[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 173 (Friday, September 4, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55305-55306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19631]


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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 advisory committee member nominations.

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SUMMARY: HRSA is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be 
considered for appointment as members of the Advisory Committee on 
Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (ACHDNC or 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 for appointment to five positions 
on the Committee for terms of up to 4 years.

DATES: Written nominations for membership on the Committee must be 
received on or before September 22, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages must be submitted electronically as 
email attachments to Mia Morrison, MPH at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mia Morrison, MPH, Maternal and Child 
Health Bureau, HRSA 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18W-68, Rockville, MD 
20857; 301-443-2521; 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/sites/default/files/hrsa/advisory-committees/heritable-disorders/about/members.pdf.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ACHDNC provides advice and recommendations 
to the Secretary of HHS (Secretary) on the development of newborn 
screening activities, 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 grants, projects 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 ACHDNC 
Chair. The Committee is governed by the provisions of Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), and 41 CFR part 102-3, 
which set forth standards for the formation and use of advisory 
committees, and its Charter.
    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 up to five positions for terms of up-to 4 years. The 
Secretary appoints Committee members with the expertise needed to 
fulfill the duties of the Advisory Committee. 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 demonstrated expertise about or concern 
with heritable disorders; and/or representatives from such federal 
agencies, public health constituencies, and medical professional 
societies with such expertise. 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 expenses.
    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

[[Page 55306]]

per diem and travel expenses incurred for attending Committee meetings 
and/or conducting other business on behalf of the Committee, as 
authorized by section 5 U.S.C. 5703 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 demonstrated expertise or concern 
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, race, color, national origin, sex, 
disability, or religion.
    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 of interest 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: The ACHDNC was established under the Public Health 
Service (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 217a: Advisory councils or committees 
and Title XI Sec.  1111(g) (42 U.S.C. 300b-10(g)).

Maria G. Button,
Director, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2020-19631 Filed 9-3-20; 8:45 am]
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