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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 165 / Monday, August 30, 2021 / Notices
I. Background and Charter Renewal Information
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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. 92463, 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 1114f of the Social Security Act the Act 42 U.S.C.
1314f and section 222 of the Public Health Service Act 42 U.S.C. 217a.
The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS
the Secretary signed the charter establishing the Citizens Advisory Panel on Medicare Education 1 the predecessor to the APOE on January 21, 1999 64 FR 7899 to advise and make recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS on the effective implementation of national Medicare education programs, including with respect to the Medicare+Choice M+C program added by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 Pub. L. 10533.
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 MMA Pub. L. 108173
expanded the existing health plan options and benefits available under the M+C program and renamed it the Medicare Advantage MA program.
CMS has had substantial responsibilities to provide information to Medicare beneficiaries about the range of health plan options available and better tools to evaluate these options. The successful MA program implementation required CMS to consider the views and policy input from a variety of private sector constituents and to develop a broad range of public-private partnerships.
In addition, Title I of the MMA
authorized the Secretary and the Administrator of CMS by delegation to establish the Medicare prescription drug benefit. The drug benefit allows beneficiaries to obtain qualified prescription drug coverage. In order to effectively administer the MA program and the Medicare prescription drug benefit, we have substantial responsibilities to provide information to Medicare beneficiaries about the range of health plan options and benefits available, and to develop better 1 We note that the Citizens Advisory Panel on Medicare Education is also referred to as the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education 65 FR
4617. The name was updated in the Second Amended Charter approved on July 24, 2000.

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tools to evaluate these plans and benefits.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pub. L. 111148 and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 Pub. L. 111152 collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act expanded the availability of other options for health care coverage and enacted a number of changes to Medicare as well as to Medicaid and CHIP. Qualified individuals and qualified employers are now able to purchase private health insurance coverage through a competitive marketplace, called an Affordable Insurance Exchange also called Health Insurance Marketplace, or Marketplace 2. In order to effectively implement and administer these changes, we must provide information to consumers, providers, and other stakeholders through education and outreach programs regarding how existing programs will change and the expanded range of health coverage options available, including private health insurance coverage through the Marketplace. The APOE the Panel allows us to consider a broad range of views and information from interested audiences in connection with this effort and to identify opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of education strategies concerning the Affordable Care Act.
The scope of this Panel also includes advising on issues pertaining to the education of providers and stakeholders with respect to the Affordable Care Act and certain provisions of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health HITECH Act enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
ARRA Pub. L. 1115.
On January 21, 2011, the Panels charter was renewed and the Panel was renamed the Advisory Panel for Outreach and Education. The Panels charter was most recently renewed on January 19, 2021, and will terminate on January 19, 2023 unless renewed by appropriate action.
B. Charter Renewal In accordance with the January 19, 2021, charter, the APOE will advise the HHS and CMS on developing and implementing education programs that support individuals who are enrolled in or eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or coverage available through the Health Insurance Marketplace and other CMS programs. The scope of this FACA group also includes advising on 2 Health Insurance MarketplaceSM and MarketplaceSM are service marks of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.

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education of providers and stakeholders with respect to health care reform and certain provisions of the HITECH Act enacted as part of the ARRA.
The charter will terminate on January 19, 2023, unless renewed by appropriate action. The APOE was chartered under 42 U.S.C. 217a, section 222 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. The APOE is governed by provisions of Public Law 92463, as amended 5
U.S.C. Appendix 2, which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.
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 and other CMS
programs.
Enhancing the federal governments effectiveness in informing Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, or the Health Insurance Marketplace consumers, issuers, providers, and stakeholders, pursuant to education and outreach programs of issues regarding these programs, including the appropriate use of publicprivate partnerships to leverage the resources of the private sector in educating beneficiaries, providers, partners and stakeholders.
Expanding outreach to vulnerable and underserved communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of Medicare, Medicaid, the CHIP and the Health Insurance Marketplace 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 infrastructures 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 July 27, 2021, are: E. Lorraine Bell, Chief Officer, Population Health, Catholic Charities USA; Nazleen Bharmal, Medical Director of Community Partnerships, Cleveland Clinic; Julie Carter, Senior Federal
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