing Advisory Committee. This meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for May 7, 1998 from 10:00 a.m. until 6

p.m. E.D.S.T.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 5051, Wilbur J. Cohen

Building (entrance on ``C'' street), 300 Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, DC 20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lu Zawistowich, Sc.D., Executive

Director, Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee, Health Care Financing

Administration, 7500 Security Boulevard S3-02-01, Baltimore, Maryland

21244-1850, (410) 786-6451.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4011 of the Balanced Budget Act of

1997 (BBA) requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human

Services (the Secretary) to establish a demonstration project under

which payments to Medicare+Choice organizations in designated areas are

determined in accordance with a competitive pricing methodology.

Section 4012 of BBA requires the Secretary to appoint a Competitive

Pricing Advisory Committee (CPAC). The CPAC will meet periodically to

make recommendations to the Secretary concerning the designation of

areas for inclusion in the project and appropriate research design for

implementing the project.

The CPAC is being assembled and will consist of individuals who are

independent actuaries, experts in competitive pricing, and experts in

the administration of the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program. In

accordance with section 4012(a)(5) of the BBA, the CPAC shall terminate

on December 31, 2004.

The CPAC will be sworn in and hold its first meeting on May 7. The

agenda will include discussion of background materials relevant to

competitive pricing and the goals and objectives of the demonstrations.

Members will be asked to develop and prioritize a list of important

demonstration design issues and the information needed to study and

address the issues. The CPAC will develop a schedule for decision

making on each issue that can be addressed within the mandated time

frame for implementation of the project. The CPAC will decide the

number of additional meetings that are needed and a tentative agenda

for each.

Individuals or organizations that wish to make 5-minute oral

presentations on the agenda issues should contact the Executive

Director (listed above in this notice under For Further Information

Contact) by 12 noon, April 28, 1998, to be scheduled. The number of

oral presentations may be limited by the time available. A written copy

of the oral remarks should be submitted to the Executive Director no

later than 12 noon, May 4, 1998. Anyone who is not scheduled to speak

may submit written comments to the Executive Director by 12:00 noon,

May 4, 1998. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is

limited to the space available.

(Section 4012 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Public Law 105-33

(42 U.S.C 1395w-23 note) and section 10(a) of Public Law 92-463 (5

U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a))

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,

Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--

Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

Dated: April 20, 1998.

Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,

Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.

[FR Doc. 98-10883 Filed 4-21-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P