[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 164 (Thursday, August 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44034-44035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21000]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research


Public Meeting on the Development of Chronic Pain: Headache; 
Clinical Practice Guideline

    The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) announces a 
public meeting to receive comments and information pertaining to the 
development of the AHCPR-sponsored clinical practice guideline on 
Chronic Pain: Headache. The guideline is being developed for AHCPR by 
Duke University (Durham, North Carolina) with the assistance of a panel 
of health care experts and consumers.
    A notice announcing that AHCPR was arranging for the development of 
this clinical practice guideline was published in the Federal Register 
on December 27, 1993 (Vol. 58, No. 246). That notice invited 
nominations for experts and consumers to serve on the panel that is 
developing the guideline.
    A public meeting to provide an opportunity for interested parties 
to contribute relevant information and comments, including research 
findings in areas relevant to the guideline, will be held as follows:

    Meeting: Chronic Pain: Headache.
    Date: October 31, 1995.
    From: 9:00 a.m.--12:00 p.m.
    Location: Doubletree Hotel, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 
22202-9903.
    Phone: (703) 416-4100.
    Fax: (703) 416-4126.

Background

    The AHCPR is charged, under Title IX of the Public Health Service 
(PHS) Act, with enhancing the quality, appropriateness, and 
effectiveness of health care services, and access to such services. The 
AHCPR accomplishes its goals through the establishment of a broad base 
of scientific research, and through the promotion of improvements in 
clinical practice and in the organization, financing, and delivery of 
health care services. (See 42 U.S.C. 299-299c-6 and 1320-12.)
    In keeping with its legislative mandates, AHCPR arranges for the 
development, periodic review, and update of clinically relevant 
guidelines that may be used by physicians, nurses, other health care 
providers, educators, and consumers to assist in determining how 
diseases, disorders, and other health care conditions can most 
effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, and 
clinically managed. Medical review criteria, standards of quality, and 
performance measures are then developed based on the guidelines 
produced.
    Section 912 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 299b-1(b)), as amended, requires 
that the guidelines:
    1. Be based on the best available research and professional 
judgment;
    2. Be presented in formats appropriate for use by physicians, 
nurses, other health care providers, medical educators, medical review 
organizations, and consumers;
    3. Be presented in treatment-specific or condition-specific forms 
appropriate for use in clinical practice, education programs, and 
reviewing quality and appropriateness of medical care;
    4. Include information on the risks and benefits of alternative 
strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of the 
particular health condition(s); and
    5. Include information on the costs of alternative strategies for 
prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of the particular 
health condition(s), where cost information is available and reliable.
    Section 914 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 299b-3(a)), as amended, 
identifies factors to be considered in establishing priorities for 
guidelines, including the extent to which the guidelines would:
    1. Improve methods for disease prevention;
    2. Improve methods of diagnosis, treatment, and clinical 
management, and thereby benefit a significant number of individuals;
    3. Reduce clinically significant variations among clinicians in the 
particular services and procedures utilized in making diagnoses and 
providing treatment; and
    4. Reduce clinically significant variations in the outcomes of 
health care services and procedures.
    Also, in accordance with Title IX of the PHS Act and section 1142 
of the Social Security Act, the AHCPR Administrator is to assure that 
the needs and priorities of the Medicare program are reflected 
appropriately in the agenda and priorities for development of 
guidelines and guideline updates.

Arrangements for the October 31, 1995 Public Meeting on Chronic 
Pain: Headache

    Representatives of organizations and other individuals are invited 
to provide relevant written comments and information, and make a brief 
(5 minutes or less) oral statement to the panel. Individuals and 
representatives who would like to attend must register with Ms. Becky 
Gray, Duke University, at the address set out below by October 10, 
1995, and indicate whether they plan to make an oral statement. A 
written copy of the oral statement, comments, and information should be 
submitted to Ms. Gray by October 10, 1995. If more requests to make 
oral statements are received than can be accommodated between 9:00 a.m. 
and 12:00 p.m. on October 31, 1995, the chairperson will allocate 
speaking time in a manner that ensures, to the extent possible, that a 
range of views of health care professionals, consumers, and 
pharmaceutical and product manufacturers are presented. Those who 
cannot be granted their requested speaking time because of time 
constraints are assured that their written comments will be considered 
when 

[[Page 44035]]
decisions regarding the AHCPR-sponsored guideline are made.
    If sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation 
for a disability is needed, please contact Ms. Gray by October 10, 
1995, at the address below.
    Registration should be made with, and written materials submitted 
to: Becky Gray, Duke University, First Union Tower, 2200 West Main 
Street, Suite 230, Durham, North Carolina 27705, Phone: (919) 286-3399, 
Fax: (919) 286-5601.

For Additional Information

    Additional information on the guideline development process is 
contained in the AHCPR Program Note, ``Clinical Practice Guideline 
Development,'' dated August 1993. This document describes AHCPR's 
activities with respect to clinical practice guidelines including the 
process and criteria for selecting panels. This document may be 
obtained from the AHCPR Publications Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 8547, 
Silver Spring, MD 20907; or call Toll-Free: 1-800-358-9295.
    Also, information can be obtained by contacting Douglas B. Kamerow, 
M.D., M.P.H., Director, Office of the Forum for Quality and 
Effectiveness in Health Care, Agency for Health Care Policy and 
Research, Willco Building, 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 310, 
Rockville, MD 20852, Phone 301-594-4015, Fax: 301-594-4027.

    Dated: August 18, 1995.
Clifton R. Gaus,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-21000 Filed 8-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M