02-3625. Meeting of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform

AGENCY:

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION:

Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform. As governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act in accordance with Section 10(a)(2), the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform is seeking guidance for the Department's efforts to streamline regulatory requirements. The Advisory Committee will advise and make recommendations for changes that would be beneficial in four broad areas: Health care delivery, health systems operations, biomedical and health research, and the development of pharmaceuticals and other products. The Committee will review changes identified through regional public hearings, written comments from the public, and consultation with HHS staff.

All meetings and hearings of the Committee are open to the general public. During each meeting, invited witnesses will address how regulations affect health-related issues. Meeting agendas will also allow some time for public comment. Additional information on each meeting's agenda and list of participating witnesses will be posted on the Committee's Web site prior to the meetings, http://www.regreform.hhs.gov.

DATES:

The first public hearing of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform will be held on Monday, February 25, 2002, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, February 26, 2002, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES:

The hearing will be held in Miami, Florida. Information about the exact location will be posted at the Web site address listed above and published in the Federal Register when the location has been confirmed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christy Schmidt, Executive Coordinator, Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 344G, Washington, DC 20201, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Anyone planning to attend the meeting who requires special disability-related arrangements such as sign-language interpretation should provide notice of their need by Tuesday, February 19, 2002. Please make any request to Michael Starkweather—phone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail].

On June 8, 2001, HHS Secretary Thompson announced a Department-wide initiative to reduce regulatory burdens in health care, to improve patient care, and to respond to the concerns of health care providers and industry, State and local Governments, and individual Americans who are affected by HHS rules. Common sense approaches and careful balancing of needs can help improve patient care. As part of this initiative, the Department is establishing the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform to provide findings and recommendations regarding potential regulatory changes. These changes would enable HHS programs to reduce burdens and costs associated with departmental regulations and paperwork, while at the same time maintaining or enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and access of HHS programs.

Dated: February 7, 2002.

William Raub,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.