[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 17716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07119]



[[Page 17716]]

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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 Director of the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on matters related to activities 
of the Agency to carry out its mission. AHRQ's mission is 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.
    The terms of seven current members will expire in November 2016. 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) the representation of 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 Jaime Zimmerman AHRQ, 5600 
Fishers Lane, 06E37A, Rockville, Maryland 20857. 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 21 appropriately qualified individuals to the National 
Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality. At least 17 
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 approximately 3 
times a year in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, generally in 
Rockville, Maryland, 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 2017. 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,
Acting Director .
[FR Doc. 2016-07119 Filed 3-29-16; 8:45 am]
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