[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62873-62874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26518]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Solicitation of Nominations for Membership To Serve on the 
Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for nominations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: HRSA is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be 
considered for appointment as members of the Advisory Committee on 
Heritable

[[Page 62874]]

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 HHS (Secretary). HRSA is seeking nominations of qualified 
candidates to fill up to five positions on the Committee.

DATES: Written nominations for membership on the Committee must be 
received on or before January 4, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages must be submitted electronically as 
email attachments to Andrea Matthews, Genetic Services Branch, Maternal 
and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Matthews, MCHB, HRSA 5600 
Fishers Lane, Room 18-N-34D , Rockville, MD 20857; 301-945-3062; or 
[email protected]. A copy of the Committee charter and list of the 
current membership may be obtained by accessing the Committee website 
at https://www.hrsa.gov/advisory-committees/heritable-disorders/about/index.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee was established in 2003 to 
advise the Secretary 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 meets four times each calendar year, or at the 
discretion of the Designated Federal Officer in consultation with the 
Chair.
    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 HRSA 
pursuant to section 2713 of the PHS Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. 300gg-
13. Under this provision, 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 for voting members to 
serve on the Committee to fill one position in 2019 and up to four 
positions in 2020. The Secretary appoints Committee members with the 
expertise needed to fulfill the duties of the Advisory Committee. The 
membership requirements are set forth at 42 U.S.C. 300b-10(c)(2). 
Nominees sought are medical, technical, 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 with, or at risk for having, heritable disorders; 
individuals who have expertise in ethics (e.g., 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; and/or 
representatives from such federal agencies, public health 
constituencies, and medical professional societies. Interested 
applicants may self-nominate or be nominated by another individual or 
organization. Nominees must reside in the United States and cannot be 
funded for international travel.
    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 travel expenses incurred for attending Committee meetings and/
or conducting other business on behalf of the Committee, as authorized 
by 5 U.S.C. 5703 of the FACA for persons employed intermittently in 
government service. Members who are already 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.
    The following information must be included in the package of 
materials submitted for each individual being nominated for 
consideration: (1) A statement that includes the name and affiliation 
of the nominee and a clear statement regarding the basis for the 
nomination, including the area(s) of expertise that may support 
eligibility of a nominee for service on the Committee, as described 
above; (2) confirmation the nominee is willing to serve as a member of 
the Committee; (3) the nominee's contact information (please include 
home address, work address, daytime telephone number, and an email 
address); and (4) a current copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae. 
Nomination packages may be submitted directly by the individual being 
nominated or by the person/organization recommending the candidate.
    HHS will endeavor to ensure that the membership of the Committee is 
fairly balanced in terms of points of view represented and that 
individuals from a broad representation of geographic areas, gender, 
ethnic and minority groups, as well as individuals with disabilities, 
are considered 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 required in order for HRSA 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 and to identify any required remedial action needed to 
address the potential conflict.

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

Amy McNulty,
Acting Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2018-26518 Filed 12-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P