Medicare Program; Meetings of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on the Provider-sponsored Organization Solvency Standards

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

42 CFR Chapter IV

[HCFA-1007-N]

Medicare Program; Meetings of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee

on the Provider-sponsored Organization Solvency Standards

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

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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

Committee Act, this notice announces the dates and locations for the

second through sixth meetings of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on

the provider-sponsored organization (PSO) solvency standards. The

purpose of this committee is to negotiate the development of an interim

final rule establishing solvency standards for provider-sponsored

organizations under Part C of the Medicare program, as statutorily-

mandated by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. These meetings are open to

the public.

DATES: The five scheduled meetings will be held on November 12-14,

1997; December 3-5, 1997; January 6-8, 1998; January 27-29, 1998; and

February 18-20, 1998. The hours of the meetings are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00

p.m. on the first two days of each meeting and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

on the third day of each meeting.

ADDRESSES:

November 12, 13, and 14, 1997, at The Phoenix Park Hotel,

520 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20001; (202) 638-6900;

December 3, 4, and 5, 1997, at the Holiday Inn Capitol,

550 C St., SW, Washington, DC 20024; (202) 479-4000;

January 6, 7, and 8, 1998, at The Phoenix Park Hotel at

the above address;

January 27, 28, and 29, 1998, at The Phoenix Park Hotel;

and

February 18, 19, and 20, 1998, at The Phoenix Park Hotel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Inquiries regarding these meetings should be

addressed to Maureen Miller, Health Care Financing Administration,

Center for Health Plans and Providers, Room S3-21-17, 7500 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244, (410) 786-1097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997

establishes a new Medicare+Choice program under part C of title

XVIII of the Social Security Act (the Act). Under this program, an

eligible individual may elect to receive Medicare benefits through

enrollment in a Medicare+Choice plan that has a contract with us,

which may include a health plan offered by a provider-sponsored

organization. The BBA establishes a definition of PSOs that will be

further clarified in forthcoming regulations. Section 4001 of the

BBA mandates an expedited and modified negotiated rulemaking

process for establishing solvency standards for PSOs. The standards

must be published as an interim final rule, subject to comment, by

April 1, 1998.

Under the BBA, the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee is required to

report to the Secretary by January 1, 1998, regarding its progress and

whether it is likely to achieve consensus. The Committee is required to

report its proposed standards to the Secretary by March 1, 1998. If,

however, the Committee reports on January 1st that it has failed to

make significant progress or that consensus is unlikely within the

assigned time frame, the Committee will be terminated and publication

of a rule will proceed using other rulemaking procedures.

The Committee held its first meetings on October 20, 21, and 22,

1997. At these meetings, presentations were made that related to health

plan solvency, and the Committee discussed how to address the principal

issues and how to proceed in developing solvency standards.

The announced future meetings are open to the public without

advance registration. Public attendance at the meetings may be limited

to space available. A summary of all proceedings will be available for

inspection in room 309-G of the Department's offices at 200

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, on Monday through Friday of

each week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Phone: (202) 690-7890), or can be

accessed through the HCFA Internet site at http://www/hcfa.gov/

medicare/mgdcar1.htm. Additional information related to the Committee

will be available on the web site.

(Section 1851 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-21 and

section 10(a) of Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a));

45 C.F.R. Part 11)

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,

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

Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

Dated: October 24, 1997.

Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,

Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.

[FR Doc. 97-28676 Filed 10-27-97; 8:45 am]

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