Jan 10 -- The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and gave the Comptroller General responsibility for appointing its members. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is now accepting nominations for MedPAC appointments that will be effective in May 2023. Letters of nomination and resumes should be submitted no later than February 10, 2023, to ensure adequate opportunity for review and consideration of nominees prior to appointment.
The Commission’s 17 members bring diverse expertise in the financing and delivery of health care services. Commissioners are appointed to three-year terms (from May 1 to April 30) by the Comptroller General, subject to renewal. Appointments are staggered; the terms of five or six Commissioners expire each year. The law requires that the commission comprise a mix of individuals with expertise in the financing and delivery of health care services and have a broad geographic representation. Commissioners include physicians and other health professionals, employers, third-party payers, researchers with a variety of health-related expertise, and representatives of consumers and the elderly.The Commission is supported by a career staff who typically have backgrounds in economics, health policy, public health, or medicine.
MedPAC meets publicly to discuss policy issues and formulate its recommendations to the Congress. In the course of these meetings, Commissioners consider the results of staff research, and comments from interested parties. Commission members and staff also seek input on Medicare issues through frequent meetings with individuals interested in the program, including staff from congressional committees and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), health care researchers, health care providers, and beneficiary advocates.
Two reports—issued in March and June each year—are the primary outlet for Commission recommendations. In addition to these reports and others on subjects requested by the Congress, MedPAC advises the Congress through other avenues, including comments on reports and proposed regulations issued by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, testimony, and briefings for congressional staff.
MedPAC:
https://www.medpac.gov/
MedPAC members:
https://www.medpac.gov/member/
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-27734
