[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43491-43492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18174]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE


Office of the Secretary; Federal Advisory Committee; Uniform 
Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel; Charter Renewal

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DOD).

ACTION: Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

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

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 1074g(c), the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix), the Government in 
the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b), and 41 CFR 102-3.50, 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).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Panel is a non-discretionary Federal 
advisory committee established to provide the Secretary of Defense, 
through the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), 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 Secretary of Defense 
shall consider the comments of the Panel before implementing the 
uniform formulary or implementing changes to the uniform formulary.
    The Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) or 
designated representative may act upon the Panel's advice and 
recommendations.
    The Panel, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1074g(c)(2), shall be comprised of 
no more than fifteen members. The Panel membership shall include:
    a. Non-governmental 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; 
enrolled in such
    c. Contractors responsible for the national mail-order pharmacy 
program; and
    d. TRICARE network providers.
    Panel members, who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal 
officers

[[Page 43492]]

or employees, shall be appointed as experts and consultants under the 
authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 and serve as special government employees. 
All panel members, including those appointed as experts and consultants 
under section 3109, shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense and 
their appointments shall be renewed on an annual basis.
    The Panel members shall select the Panels Chairperson from the 
total membership.
    With the exception of travel and per diem for official travel, 
Panel and subcommittee members shall serve with compensation.
    With DOD approval, the Panel is authorized to establish 
subcommittees, as necessary and consistent with its mission. 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 (5 U.S.C. 552b), and other appropriate Federal 
statutes and 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.
    Subcommittee members, who are not Panel members, shall be appointed 
in the same manner as the Panel members. Subcommittee members, who are 
not full-time or permanent part-time government employees, shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of Defense according to governing DOD 
policies and procedures. Such individuals shall be appointed as experts 
and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109 and shall serve as 
special government employees, whose appointments must be renewed 
annually.
    The Panel shall meet at the call of the Panel's Designated Federal 
Officer, in consultation with the Panel's chairperson. The estimated 
number of Panel meetings is four per year.
    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. In 
addition, the Designated Federal Officer is required to be in 
attendance at all Panel and subcommittee meetings, however, in the 
absence of the Designated Federal Officer, the Alternate Designated 
Federal Officer shall attend the meeting.
    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 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: July 21, 2010.
Mitchell S. Bryman,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2010-18174 Filed 7-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P