[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 190 (Friday, October 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 50981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23594]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Meeting of the AHRQ National Advisory Council for Healthcare 
Research and Quality Subcommittee on Patient Safety and Medical 
Liability Reform Demonstrations

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the National Advisory 
Council for Healthcare Research and Quality Subcommittee on Patient 
Safety and Medical Liability Reform Demonstrations.

DATES: The meeting will be held in October; specific information will 
be available on the AHRQ Web site at http://www.AHRQ.gov.

ADDRESSES: To be determined; in Washington, DC Metro area; specific 
information will be available at http://www.AHRQ.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Christine Williams, Director for 
Strategic Partnerships, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 
Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland 20850, (301) 427-1850.
    For press-related information, please contact: Karen Migdail at 
(301) 427-1855.
    If sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation 
for a disability is needed, please contact: Mr. Michael Chew, Director, 
Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Program Support Center, 
(301) 443-1144 (no later than October 15, 2009).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Purpose

    The National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality 
was established in accordance with Section 921 (now Section 931) of the 
Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 299c. In accordance with its 
statutory mandate, the Council is to advise the Secretary of the 
Department of Health and Human Services and the Director, Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), on matters related to actions 
of AHRQ to enhance the quality, and improve the outcomes, of health 
care services; improve access to such services through scientific 
research; and promote improvements in clinical practice and in the 
organization, financing, and delivery of health care services.
    The Council is composed of members of the public, appointed by the 
Secretary, and Federal ex-officio members. AHRQ's National Advisory 
Council on Healthcare Research and Quality (NAC) will establish a 
Subcommittee on Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform 
Demonstrations.
    The Subcommittee will be created to provide advice to the NAC for 
consideration and transmission to AHRQ as AHRQ undertakes the 
development of a new demonstration initiative that will help States and 
health care systems to test models that put patient safety first and 
work to reduce preventable injuries, foster better communication 
between doctors and their patients, ensure that patients are 
compensated in a fair and timely manner for medical injuries, while 
reducing the incidence of frivolous lawsuits; and reduce liability 
premiums.
    As directed by President Obama, the Secretary of the Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) will launch a competitive three-pronged 
initiative that will include support for demonstration grants to States 
and health systems, planning grants to States and health systems, and a 
rapid and comprehensive review of current efforts, targeting patient 
safety and medical liability. Prior to finalizing the Funding 
Opportunity Announcement for this new initiative, the chairman of 
AHRQ's National Advisory Council will convene a subcommittee with 
diverse representation from expert and stakeholder groups to provide 
advice for this initiative. The date, time, location and agenda for the 
subcommittee meeting, which will be open to the public, will be 
available on the AHRQ Web site no later than two weeks in advance of 
such meeting. Members of the public will have the opportunity to submit 
comments to the subcommittee in person or in writing, and can 
participate in the meeting in person or via Web casting. The 
subcommittee will not review individual grants nor participate in award 
decisions.
    A roster of the Subcommittee members will be available at http://www.AHRQ.gov.
    A more specific proposed agenda will be available before the 
meeting at http:[sol][sol]www.AHRQ.gov.
    The final agenda, including the time for public comment during the 
meeting, will be available on the AHRQ Web site at http://www.AHRQ.gov. 
Public comments may also be submitted in writing by e-mail, fax, mail, 
or hand delivery. E-mails are preferred. Please submit comments to: 
[email protected]. A comment submitted by e-mail 
should indicate that it is in response to ``Medical Liability Reform 
Demonstrations Subcommittee.'' The deadline for written comments will 
be posted on the AHRQ Web site. Meeting minutes will be available 
within 21 business days after the meeting.

    Dated: September 24, 2009.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E9-23594 Filed 10-1-09; 8:45 am]
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