[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 221 (Friday, November 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80319-80320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24586]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Intent To Establish Federal Advisory Committee on 
Long COVID

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the 
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services announces the 
intent to establish an Advisory Committee on Long COVID and invites 
nominations for the Committee.

DATES: Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on 
January 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Nominations may be submitted by email to [email protected] 
and addressed to Allison O'Donnell. 202-690-7694.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison O'Donnell at 202-690-7694 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee is authorized under 42 U.S.C. 
217a, section 222 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. The 
Committee is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. chapter 10), 
which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory 
committees.
    The April 5, 2022, Memorandum (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/04/05/memorandum-on-addressing-the-long-term-effects-of-covid-19/) on Addressing the Long-term Effects of 
COVID-19 charged the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) 
with coordinating a Government-wide response to the longer-term effects 
of COVID-19. The Secretary named the Assistant Secretary for Health to 
coordinate the U.S. Government response to Long COVID. The Memorandum 
specified development and publication of two reports that were 
published August 3, 2022. One of the reports, the National Research 
Action Plan on Long COVID (https://www.covid.gov/assets/files/National-Research-Action-Plan-on-Long-COVID-08012022.pdf), called for the 
establishment of a Secretary's Advisory Committee on Long COVID. The 
Committee will bring perspectives from outside the Government to help 
inform action of the Executive Branch on Long COVID and associated 
conditions, with a focus on health equity. Numerous entities across the 
U.S. Government fund and conduct research and use external advisory 
bodies. This Federal Advisory Committee does not replace or supersede 
the ongoing work of these advisory bodies.
    Structure: The Committee will consist of up to 20 members, 
including any Chair, Vice Chair, or Co-Chairs. Factors to be considered 
in selecting individuals to serve on the Committee include expertise in 
the issues to be examined by the Committee, as well as statutory 
obligations under FACA and desire for a balanced and diverse 
membership. To the extent possible, composition of the Committee will 
reflect the experience of an inclusive and diverse cross-section of 
persons with Long COVID and multidisciplinary expertise of those 
supporting and caring for those affected as well as specific clinical, 
medical, public health, behavioral health, human services, employment, 
data science, and research expertise. The membership of the Committee 
will reflect diverse individuals or organizations including underserved 
populations, with a focus on health equity.
    The following areas of expertise will be considered in selecting 
the voting members with the goal of achieving a balanced membership in 
terms of points of view, expertise, and groups represented and 
functions to be performed by the Committee.
    Long COVID and related groups: Representation from individuals 
living with Long COVID and organizations directly engaged in supporting 
people living with Long COVID.
    Professional Associations: Representation from medical 
professional, behavioral health and human services associations 
representing practitioners caring for people with Long COVID, including 
those representing the primary healthcare system.
    Disability and Chronic Illness Groups: Representation from 
associations, researchers, or organizations focused on disability and 
chronic illness, and their possible interplay with Long COVID.
    Public Health and related groups: Representation from public health 
groups supporting communities in addressing the impacts of Long COVID.
    Healthcare and Social Care Providers: Clinical care settings and 
health systems involved in providing care for patients with Long COVID, 
including in underserved areas, such as rural communities and 
communities disproportionately impacted by Long COVID.
    Employee and Employer Related Groups: Representation from employee 
and employer experts, attorneys, or organizations involved in 
addressing the impacts of Long COVID in the workplace, including 
discrimination.
    Research: Researchers and research institutions involved in Long 
COVID and associated conditions research.
    Non-voting Industry Representatives: Those involved in, or 
representing those involved in, Long COVID research and development, 
including prevention, diagnostics, and treatment will be designated to 
represent the interests of this sector.

[[Page 80320]]

    Non-voting Federal Liaisons, without limit, may be solicited, as 
needed, as ex officio members.
    Equal opportunity practices regarding membership appointments to 
the Committee will be aligned with HHS policies. To the extent 
possible, HHS will ensure the Committee membership is balanced in 
expertise, experience, education, and institutional affiliation.
    Members of the Committee will be classified as Special Government 
Employees (SGE) during their term of appointment and, as such, are 
subject to the ethical standards of conduct for federal employees. Upon 
entering the position and annually throughout the term of appointment, 
members of the Committee will be required to complete and submit a 
report of their financial holdings.
    Nominations and Appointments for Memberships: Nominees, including 
self-nominees, will be considered for appointment as members of the 
Committee. Only complete nomination packages submitted on time will be 
considered. To be considered for an appointment, submission of the 
following information for each nominee is required: (1) a cover letter 
that clearly states the name and place of work of the nominee, the 
rationale for the nomination, and a statement that the nominee would be 
willing to serve as a member of the Committee, if selected; (2) the 
name, address, telephone number, and email address for the individual 
being nominated and the nominator, if applicable; and (3) a copy of the 
nominee's resume or curriculum vitae. Nominees with no professional 
affiliation may submit an optional letter of recommendation.
    The curriculum vitae should include the following information: (a) 
education; (b) experience (current and former); (c) affiliations; (d) 
current memberships (expert panels, committees, or other relevant 
groups, including positions held); (e) any peer-reviewed publications 
(for past 5 years); (f) any oral presentations (for past 5 years); (g) 
editorials, opinion pieces, and blogs (for past 5 years); (h) grants, 
contracts, or research funding (for past 15 years); (i) name of any 
corporation, professional society, association, panel, company, firm, 
government agency (Federal, State, and local), research organization, 
educational institution, committee, or other organization or 
institution (government, private, and not-for-profit; domestic and 
foreign) in which the nominee's services have been, will be, or are 
expected to be provided, with or without compensation, including on a 
part-time or seasonal basis as an officer, medical staff, board member, 
owner, trustee, director, expert advisor, consultant (paid or unpaid), 
official spokesperson, member of speakers bureau, or expert witness 
(for past 5 years and upcoming); (j) other paid travel or honoraria 
received, not included above (for past 5 years). If the nominee does 
not have anything to report for the sections, indicate ``none.'' Web 
links to publications, presentations, and other materials available 
online are requested, when available.
    Where prohibited by Federal law or regulations, nominations will 
not be accepted directly from HHS research and promotion boards. Self-
nominations and nominations by members of research and promotion boards 
in their individual capacity will be considered. Federal employees 
should not be nominated for consideration for appointment to this 
Committee.

    Dated: November 2, 2023.
Xavier Becerra,
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2023-24586 Filed 11-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-03-P