03-26567. Meeting of the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality

AGENCY:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with section 10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces a meeting of the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality.

DATES:

The meeting will be held on Friday, November 7, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to the public.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 200 Independence Avenue, Room 800, Washington, DC 20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Anne Lebbon, Coordinator of the Advisory Council, at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, [phone]. For press-related information, please contact Karen Migdail at [phone].

If sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed, please contact Mr. Donald L. Inniss, Director, Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Program Support Center, on [phone] no later than October 31, 2003.

Agenda, roster, and minutes are available from Ms. Bonnie Campbell, Committee Management Officer, Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland, 20850. Her phone number is [phone]. Minutes will be available after November 21, 2003.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Purpose

Section 921 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299c) established the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality. In accordance with its statutory mandate, the Council is to advise the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), on matters related to actions of the Agency to enhance the quality, improve the outcomes, reduce the costs of health care services, improve access to such services through scientific research, and to promote improvements in clinical practice and in the organization, financing, and delivery of health care services. The Council is composed of members of the public appointed by the Service and Federal ex-officio members.

II. Agenda

On Friday, November 7, 2003, the meeting will begin at 9 a.m., with the call to order by the Council Chair. The Director, AHRQ, will present the status of the Agency's current research, programs, and initiatives. Tentative agenda items include a discussion of Improving Efficiency and Quality through Health System Design, AHRQ's Efforts Directed to Improve Decisions Regarding the Purchase, Cost, and Effectiveness of Prescribed Medicines, the National Healthcare Qualtity Report, and the National Healthcare Disparities Report. The official agenda will be available on AHRQ's Web site a http://www.ahrq.gov no later than October 17, 2003. The meeting will adjourn at 4 p.m.

Dated: October 14, 2003.

Carolyn M. Clancy,

Director.