[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 165 (Monday, August 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40772-40774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18182]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Notice of Intent To Establish the Pain Management Best Practices 
Inter-Agency Task Force and Request for Nominations for Task Force 
Members

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the

[[Page 40773]]

Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) hereby 
gives notice of its intent to establish the Pain Management Best 
Practices Inter-Agency Task Force (Task Force) pursuant to section 101 
of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016. The Task Force 
will consist of representatives of specific Federal agencies and non-
federal individuals and entities who represent diverse disciplines and 
views. The Task Force will provide advice and recommendations for 
development of best practices for pain management and prescribing pain 
medication and a strategy for disseminating such best practices to 
relevant Federal agencies and the general public.
    Through this notice, HHS is also requesting nominations of 
individuals who are interested in being considered for appointment to 
the Task Force. Resumes or curricula vitae from qualified individuals 
who wish to be considered for appointment as a member of the Task Force 
are currently being accepted.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than close of business 
September 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: All nominations must be submitted via email to the attention 
of Vanila M. Singh, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vanila M. Singh, M.D., Chief Medical 
Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health; U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services; Telephone: (202) 205-3841; Fax: (202) 
205-2107; Email address: [email protected]. When the charter for 
the Task Force has been filed with the appropriate Congressional 
committees and the Library of Congress, this document will be made 
available online. Web site information about activities of the Task 
Force will be provided when the URL has been identified. The charter 
will include detailed information about the purpose, function, and 
structure of the Task Force.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101 of the Comprehensive Addiction 
and Recovery Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114-198) (CARA) authorizes the 
Secretary of HHS, in cooperation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
and the Secretary of Defense, to convene the Task Force. The Task Force 
will consist of representatives of specific Federal agencies and non-
federal individuals and entities who represent diverse disciplines and 
views. The Task Force will identify, review, and determine whether 
there are gaps or inconsistencies in best practices among Federal 
agencies; propose updates to best practices and recommendations on 
addressing gaps or inconsistencies; provide the public with an 
opportunity to comment on any proposed updates and recommendations; and 
develop a strategy for disseminating information about best practices.
    The Task Force will provide advice and recommendations for 
development of best practices for pain management and prescribing pain 
medication and a strategy for disseminating such best practices to 
relevant Federal agencies and the general public. The functions of the 
Task Force will be solely advisory in nature. The Task Force will be 
established as a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee.
    When the charter for the Task Force is approved, it will be filed 
with the appropriate Congressional committees and the Library of 
Congress; hard copies of this document will be made available upon 
request. The approved charter will also be accessible online.
    Objectives and Scope of Activities. The Secretary of HHS, in 
cooperation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 
Defense, shall convene the Task Force to identify, review, and 
determine whether there are gaps or inconsistencies in best practices 
among Federal agencies; propose updates to best practices and 
recommendations on addressing gaps or inconsistencies; provide the 
public with an opportunity to comment on any proposed updates and 
recommendations; and develop a strategy for disseminating information 
about best practices.
    Membership and Designation. The Task Force shall consist of not 
more than 30 members. The Assistant Secretary for Health of HHS shall 
select the Chair. The Chair may select a Vice-chair from among Task 
Force members. The members of the Task Force shall include currently 
licensed and practicing physicians, dentists, and non-physician 
prescribers; currently licensed and practicing pharmacists and 
pharmacies; experts in the fields of pain research and addiction 
research, including adolescent and young adult addiction; experts on 
the health of, and prescription opioid use disorders in, members of the 
Armed Forces and veterans; and experts in the field of minority health. 
The members of the Task Force shall also include individuals who are 
appointed to serve under CARA subsection 101(c)(5) as representatives 
of pain management professional organizations; the mental health 
treatment community; the addiction treatment community, including 
individuals in recovery from substance use disorder; pain advocacy 
groups, including patients; veteran service organizations; groups with 
expertise on overdose reversal, including first responders; State 
medical boards; and hospitals. The Secretary shall ensure that the 
membership of the Task Force includes individuals who represent rural 
and underserved areas. The composition of the Task Force shall also 
include federal members who shall serve as representatives for the 
following departments and agency: The Department of Health and Human 
Services and relevant HHS agencies, the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
the Department of Defense, and the Office of National Drug Control 
Policy.
    Members who are not officers or employees of the United States 
Government and who are not appointed as representative members under 
CARA subsection 101(c)(5) shall be classified as special government 
employees (SGEs). Members of the Task Force who are officers or 
employees of the United States Government shall be appointed to serve 
at the discretion of the head of the respective Federal departments and 
agency. All members shall be appointed to serve for the duration of 
time that the Task Force is authorized to operate. Any member who is 
appointed to fill the vacancy of an unexpired term shall be appointed 
to serve for the remainder of that term.
    Pursuant to advance written agreement, members of the Task Force 
who are not officers or employees of the United States Government shall 
receive no stipend for the advisory service that they render as members 
of the Task Force. Members appointed as SGEs shall receive per diem and 
reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in relation to performing 
duties for the Task Force, as authorized by law under 5 U.S.C. 5703 for 
persons who are employed intermittently to perform services for the 
Federal government and in accordance with Federal travel regulations. 
Members appointed as representatives of a designated entity under CARA 
subsection 101(c)(5) may be allowed to receive per diem and 
reimbursement for any applicable expenses that are incurred to conduct 
business related to the Task Force. Federal employees assigned as 
advisory committee members or staff members remain covered under their 
current compensation system.
    Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings. The Task Force shall 
meet not less than two times a calendar year,

