[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 27 (Friday, February 8, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2883-2884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01695]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Request for Information (RFI): Improving Efficiency, 
Effectiveness, Coordination, and Accountability of HIV and Viral 
Hepatitis Prevention, Care, and Treatment Programs

AGENCY: Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, Department of 
Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Both the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) and the National 
Viral Hepatitis Action Plan (NVHAP) expire in 2020. The Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious 
Disease Policy (OHAIDP), in collaboration with federal partners, is 
leading development of the next iterations of these two separate and 
distinct national strategies. To help inform the next iterations of the 
NHAS and NVHAP, HHS seeks input from external stakeholders for 
improving efficiency, effectiveness, coordination, and accountability 
of HIV and viral hepatitis prevention, care, treatment, and cure 
policies, services, and programs.

DATES: To be assured consideration, comments must be received at the

[[Page 2884]]

address provided below, no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on March 11, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Electronic responses are strongly preferred and may be 
addressed to [email protected]. Written responses should be 
addressed to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Room L001, 
330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20024. Attention HIV/Viral Hepatitis 
RFI.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan Fecik, MPH regarding HIV or 
Corinna Dan, RN, MPH regarding viral hepatitis, in the Office of HIV/
AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, (202) 795-7697.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NHAS and NVHAP have served as roadmaps 
for the national response to HIV and viral hepatitis in the United 
States. They have been of great value in establishing and monitoring 
indicators of progress toward important national public health goals, 
setting expectations, identifying opportunities for stakeholder 
engagement across sectors, and improving transparency and 
accountability. As a nation, we have made significant progress toward 
achieving the goals for both strategies, but ongoing challenges and 
disparities remain.
    The NHAS and the NVHAP were developed with input from nonfederal 
stakeholders who are committed to working toward shared national goals 
and aligning efforts across sectors. The strategies allow flexibility 
to adapt to: Scientific advances; changes in the needs of people with 
and at-risk for these infections; emerging threats to our progress 
toward eliminating HIV and viral hepatitis, such as the opioid crisis; 
and other factors including social determinants of health and stigma 
that affect the health of people with and at risk for these infections.
    This request for information seeks public input on improving 
efficiency, effectiveness, coordination, and accountability of HIV and 
viral hepatitis prevention, care, treatment, and cure policies, 
services, and programs at all levels and for all types of stakeholders. 
The feedback received will inform the next edition of two separate 
strategies: (1) The National HIV/AIDS Strategy; and (2) the National 
Viral Hepatitis Action Plan. Please indicate the national strategy to 
which each comment applies. If submitting comments for both strategies 
please submit two separate responses. Topics of interest include, but 
are not limited to, the following:
    (1a) What components of the NHAS do you think should be maintained? 
What changes should be made to the NHAS? This may include changes to 
the structure, goals, and indicators, key areas of focus and/or 
populations, and annual reporting processes by federal agencies. This 
may also include areas of the current strategy that should be scaled 
back or areas of the current strategy that should be expanded or scaled 
up.
    (1b) What components of the NVHAP do you think should be 
maintained? What changes should be made to the NVHAP? This may include 
changes to the structure, goals, and indicators, key areas of focus 
and/or populations, and annual reporting processes by federal agencies. 
This may also include areas of the current strategy that should be 
scaled back or areas of the current strategy that should be expanded or 
scaled up.
    (2a) Specific recommendations you think will improve the 
efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, and impact of the national 
response to HIV.
    (2b) Specific recommendations you think will improve the 
efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, and impact of the national 
response to viral hepatitis.
    (3a) What specific actions should the federal government and others 
take to improve the coordination of funding and delivery of HIV 
services?
    (3b) What specific actions should the federal government and others 
take to improve the coordination of funding and delivery of viral 
hepatitis services?
    (4a) What monitoring and evaluation strategies would further 
improve HIV prevention, care, and treatment?
    (4b) What monitoring and evaluation strategies would further 
improve viral hepatitis prevention, care, and treatment?

    Dated: January 29, 2019.
Tammy R. Beckham,
Director, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-01695 Filed 2-7-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-28-P