[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46282-46283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22214]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform; Notice of 
Intent to Establish

ACTION: Notice of intent to establish a Secretarial Advisory Committee 
on Regulatory Reform.

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SUMMARY: This notice is published in accordance with Section 9(a)(2) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Notice is hereby given that the 
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services intends to 
establish an Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christy Schmidt, Executive 
Coordinator, Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 200 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 415F, Washington, DC, 20201, (202) 690-
7858.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) seeks to ensure that its programs and the activities they are 
designed to foster are effective and efficient, have broad impact on 
the intended clientele, and are readily accessible to them. To that 
end, HHS is examining its array of regulations with a view to 
identifying opportunities for reforms that will maintain or enhance 
program performance in selected mission areas and at the same time 
reduce burdens and costs on effected entities. The Secretary, 
therefore, is establishing an Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform.
    This Committee is governed by the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. 
Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation of advisory 
committees and implementing regulations (41 CFR part 102-3).
    The Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform will 
provide findings and recommendations to the Secretary regarding 
potential regulatory changes. As part of their responsibilities, the 
Committee will hold regional public hearings and solicit public 
comments regarding HHS regulations that involve health care delivery, 
operations, health and biomedical research as well as the development 
of pharmaceuticals and other medical products. The Committee shall (a) 
review candidate regulatory changes identified through the regional 
hearings, through solicitations of written comments from the public, or 
through consultation with HHS staff and (b) advise whether, if 
effected, these candidate changes would have beneficial results. As 
appropriate, the Committee shall consider the potentially most 
beneficial regulatory reforms further and advise the Secretary 
regarding their priority for implementation.
    The Committee shall consist of not more than 20 members including 
the Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons. Appointments shall be made by the 
Secretary from authorities knowledgeable in the fields of health care 
delivery, health systems operations, advocacy for patients' interests, 
health

[[Page 46283]]

insurance, development of pharmaceuticals and other medical products, 
and biomedical and health services research. Attention shall be given 
to equitable geographic distribution and to ethnic and gender 
representation.
    The Committee shall meet three times unless, after consultation 
with the Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons, the Secretary determines that 
additional meetings are necessary to fulfill the purpose of the 
Committee. All meetings shall be at the call of the Chairperson or Co-
Chairpersons. An official of the federal government shall be present at 
all meetings. Meetings shall be open to the public. Advance notice of 
all meetings shall be given to the public. Meetings shall be conducted 
and records of proceedings shall be kept in accordance with applicable 
laws and Departmental regulations.
    Unless renewed by appropriate action prior to its expiration, the 
Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform shall terminate on 
[insert date one year from charter approval].

    Dated: August 29, 2001.
Tommy G. Thompson,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-22214 Filed 8-30-01; 11:42 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-05-P