Medicare Program; September 16, 1999, Meeting of the Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-1076-N]

Medicare Program; September 16, 1999, 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 (the CPAC) on September 16, 1999. 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. The BBA requires the Secretary to

create the CPAC to make recommendations on demonstration area

designation and appropriate research designs for the project. The CPAC

meetings are open to the public.

DATES: The CPAC is scheduled to meet on September 16, 1999, from 9 a.m.

until 4 p.m., e.d.s.t.

[[Page 46206]]

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott,

1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Arnold, Ph.D., Executive

Director, Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee, Health Care Financing

Administration, 7500 Security Boulevard, C4-14-17, Baltimore, MD 21244-

1850, (410) 786-6451.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 4011 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) (Public Law

105-33), 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(a) of the BBA requires the Secretary to appoint a

Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee (the CPAC) to meet periodically

and make recommendations to the Secretary concerning the designation of

areas for inclusion in the project and appropriate research designs for

implementing the project. The CPAC has previously met on May 7, 1998,

June 24 and 25, 1998, September 23 and 24, 1998, October 28, 1998,

January 6, 1999, May 13, 1999, and July 22, 1999.

The CPAC consists of 15 individuals who are independent actuaries,

experts in competitive pricing and the administration of the Federal

Employees Health Benefit Program, and representatives of health plans,

insurers, employers, unions, and beneficiaries. The CPAC members are:

James Cubbin, Executive Director, General Motors Health Care

Initiative; Robert Berenson, M.D., Director, Center for Health Plans

and Providers, Health Care Financing Administration; John Bertko,

Actuary Principal, Reden & Anders, Ltd.; Dave Durenberger, Vice

President, Public Policy Partners; Gary Goldstein, M.D., former CEO,

The Oschner Clinic; Samuel Havens, Healthcare Consultant and Chairman

of Health Scope/United; Margaret Jordan, President and CEO, The

Margaret Jordan Group; Chip Kahn, President, The Health Insurance

Association of America; Cleve Killingsworth, President, Health Alliance

Plan; Nancy Kichak, Director, Office of Actuaries, Office of Personnel

Management; Len Nichols, Principal Research Associate, The Urban

Institute; Robert Reischauer, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution;

John Rother, Director, Legislation and Public Policy, American

Association of Retired Persons; Andrew Stern, President, Service

Employees International Union, AFL-CIO; and Jay Wolfson, Director,

Florida Health Information Center, University of South Florida. The

chairperson of the CPAC is James Cubbin and the co-chairperson is

Robert Berenson, M.D. In accordance with section 4012(a)(5) of the BBA,

the CPAC will terminate on December 31, 2004.

The agenda for the September 16, 1999, meeting will include the

following:

A review of the competitive pricing demonstration design.

A discussion on how to minimize disruption for

beneficiaries in the demonstration sites.

A discussion on the process for review of plan bids.

A revision of the implementation timeline for the Kansas

City, MO Metropolitan Area and Maricopa County, AZ demonstration sites.

Individuals or organizations that wish to make 5-minute oral

presentations on the CPAC agenda issues should contact Sharon Arnold,

CPAC Executive Director, by 12 noon, September 9, 1999, 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, September 9, 1999. Anyone

who is not scheduled to speak may submit written comments to the

Executive Director, by 12 noon, September 13, 1999.

This meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to

the space available.

(Sec. 4012 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-33 (42

U.S.C. 1395w-23 note) and sec. 10(a) of Pub. L. 92-463 (5 U.S.C.

App. 2, sec. 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: August 18, 1999.

Michael M. Hash,

Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-21859 Filed 8-23-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P