[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36825-36826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15744]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and 
Children Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is 
seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for 
appointment as members of the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders 
in Newborns and Children (Committee). The Committee provides advice, 
recommendations, and technical information about aspects of heritable 
disorders and newborn and childhood screening to the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services. HRSA is seeking nominations of qualified 
candidates to fill three positions on the Committee.

    Authority: Section 1111 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, 
Title XI, Sec.  1111(g)(1) (42 U.S.C. 300b-10(g)(1)), as amended by 
the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2014. The 
Committee is governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 
as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), and 41 CFR part 102-3 and 41 CFR part 
102-3, which set forth standards for the formation and use of 
advisory committees.

DATES: Written nominations for membership on the Committee must be 
received on or before July 27, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages must be submitted electronically as 
email attachments to Ms. Lisa M. Vasquez, Genetic Services Branch, 
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lisa Vasquez, Genetic Services 
Branch, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, at [email protected] or 
(301) 443-4948. A copy of the Committee Charter and list of the current 
membership can be obtained by accessing the Advisory Committee Web site 
at http://www.hrsa.gov/advisorycommittees/mchbadvisory/heritabledisorders.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee is chartered under section 
1111 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 300b-10, as 
amended by the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 
2015 (Act). The Committee was established in 2003 to advise the 
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding 
newborn screening tests, technologies, policies, guidelines, and 
programs for effectively reducing morbidity and mortality in newborns 
and children having or at risk for heritable disorders. In addition, 
the Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary 
concerning the grants and projects authorized under section 1109 of the 
PHS Act and technical information to develop policies and priorities 
for grants, including those that will enhance the ability of the state 
and local health agencies to provide for newborn and child screening, 
counseling and health care services for newborns, and children having 
or at risk for heritable disorders.
    The Committee is governed by the provisions of Public Law 92-463, 
as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), and 41 CFR part 102-3, which set forth 
standards for the formation and use of advisory committees. The 
Committee reviews and reports regularly on newborn and childhood 
screening practices for heritable disorders, recommends improvements in 
the national newborn and childhood heritable screening programs, and 
recommends conditions for inclusion in the Recommended Uniform 
Screening Panel (RUSP). The Committee's recommendations regarding 
additional conditions/inherited disorders for screening that have been 
adopted by the Secretary are included in the RUSP and constitute part 
of the comprehensive guidelines supported by the Health Resources and 
Services Administration. Pursuant to section 2713 of the Public Health 
Service Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. 300gg-13, non-grandfathered health 
plans and group and individual health insurance issuers are required to 
cover screenings included in the HRSA-supported comprehensive 
guidelines without charging a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible 
for plan years (i.e., in the individual market, policy years) beginning 
on or after the date that is 1 year from the Secretary's adoption of 
the condition for screening.
    Nominations: HRSA is requesting nominations to fill three (3) 
positions for voting members to serve on the Committee. Nominations of 
potential candidates for consideration are being sought for individuals 
who are medical, technical, public health, or scientific professionals 
with special expertise in the field of heritable disorders or in 
providing screening, counseling, testing, or specialty services for 
newborns and children at risk for heritable disorders; who have 
expertise in ethics (i.e., bioethics) and infectious diseases and who 
have worked and published material in the area of newborn screening; 
members of the public having special expertise about or concern with 
heritable disorders; or members from such federal agencies, public 
health constituencies, and medical professional societies as determined 
to be necessary by the Secretary. Interested applicants may self-
nominate or be nominated by another individual and/or organization.
    Individuals selected for appointment to the Committee will be 
invited to serve for up to 4 years. Members who are not federal 
officers or permanent federal employees are appointed as special 
government employees and receive a stipend and reimbursement for per 
diem and any travel expenses incurred for attending Committee meetings 
and/or conducting other business on behalf of the Committee, as 
authorized by section 5 U.S.C. 5703 for persons employed intermittently 
in government service. Members who are officers or employees of the 
United States Government shall not receive additional compensation for 
service on the Committee, but receive per diem and travel expenses 
incurred for attending Committee meetings and/or conducting other 
business on behalf of the Committee. Nominees will be invited to serve 
during calendar year 2016.
    The following information must be included in the package of 
materials submitted for each individual being

[[Page 36826]]

nominated for consideration: (1) A statement that clearly states the 
name and affiliation of the nominee, the basis for the nomination 
(i.e., specific attributes such as expertise in bioethics, evidence 
review, public health, laboratory, maternal and child health, or 
clinical expertise in heritable disorders, which qualify the nominee 
for service in this capacity), and that the nominee is willing to serve 
as a member of the Committee; (2) the nominee's name, address, and 
daytime telephone number and the home/or work address, telephone 
number, and email address; and (3) a current copy of the nominee's 
curriculum vitae. Nomination packages may be summited directly by the 
individual being nominated or by the person/organization recommending 
the candidate.
    The Department of Health and Human Services will make every effort 
to ensure that the membership of the Committee is fairly balanced in 
terms of points of view represented. Every effort is made to ensure 
that individuals from a broad representation of geographic areas, 
gender, ethnic and minority groups, as well as individuals with 
disabilities are given consideration for membership. Appointments shall 
be made without discrimination on the basis of age, ethnicity, gender, 
sexual orientation, and cultural, religious, or socioeconomic status.
    Individuals who are selected to be considered for appointment will 
be required to provide detailed information regarding their financial 
holdings, consultancies, and research grants or contracts. Disclosure 
of this information is necessary in order to determine if the selected 
candidate is involved in any activity that may pose a potential 
conflict with the official duties to be performed as a member of the 
Committee.

Jackie Painter,
Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2015-15744 Filed 6-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P