[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 34 (Wednesday, February 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9338-9339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-738]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Solicitation for Nominations for New Clinical Preventive Health 
Topics To Be Considered for Review by the United States Preventive 
Services Task Force

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research Quality (AHRQ), DHHS.

ACTION: Solicit for new topic nominations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites 
individuals and organizations to nominate primary and secondary 
prevention topics pertaining to clinical preventive services that they 
would like the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to 
consider for review. All topics previously reviewed by the USPSTF are 
available on AHRQ's Web site, http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov.
    The USPSTF is an independent panel of experts that makes evidence-
based recommendations regarding the provision of clinical preventive 
services. Clinical preventive services include screening, counseling 
and preventive medications associated with primary care. The USPSTF 
makes recommendations about preventive services for asymptomatic 
people--people without recognized signs or symptoms of the specific 
conditions targeted by the preventive service.
    Topics can be nominated by individuals, organizations, evidence-
based practice centers (EPC) and USPSTF members. The USPSTF will 
consider nominations in two steps. The USPSTF will first determine if 
the service is eligible, i.e., constitutes primary or secondary 
prevention applicable to healthy asymptomatic persons; is primary care 
feasible or referable from primary care; and addresses a condition with 
a substantial health burden. As a second step, within eligible topics, 
the USPSTF will prioritize based on the following set of criteria: 
public health importance (burden of suffering, potential of preventive 
service to reduce the burden); and potential for greatest Task Force 
impact (e.g., clinical controversy, practice does not reflect evidence, 
inappropriate timing in delivery of services).

Basic Topic Nomination Requirements

    Nominations must be no more than 500 words in length and must 
include the information listed below. Nominations may include 
supporting documentation; reference lists and other supporting 
documents are not counted against the 500 word limit, but should not 
exceed ten pages.
    Required information:
    1. Name of topic.
    2. Rationale for consideration by the USPSTF, describing:
    a. Characterization as primary or secondary prevention topic 
(screening, counseling or preventive medication).
    b. Primary care relevance (applicable clinical preventive service 
must be provided by a primary care provider or initiated in the primary 
care setting which can be defined as family practice, internal 
medicine, pediatrics or obstetrics/gynecology).
    c. Public health importance (burden of disease/suffering, potential 
of preventive service to reduce burden, including effective 
interventions). Citations and supporting documents are recommended.
    d. Potential impact of USPSTF's review of the topic, i.e., change 
in clinical practice, research focus, etc.

DATES: Topic nominations should be submitted by March 21, 2008 in order 
to be considered for 2008-2010. AHRQ will not reply to submissions in 
response to the request for nominations, but will consider all topic 
nominations during the selection process. If a topic is selected for 
review by the USPSTF, the nominator will be notified by AHRQ.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to: Gloria Washington, ATTN: 
USPSTF Topic Nominations, Center for Primary Care, Prevention & 
Clinical Partnerships, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 
Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, Fax: 301.427.1595, E-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Therese Miller at 
[email protected] or Gloria Washington at 
[email protected].
    Arrangement for Public Inspection: All nominations will be 
available for public inspections by appointment at the Center for 
Primary Care, Prevention & Clinical Partnerships, 301.427.1500, 
weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern time).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 9339]]

Background

    Under Title IX of the Public Health Service Act, AHRQ is charged 
with enhancing the quality, appropriateness and effectiveness of health 
care services and access to such services. AHRQ accomplishes these 
goals through scientific research and 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-7.
    The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is an 
independent expert panel, first established in 1984 under the auspices 
of the U.S. Public Health Service. Under AHRQ's authorizing legislation 
noted above, specifically 42 U.S.C. 299b-4(a)(1), the Director of AHRQ 
is responsible for convening the USPSTF which is to be composed of 
individuals with appropriate expertise. The mission of the Task Force 
is to evaluate rigorously the effectiveness of critical preventive 
services and to formulate recommendations for primary care clinicians 
regarding the appropriate provision of preventive services. Current 
Task Force recommendations and associated evidence reviews are 
available at http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov.

Topic Nomination Solicitation

    The purpose of this solicitation for new topics by AHRQ and the 
USPSTF is to create a balanced portfolio of relevant topics for the 
current Task Force library. Balance in the library is sought on the 
basis of populations, types of services (screening, counseling, 
preventive medications) and disease types (cancer; heart and vascular 
disease; injury and violence-related disorders; infectious diseases; 
mental disorders and substance abuse; metabolic, nutritional and 
endocrine diseases; musculoskeletal conditions; obstetric and 
gynecological conditions; endocrine diseases; musculoskeletal 
conditions; obstetric and gynecological conditions; pediatric 
disorders; and vision and hearing disorders). Selection of suggested 
topics will be made on the basis of the qualifications of nominations 
as outlined above (see basic topic nomination requirements).

    Dated: February 6, 2008.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 08-738 Filed 2-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M