Federal Register: December 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 234)
DOCID: FR Doc 05-23673
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, December 14, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, December 15, 2005 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces a meeting 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. 299 n., 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 meeting on December 14th and 15th will be devoted to ongoing Working Group business. Topics to be addressed are expected to include: logistics of community meetings, the questions and discussion guide for community meetings and the Working Group's Web site, involvement of national organizations in outreach, background and possible frameworks for future recommendations, and future plans and budgets.
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: November 30, 2005.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 0523673 Filed 12605; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 416090M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Caroline Taplin, Citizens' Health Care [[Page 72839]]
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 transcripts of these meetings are completed, they will also be available on the Web site.