[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 86 (Monday, May 4, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26472-26473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09450]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality: 
Request for Nominations for Members

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of request for nominations for members.

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SUMMARY: The National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and 
Quality (the Council) is to advise the Secretary of HHS (Secretary) and 
the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) 
with respect to activities proposed or undertaken to carry out AHRQ's 
statutory mission. AHRQ produces 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. Seven 
current members' terms will expire in November 2020.

DATES: Nominations should be received on or before 60 days after date 
of publication of this notice.

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 provides that the Secretary 
shall appoint to the Council 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 below. 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).
    Seven current members' terms will expire in November 2020. To fill 
these positions, we are seeking individuals who: (1) Are distinguished 
in the conduct of research, demonstration projects, and evaluations 
with respect to health care; (2) are distinguished in the fields of 
health care quality research or health care improvement; (3) are 
distinguished in the practice of medicine; (4) are distinguished in 
other health professions; (5) represent the private health care sector 
(including health plans, providers, and purchasers) or are 
distinguished as administrators of health care delivery systems; (6) 
are distinguished in the fields of health care economics, information 
systems, law, ethics, business, or public policy; and (7) represent 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 these activities. AHRQ will accept nominations 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 2021. Members 
generally serve 3-year terms. Appointments are

[[Page 26473]]

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.

    Dated: April 29, 2020.
Virginia L. Mackay-Smith,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 2020-09450 Filed 5-1-20; 8:45 am]
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