[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 879-880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-319]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research


Nominations for Members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task 
Force

    The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) is 
reconvening the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (the Task Force) 
and inviting nominations of qualified individuals to serve as members.

Background

    Under Title IX of the Public Health Service Act, AHCPR is charged 
with enhancing the quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of 
health care services and access to such services. AHCPR accomplishes 
these goals through scientific research and through promotion of 
improvements in clinical practice, including prevention of diseases and 
other health conditions, and improvements in the organization, 
financing, and delivery of health care services (42 U.S.C. 299-299c-6).

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    The U.S. Preventive Task Force (the Task Force) is an expert panel, 
first established in 1984 under the auspices

[[Page 880]]

of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion of the U.S. 
Public Health Service. The mission of the Task Force is to rigorously 
evaluate the effectiveness of clinical preventive services and to 
formulate recommendations for primary care clinicians regarding the 
appropriate content of periodic health examinations. The first Task 
Force concluded its work in 1989 with the publication of the Guide to 
Clinical Preventive Services (the Guide). A second Task Force, 
appointed in 1990, concluded its work with the release of the second 
edition of the Guide in December 1995. Programmatic responsibility for 
the Task Force was transferred to AHCPR in 1995. The 1995 edition of 
the Guide, evaluating common screening tests, counseling interventions, 
immunizations and chemoprophylaxis, is available on the Internet 
(www.ahcpr.gov/clinic) and through the U.S. Government Printing Office, 
(202) 512-1800 (refer to stock # 017-001-00525-8).
    Members of the third Task Force will be asked to serve up to 5 
years. They will meet quarterly for 1 to 2 day meetings in the 
Washington, DC area. The Task Force will work closely with other 
organizations, including the American College of Preventive Medicine, 
American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, 
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College 
of Physicians, American Nurses Association, and the Canadian Task Force 
on the Periodic Health Examination.

Nominations for Third U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    Members of the third Task Force will be selected on the basis of: 
(1) clinical expertise in the primary health care of children and/or 
adults; (2) experience in critical evaluation of research and evidence-
based methods; (3) expertise in disease prevention and health 
promotion; (4) national leadership within their field of expertise; (5) 
ability to work collaboratively with peers; and, (6) no substantial 
conflicts of interest that would impair the scientific integrity of the 
work of the Task Force. Some Task Force members without primary health 
care clinical experience may be selected based on their expertise in 
methodologic issues such as medical decision making, clinical 
epidemiology, health economics, and behavioral interventions. AHCPR 
particularly encourages nominations of women, members of minority 
populations, and persons with disabilities. Interested individuals and 
organizations may nominate one or more qualified persons for membership 
on the Task Force. Nominations should include curricula vitae and 
should state that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of the 
Task Force. AHCPR will ask persons being considered for membership to 
provide detailed information concerning such matters as financial 
holdings, consultancies, and research grants or contracts, to permit 
evaluation of possibly significant conflicts of interest. It is 
anticipated that approximately 10-12 individuals will be invited to 
serve on the third Task Force.

Materials Submission and Deadline

    To be considered for membership on the U.S. Preventive Services 
Task Force, written nominations should be submitted by March 9, 1998 
to: Douglas B. Kamerow, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Center for Practice and 
Technology Assessment, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, 6000 
Executive Boulevard, Willco Building, Suite 310, Rockville, Maryland 
20852.
    Responses will be available for inspection at the Center for 
Practice and Technology Assessment, telephone (301) 594-4015, weekdays 
between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. AHCPR will not reply to individual 
responses, but will consider all nominations in selecting members.

For Additional Information

    Additional information about the U.S. Preventive Services Task 
Force may be obtained by contacting: David Atkins, M.D., M.P.H., Center 
for Practice and Technology Assessment, Agency for Health Care Policy 
and Research, 6000 Executive Boulevard, Willco Building, Suite 310, 
Rockville, Maryland 20852; telephone (301) 594-4015; fax (301) 594-
4027; E-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: December 29, 1997.
John M. Eisenberg,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-319 Filed 1-6-98; 8:45 am]
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