[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17308-17309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06367]


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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 nominations.

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SUMMARY: HRSA is seeking nominations of qualified candidates for 
consideration for appointment as members of the Advisory Committee on 
Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (ACHDNC or Committee). 
ACHDNC 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 two positions on 
the Committee beginning in 2023, each serving a term of up-to 4 years.

DATES: Written nominations for membership on the Committee must be 
received on or before April 11, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages must be submitted electronically as 
email attachments to Soohyun Kim, MPH, CPH, Acting Designated Federal 
Officer (DFO) at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Acting DFO Soohyun Kim, MPH, CPH; 
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18-N-
38A, Rockville, MD 20857; 301-594-4202; or [email protected]. A copy of 
the Committee charter and list of the current membership is available 
on the Committee's website at https://www.hrsa.gov/advisory-committees/heritable-disorders/about/index.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ACHDNC was established in 2003 to provide 
advice and recommendations to the 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. ACHDNC 
reviews and reports regularly on newborn and childhood screening 
practices for heritable disorders, recommends improvements in the 
national newborn and childhood heritable screening programs, recommends 
conditions for inclusion in the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel 
(RUSP), and fulfills requirements stated in the authorizing 
legislation. ACHDNC's recommendations regarding inclusion of additional 
conditions/inherited disorders for screening that, when adopted by the 
Secretary, are included in the RUSP, and constitute part of the 
evidence-informed comprehensive preventive health services guidelines 
supported by HRSA pursuant to section 2713 of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg-13). Under this provision, non-grandfathered group 
health plans and group and individual

[[Page 17309]]

health insurance issuers are required to provide insurance coverage 
without cost-sharing (a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible) for 
preventive services 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.
    ACHDNC also 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.
    ACHDNC meets four times each calendar year, or at the discretion of 
the Acting DFO in consultation with the Chair.
    Nominations: HRSA is requesting nominations for voting members to 
serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs) on the ACHDNC to fill two 
positions starting in 2023. The Secretary appoints ACHDNC members with 
the expertise needed to fulfill the duties of the Committee. The 
membership requirements are set forth in Title XI Sec.  1111(g), 42 
U.S.C. 300b-10(g). 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.
    Individuals selected for appointment to the Committee will be 
invited to serve for a term of up-to 4 years. Members appointed as SGEs 
receive a stipend and reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses 
incurred for attending ACHDNC meetings and/or conducting other business 
on behalf of ACHDNC, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703 for persons 
employed intermittently in government service.
    The following information must be included in the package of 
materials submitted for each individual 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 endeavors to ensure that the membership of ACHDNC is fairly 
balanced in terms of points of view represented and that individuals 
from a broad representation of geographic areas, gender, and 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, or cultural, religious, or socioeconomic status.
    Individuals selected for further consideration 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 ethics officials to 
determine whether there is a potential conflict of interest between the 
SGE's public duties as a member of ACHDNC and their private interests, 
including an appearance of a loss of impartiality as defined by federal 
laws and regulations, and to identify any required remedial action 
needed to address the potential conflict.
    Authority: Section 1111(g) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 
U.S.C 300b-10(g), Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 
U.S.C. 217a, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App.

Maria G. Button,
Director, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2022-06367 Filed 3-25-22; 8:45 am]
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