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depending upon the availability of funds. The meetings may be conducted 
by teleconference or videoconference at the discretion of the 
Designated Federal Officer. The meetings shall be open to the public, 
except as determined otherwise by the Secretary, or other official to 
whom authority has been delegated, in accordance with the guidelines 
under Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c). Notice of all 
meetings shall be provided to the public in accordance with the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act. Meetings shall be conducted and records of the 
proceedings shall be kept, as required by applicable laws and 
departmental policies. A quorum is required for the Task Force to meet 
to conduct business. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Task 
Force's members. When the Secretary or the Secretary's designee 
determines that a meeting shall be closed or partially closed to the 
public, in accordance with provisions of Government in the Sunshine 
Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), then a report shall be prepared by the 
Designated Federal Officer that includes, at a minimum, a list of 
members and their business addresses, the Task Force's functions, date 
and place of the meeting, and a summary of the Task Force's activities 
and recommendations made during the fiscal year. A copy of the report 
shall be provided to the Department Committee Management Officer.
    Nominations: Nominations, including self-nominations, of 
individuals who have the specified expertise and knowledge will be 
considered for appointment as members of the Task Force. A nomination 
should include, at a minimum, the following for each nominee: (1) A 
letter of nomination that clearly states the name and affiliation of 
the nominee, the basis for the nomination, and a statement from the 
nominee that indicates that the individual is willing to serve as a 
member of the Task Force, if selected; (2) the nominator's name, 
address, and daytime telephone number, and the address, telephone 
number, and email address of the individual being nominated; and (3) a 
current copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume, which should 
be limited to no more than 10 pages.
    Every effort will be made to ensure that the composition of the 
Task Force includes individuals from various geographic locations, 
including rural and underserved areas; racial and ethnic minorities; 
genders, and persons living with disabilities.
    Individuals other than officers or employees of the United States 
government being considered for appointment as members of the Task 
Force will be required to complete and submit a report of their 
financial holdings. An ethics review must be conducted to ensure that 
individuals appointed as members of the Task Force are not involved in 
any activity that may pose a potential conflict of interest for the 
official duties that are to be performed. This is a federal ethics 
requirement that must be satisfied upon entering the position and 
annually throughout the established term of appointment on the Task 
Force.
    Authority: Section 101 of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery 
Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114-198) authorizes establishment of the Pain 
Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force. The Task Force will 
be governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public 
Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), which sets forth standards 
for the formation and use of Federal advisory committees.

    Dated: August 21, 2017.
Donald Wright,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Health.
[FR Doc. 2017-18182 Filed 8-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-28-P