[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 111 (Friday, June 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 26685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12361]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
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: 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.

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 establishes a National 
Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality (the Council). 
Seven current members' terms will expire in November 2018. 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. 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). 
Consistent with revised guidance regarding the ban on lobbyists serving 
as members of advisory boards and commissions, AHRQ will accept 
nominations for Federally-registered lobbyists to serve on the Council 
in a representative capacity.
    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 2019. 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.
    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.

Francis D. Chesley, Jr.,
Acting Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-12361 Filed 6-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4160-90-P