[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18314-18316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08797]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Establishment of the National Clinical Care Commission and 
Solicitation of Nominations for Commission Members

AGENCY: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the 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 
announces the establishment of the National Clinical Care Commission 
(the Commission) pursuant to the National Clinical Care Commission Act. 
The Commission will consist of representatives of specific federal 
agencies and non-federal individuals and entities who represent diverse 
disciplines and views. The Commission will evaluate and make 
recommendations to the HHS Secretary and Congress regarding 
improvements to the coordination and leveraging of federal programs 
related to awareness and clinical care for complex metabolic or 
autoimmune diseases that result from issues related to insulin that 
represent a significant disease burden in the United States, which may 
include complications due to such diseases.
    Through this notice, HHS is also requesting nominations of 
individuals who are interested in being considered for appointment to 
the Commission. Resumes or curricula vitae from qualified individuals 
who wish to be considered for appointment as a member of the Commission 
are currently being accepted.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than close of business May 
29, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Qualified persons and interested organizations are invited 
to

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submit nominations by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected] (please indicate in the subject line: 
National Clinical Care Commission)
     Mail/Courier: Office of Disease Prevention and Health 
Promotion, Attn: Division of Health Care Quality, Department of Health 
and Human Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite LL100, Rockville, MD 
20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clydette Powell, MD, MPH, FAAP, 
Director, Division of Health Care Quality, Office of Disease Prevention 
and Health Promotion, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health; 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Telephone: 240-453-8239; 
Email address: [email protected] (please indicate in the subject line: 
National Clinical Care Commission). The Commission charter may be 
accessed online at https://health.gov/hcq/national-clinical-care-commission.asp. The charter includes detailed information about the 
purpose, function, and structure of the Commission.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Clinical Care Commission Act 
(Pub. L. 115-80) requires the HHS Secretary to establish the National 
Clinical Care Commission. The Commission will consist of 
representatives of specific federal agencies and non-federal 
individuals and entities who represent diverse disciplines and views. 
The Commission will evaluate and make recommendations to the HHS 
Secretary and Congress regarding improvements to the coordination and 
leveraging of federal programs related to awareness and clinical care 
for complex metabolic or autoimmune diseases that result from issues 
related to insulin that represent a significant disease burden in the 
United States, which may include complications due to such diseases.
    Objectives and Scope of Activities. The Commission shall evaluate 
and make recommendations, as appropriate, to the Secretary and Congress 
regarding:
    (1) Federal programs of the Department of Health and Human Services 
that focus on preventing and reducing the incidence of complex 
metabolic or autoimmune diseases resulting from issues related to 
insulin that represent a significant disease burden in the United 
States, which may include complications due to such diseases;
    (2) Current activities and gaps in federal efforts to support 
clinicians in providing integrated, high-quality care to individuals 
with the diseases and complications;
    (3) The improvement in, and improved coordination of, federal 
education and awareness activities related to the prevention and 
treatment of the diseases and complications, which may include the 
utilization of new and existing technologies;
    (4) Methods for outreach and dissemination of education and 
awareness materials that--
    (a) address the diseases and complications;
    (b) are funded by the federal government; and
    (c) are intended for health care professionals and the public; and
    (5) Whether there are opportunities for consolidation of 
inappropriately overlapping or duplicative federal programs related to 
the diseases and complications.
    Membership and Designation. The Commission shall consist of 23 
voting members. The composition shall include eleven ex-officio members 
and twelve non-federal members. The ex-officio members shall consist of 
the heads of, or subordinate officials designated by the heads of, the 
following federal departments, agencies, or components: The Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and 
Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Indian 
Health Service, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug 
Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the 
Office of Minority Health, the Department of Defense, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture.
    The twelve non-federal members shall be appointed as special 
government employees (SGEs) by the Secretary and shall have expertise 
in prevention, care, and epidemiology of any of the diseases and 
complications described in Section 2(a) of the National Clinical Care 
Commission Act. The non-federal members shall include one or more 
members from each of the following categories: Physician specialties, 
including clinical endocrinologists, that play a role in the prevention 
or treatment of diseases and complications; primary care physicians; 
non-physician health care professionals; patient advocates; national 
experts, including public health experts; and health care providers 
furnishing services to a patient population that consists of a high 
percentage (as specified by the Secretary) of individuals who are 
enrolled in a state plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act or 
who are not covered under a health plan or health insurance coverage. 
One of the non-federal members shall be selected by the members to 
serve as the Chair.
    The ex-officio members and non-federal members shall be appointed 
to serve for the duration of the time that the Commission is authorized 
to operate. Any vacancy of a non-federal member shall be filled in the 
same manner as the original appointments. Any non-federal 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, each non-federal member of 
the Commission will waive his or her right to compensation for 
performing services as a member of the Commission. However, non-federal 
members shall receive per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses 
incurred in relation to performing duties for the Commission, as 
authorized by FACA and 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. Ex-officio members of the 
Commission remain covered under their current compensation system.
    Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings. The Commission shall 
meet at least twice and not more than four times a year. These meetings 
may be in person or conducted by teleconference or videoconference at 
the discretion of the Designated Federal Official (DFO). 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 FACA. 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 Commission to meet 
to conduct business. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the 
Commission's voting members.
    When the Secretary or designee determines that a meeting shall be 
closed or partially closed to the public, in accordance with 
stipulations of Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), then 
a report shall be prepared by the DFO that includes, at a minimum, a 
list of members and their business addresses, the Commission's 
functions, date and place of the meeting, and a summary of the 
Commission's activities and recommendations made

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during the fiscal year. A copy of the report will be provided to the 
Department's 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 Commission. 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 Commission, if selected; (2) a one-page biography that 
describes the nominee's qualifications and, if applicable, highlights 
relevant experience on other federal advisory committees; (3) the 
nominator's name, address, and daytime telephone number; and the 
address, telephone number, and email address of the individual being 
nominated; and (4) a current copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae or 
resume, which should be limited to no more than 30 pages. Incomplete 
nomination packages will not be reviewed.
    Every effort will be made to ensure that the composition of the 
Commission 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 Commission 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 Commission 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 Commission.

    Authority: The National Clinical Care Commission Act (Pub. L. 
115-80) requires establishment of the National Clinical Care 
Commission. The Commission is governed by provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. 
App.), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of 
federal advisory committees.

    Dated: April 19, 2018.
Don Wright,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Disease Prevention and Health 
Promotion).
[FR Doc. 2018-08797 Filed 4-25-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-32-P