CMS Pub. 100-09, ch. 6, § 20.5.1

Each MAC shall establish and maintain a POE Advisory Group (POE AG) whose primary function

involves helping the MAC create, implement, and review provider education strategies and efforts. The

POE AG provides input and feedback on training topics, provider education materials, and dates and

locations of provider education workshops and events. The POE AG also identifies salient provider

education issues and recommends effective ways to disseminate information to all appropriate providers

and their staff. The POE AG is a provider education consultant resource but not an approval or

sanctioning authority.

The POE AG should meet three times per contract year. MACs shall provide teleconference/video

conference capabilities for POE AG members who can’t physically attend in-person meetings.

The MAC shall maintain the POE AG and designate the main point of contact for all POE AG within

the MACs POE area. The MAC shall not allow outside organizations to operate the POE AG. At a

minimum, the MAC is responsible for:

• Recruiting potential members

• Arranging all meetings

• Handling meeting logistics

• Producing and distributing an agenda

• Completing and distributing minutes

• Keeping adequate records of the POE AG’s proceedings

POE AGs operate independently from other existing MAC advisory committees. However, while POE

AG members can serve on other advisory committees, most POE AG members shall not be current

members of any other MAC advisory group. After soliciting suggestions from the provider community,

the MAC shall select the appropriate people and organizations for POE AG inclusion. MACs shall strive

to maintain professional and geographic diversity within the POE AG and have representatives of the

major provider specialties or provider institutions they serve. The POE AG shall represent providers

from different geographic areas, as well as from urban and rural locales.

MACs shall consider having more than one POE AG if the size of their jurisdiction or diversity of

providers within the jurisdiction affects the effectiveness of having a single POE AG (for example

HH+H). MACs may choose to have a single POE AG for all contracts they oversee or have separate

groups for each of their jurisdictions.

MACs shall not reimburse or charge a fee to POE AG members for membership or for costs associated

with serving on the POE AG. MACs shall have a specific area on their provider education website that

allows providers to access POE AG information. This information shall include, at a minimum,

upcoming meeting dates and locations, a list of organizations or entities comprising the POE AG, and an

email address for further POE AG information.

MACs shall consider the suggestions and recommendations of their POE AG and implement those they

deem feasible and in the best interest of an effective PCSP. To maintain working relationships, the

MAC shall explain to the POE AG their reasons for not implementing or adopting any POE AG

suggestions or recommendations.

MACs shall distribute meeting times and agendas, which include discussion topics suggested by POE

AG members, to all POE AG members and to CMS Central and Regional Office staff before any

meeting.