Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Seeks New Members for Advisory Panel on Medicare Education

Deadline: March 19, 2003

The Advisory Panel on Medicare Education (APME) seeks nominations for new members for the panel. The panel is looking for people with expertise in fields such as:

• senior citizen advocacy;
• outreach to minority communities; health communications;
• disease-related health advocacy;
• disability policy and access;
• health economics research;
• health insurers and plans; and
• providers and clinicians.

Members of the general public, as well as candidates with a background in labor and retirement matters, will also be considered.

The APME advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the HHS and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the following areas:

• Optimizing the effectiveness of the National Medicare Education Program and other CMS programs that help Medicare beneficiaries understand the Medicare program, as well as the range of Medicare health plan options available under the Medicare+Choice and Medicare Advantage Program;
• Developing and implementing a national Medicare education program that describes the options for selecting health plans and prescription drug benefits under Medicare;
• Enhancing the Federal governmentÕs effectiveness in informing the Medicare consumer, including the appropriate use of public-private partnerships;
• Expanding outreach to vulnerable and underserved communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, in the context of a national Medicare education program; and
• Assembling an information base of best practices for helping consumers evaluate health plan options and building a community infrastructure for information, counseling, and assistance.

APME members's terms are for two-year terms. Members are expected to attend all meetings, which are held approximately four times per year. Current members whose terms expire in 2004 will be considered for reappointment, if re-nominated, subject to committee service guidelines.

Submission Process
Nominations must state that the nominee has expressed a willingness to serve on the APME panel, and must be accompanied by a short resume or description of the nomineeÕs experience. In order to permit an evaluation of possible sources of conflict of interest, potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed information concerning such matters as financial holdings, consultancies and research grants or contracts.

Self-nominations also will be accepted.

Nominations must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. EST, on March 19, 2004, at the following address:
   Lynne G. Johnson
   Center for Beneficiary Choices
   Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
   7500 Security Boulevard, S2-23-05
   Baltimore, MD 21244-1850

For further information, please contact:
   Lynne G. Johnson
   Health Insurance Specialist
   Division of Partnership Development
   Center for Beneficiary Choices
   Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
   7500 Security Boulevard, S2-23-05
   Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
   phone: (410) 786-0090
   e-mail: www.cms.hhs.gov/faca/apme/default.asp or contact the CMS Advisory Committees Information Line at 877-449-5659 (toll-free) or 410-786-9379.