[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 120 (Friday, June 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 35126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13992]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary of Defense


Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 
1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine 
Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended), and 41 CFR 102-3.65, the 
Department of Defense gives notice that it is renewing the charter for 
the Uniform Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel (hereafter referred to 
as the Panel).
    The Panel is a non-discretionary federal advisory committee 
established by the Secretary of Defense to provide the Department of 
Defense, the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) and the 
Director, TRICARE Management Activity independent advice and 
recommendations on the development of the uniform formulary. The Panel, 
in accomplishing its mission: (a) Creates transparency in the policy 
decisions regarding the DoD Uniform Formulary; (b) provides public 
forum where beneficiaries may voice their opinions regarding formulary 
changes allowing panel members, who represent their interests, to 
advocate for change within their member organizations and beyond.
    The Panel shall be composed of not more than 15 members, who shall 
include members that represent (a) Non-Government organizations and 
associations that represent the views and interests of a large number 
of eligible covered beneficiaries; (b) contractors responsible for the 
TRICARE retail pharmacy program; (c) contractors responsible for the 
national mail-order pharmacy program; and (d) TRICARE network 
providers. Panel members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are 
not federal officers or employees, shall be appointed as experts and 
consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 and with the exception 
of travel and per diem for official travel, shall serve without 
compensation, unless otherwise authorized by the Secretary of Defense. 
The Secretary of Defense shall renew the appointments of these Special 
Government Employees on an annual basis. The Under Secretary of Defense 
(Personnel and Readiness) or designed representative shall select the 
Panel's Chairperson from the total Panel membership.
    The Panel shall be authorized to establish subcommittees, as 
necessary and consistent with its mission, and these subcommittees or 
working groups shall operate under the provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 
1976, and other appropriate federal regulations.
    Such subcommittees or workgroups shall not work independently of 
the chartered Panel, and shall report all their recommendations and 
advice to the Panel for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees 
or workgroups have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the 
chartered Panel nor can they report directly to the Department of 
Defense or any federal officers or employees who are not Panel members.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Jim Freeman, Deputy Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-601-6128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Panel shall meet at the call of the 
Panel's Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the Panel's 
chairperson. The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to DoD policy, 
shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, and shall be 
appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and procedures. 
The Designated Federal Officer or duly appointed Alternate Designated 
Federal Officer shall attend all Panel meetings and subcommittee 
meetings.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to the Uniform 
Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel membership about the Panel's 
mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time 
or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of the Uniform 
Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel.
    All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal 
Officer for the Uniform Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel, and this 
individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the 
membership for their consideration. Contact information for the Uniform 
Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel's Designated Federal Officer can 
be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database--https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp.
    The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will 
announce planned meetings of the Uniform Formulary Beneficiary Advisory 
Panel. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may provide 
additional guidance on the submission of written statements that are in 
response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in question.

    Dated: June 16, 2008.
Patricia L. Toppings,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
 [FR Doc. E8-13992 Filed 6-19-08; 8:45 am]
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