Medicare Program; January 12, 2000, Meeting of the Competitive Pricing Advisory Committee

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

[HCFA-1109-N]

Medicare Program; January 12, 2000, 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 January 12, 2000. 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 meeting is scheduled to meet on January 12, 2000, from 1

p.m. until 5 p.m., e.s.t.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites, 1250 22nd

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.

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, Maryland

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 design 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, July 22,

1999, September 16, 1999, and October 29, 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, HCFA; John Bertko, Actuary Principal, Humana Inc.; David

Durenberger, Vice President, Public Policy Partners; Gary Goldstein,

M.D., Healthcare Consultant; Samuel Havens, Healthcare Consultant;

Margaret Jordan, Healthcare Consultant; Chip Kahn, President, The

Health Insurance Association of America; Cleve Killingsworth, President

and CEO, Health Alliance Plan; Nancy Kichak, Director, Office of

Actuaries, Office of Personnel Management; Len Nichols, Principal

Research Associate, The Urban Institute; Robert Reischauer, President,

The Urban Institute; 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, The Florida Information Center, University of South

Florida. The chairperson 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 January 12, 2000, meeting will include an

overview and discussion of the recent legislation that affected the

Medicare competitive pricing demonstration, Public Law 106-113,

referred to as the Appropriations Act for FY 2000.

Individuals or organizations that wish to make 5-minute oral

presentations on the agenda issue should contact the Executive

Director, by 12 noon, January 7, 2000, 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, January 10, 2000. Anyone who is not scheduled to

speak, may submit written comments to the Executive Director, by 12

noon, January 10, 2000.

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: December 15, 1999.

Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,

Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-33260 Filed 12-22-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P