[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41995-41996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16883]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY: DoD.

ACTION: Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to 
announce that it is renewing the charter for the Uniform Formulary 
Beneficiary Advisory Panel (``the Panel'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Freeman, Advisory Committee 
Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Panel's charter is being renewed under 
the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 1074g(c), 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) (``the Sunshine Act''), and 41 CFR 
102-3.50(a).
    The Panel is a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee that 
shall provide the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of 
Defense, through the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 
Readiness (USD(P&R)), the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health 
Affairs (ASD(HA)), and the Director, Defense Health Agency, 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 Panel shall report to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy 
Secretary of Defense through the USD(P&R), the ASD(HA), and the 
Director, Defense Health Agency. The USD(P&R) may act upon the Panel's 
advice and recommendations.
    The Department of Defense (DoD), through the office of the USD(P&R) 
and the Defense Health Agency, shall provide support, as deemed 
necessary, for the Panel's performance, and shall ensure compliance 
with the requirements of the FACA, the Government in the Sunshine Act 
of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended) (``the Sunshine Act''), governing 
Federal statutes and regulations, and established DoD policies and 
procedures.
    The Panel, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1074g(c)(2), shall be comprised of 
no more than 15 members. The Panel shall include members that 
represent:
    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;
    c. Contractors responsible for the national mail-order pharmacy 
program; and
    d. TRICARE network providers.
    Panel members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense or the 
Deputy Secretary of Defense and their appointments shall be renewed on 
an annual basis in accordance with DoD policies and procedures. 
Individuals who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal 
employees shall be appointed as experts or consultants, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. Sec.  3109, to serve as special government employee (SGE) 
members. Individuals who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal 
employees shall be appointed, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a), to serve 
as regular government employee (RGE) members. Panel members shall serve 
a term of service of one-to-four years, and no member may serve more 
than two consecutive terms of service without the Secretary of Defense 
or the Deputy Secretary of Defense approval. This same term of service 
limitations also applies to any DoD authorized subcommittee.
    All new members of the panel are appointed to provide advice on the 
basis of their best judgment without representing any particular point 
of view and a manner that is free from conflict of interest.
    Panel members will serve without compensation except for 
reimbursement of travel and per diem as it pertains to official 
business of the Panel.
    DoD, when necessary and consistent with the Panel's mission and DoD 
policies and procedures, may establish subcommittees, task forces, or 
working groups to support the Panel. Establishment of subcommittees 
will be based upon a written determination, to include terms of 
reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of 
Defense, or the USD(P&R), as the Panel's sponsor.
    Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the chartered 
Panel, and shall report all of their recommendations and advice solely 
to the Panel for full and open deliberation and discussion. 
Subcommittees, task forces, or working groups have no authority to make 
decisions and recommendations, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the 
Panel. No subcommittee or any of its members can update or report, 
verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Panel, directly to the DoD or 
any Federal officer or employee.
    The Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense will 
appoint subcommittee members to a term of service of one-to-four years, 
with annual renewals, even if the member in question is already a 
member of the Panel. Subcommittee members shall not serve more than two 
consecutive terms of service unless authorized by the Secretary of 
Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
    Subcommittee members, if not full-time or permanent part-time 
Federal employees, will be appointed as experts or consultants pursuant 
to 5 U.S.C. 3109 to serve as SGE members. Subcommittee

[[Page 41996]]

members, who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees, 
shall be appointed pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a) to serve as RGE 
members. With the exception of reimbursement of official travel and per 
diem related to the Panel or its subcommittees, subcommittee members 
shall serve without compensation.
    All subcommittees operate under the provisions of FACA, the 
Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and 
established DoD policies and procedures.
    The Panel's Designated Federal Officer (DFO) shall be a full-time 
or permanent part-time DoD employee and shall be appointed in 
accordance with established DoD policies and procedures.
    The Panel's DFO is required to be in attendance at all meetings of 
the Panel and any subcommittees for the entire duration of each and 
every meeting. However, in the absence of the Panel's DFO, a properly 
approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to the Panel according to 
established DoD policies and procedures, shall attend the entire 
duration of all meetings of the Panel and its subcommittees.
    The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, shall call all meetings of the Panel 
and its subcommittees; prepare and approve all meeting agendas; and 
adjourn any meeting when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, determines 
adjournment to be in the public interest or required by governing 
regulations or DoD policies and procedures.
    Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or 
interested organizations may submit written statements to 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 DFO 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 DFO can be obtained from the GSA's FACA 
Database--http://www.facadatabase.gov/.
    The DFO, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned 
meetings of the Uniform Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel. The DFO, 
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 14, 2014.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2014-16883 Filed 7-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P