Federal Register: September 26, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 185)

DOCID: FR Doc 05-19171

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

NOTICE: NOTICES

ACTION: Meetings:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUBJECT CATEGORY:

Meeting of the Citizens' Health Care Working Group

DATES: A business meeting of the Working Group will be held on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY:

In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces meetings of the Citizens' Health Care Working Group (the Working Group) mandated by section 1014 of the Medicare Modernization Act.

SUMMARY:

Citizens’ Health Care Working Group,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Section 1014 of Public Law 108-173, (known as the Medicare Modernization Act) directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), acting through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to establish a Citizens' Health Care Working Group (Citizen Group). This statutory provision, codified at 42 U.S.C. 299n., directs the Working Group to: (1) Identify options for changing our health care system so that every American has the ability to obtain quality, affordable health care coverage; (2) provide for a nationwide public debate about improving the health care system; and (3) submit its recommendations to the President and the Congress.

The Citizens' Health Care Working Group is composed of 15 members: The Secretary of DHHS is designated as a member by statute and the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) was directed to name the remaining 14 members whose appointments were announced on February 28, 2005.

Working Group Meeting Agenda

The Working Group business meeting on October 5 will be devoted to ongoing Working Group business. Topics to be addressed are expected to include: introductions to Working Group contractors, reports from Working Group Committees, and plans for community meetings and other activities to engage the public.

Submission of Written Information

The Working Group invites written submissions on those topics to be addressed at the Working Group business meeting listed above. In general, individuals or organizations wishing to provide written information for consideration by the Citizens' Health Care Working Group should submit information electronically to
citizenshealth@ahrq.gov
. Since all electronic submissions will be posted on the Working Group Web site, separate submissions by topic will facilitate review of ideas submitted on each topic by the Working Group and the public.

This notice is published less than 15 days in advance of the meeting due to logistical difficulties.

Dated: September 20, 2005.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 0519171 Filed 92105; 2:46 am]
BILLING CODE 416090M

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Caroline Taplin, Citizens' Health Care Working Group, at (301) 4431514 or ctaplin@ahrq.gov. If sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed, please contact Mr. Donald L. Inniss, Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Program Support Center, on (301) 443 1144.

The agenda for this Working Group meeting will be available on the Citizens' Working Group Web site, http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov. Also available at that site is a roster of Working Group members. When a transcript of the Group's October 5th meeting is completed, it will also be available on the Web site.