[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26261-26262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10983]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality: 
Request for Nominations for Public Members

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

ACTION: Notice of request for nominations for public members.

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SUMMARY: 42 U.S.C. 299c establishes a National Advisory Council for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (the Council). The Council is to advise 
the Secretary of HHS (Secretary) and the

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Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on 
matters related to activities of the Agency to produce evidence to make 
health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and 
affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is 
understood and used.
    Seven current members' terms will expire in November 2015. To fill 
these positions, we are seeking individuals who are distinguished in: 
(1) The conduct of research, demonstration projects, and evaluations 
with respect to health care; (2) the fields of health care quality 
research or health care improvement; (3) the practice of medicine; (4) 
other health professions; (5) representing the private health care 
sector (including health plans, providers, and purchasers) or 
administrators of health care delivery systems; (6) the fields of 
health care economics, information systems, law, ethics, business, or 
public policy; and, (7) representing the interests of patients and 
consumers of health care. 42 U.S.C. 299c(c)(2). Individuals are 
particularly sought with experience and success in activities specified 
in the summary above.

DATES: Nominations should be received on or before 60 days after date 
of publication.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Ms. Karen Brooks, AHRQ, 540 
Gaither Road, Room 3006, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Nominations may 
also be emailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jaime Zimmerman, AHRQ, at (301) 427-
1456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 42 U.S.C. 299c provides that the Secretary 
shall appoint to the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research 
and Quality twenty one appropriately qualified individuals. At least 
seventeen members shall be representatives of the public and at least 
one member shall be a specialist in the rural aspects of one or more of 
the professions or fields listed in the above summary. In addition, the 
Secretary designates, as ex officio members, representatives from other 
Federal agencies, principally agencies that conduct or support health 
care research, as well as Federal officials the Secretary may consider 
appropriate. 42 U.S.C. 299c(c)(3). The Council meets in the Washington, 
DC, metropolitan area, generally in Rockville, Maryland, approximately 
three times a year to provide broad guidance to the Secretary and 
AHRQ's Director on the direction of and programs undertaken by AHRQ.
    Seven individuals will be selected by the Secretary to serve on the 
Council beginning with the meeting in the spring of 2016. Members 
generally serve 3-year terms. Appointments are staggered to permit an 
orderly rotation of membership.
    Interested persons may nominate one or more qualified persons for 
membership on the Council. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominations 
shall include: (1) A copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae; 
and (2) a statement that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of 
the Council. Selected candidates will be asked to provide detailed 
information concerning their financial interests, consultant positions 
and research grants and contracts, to permit evaluation of possible 
sources of conflict of interest. Please note that once a candidate is 
nominated, AHRQ may consider that nomination for future positions on 
the Council. Federally registered lobbyists are not permitted to serve 
on this advisory board pursuant to the Presidential Memorandum entitled 
``Lobbyists on Agency Boards and Commissions'' dated June 10, 2010, and 
the Office of Management and Budget's ``Final Guidance on Appointment 
of Lobbyists to Federal Boards and Commissions,'' 76 FR 61756 (October 
5, 2011).
    The Department seeks a broad geographic representation. In 
addition, AHRQ conducts and supports research concerning priority 
populations, which include: low-income groups; minority groups; women; 
children; the elderly; and individuals with special health care needs, 
including individuals with disabilities and individuals who need 
chronic care or end-of-life health care. See 42 U.S.C. 299(c). 
Nominations of persons with expertise in health care for these priority 
populations are encouraged.

Sharon B. Arnold,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-10983 Filed 5-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4160-90-P