04-16598. 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, July 30, 2004, 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, Room 800, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deborah Queenan, Coordiantor 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 April 23, 2004. 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 August 16, 2004.

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 Agecncy 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 Secretary and Federal ex-officio members.

II. Agenda

On Friday, July 30, 2004, 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 led by David J. Brailer, M.D., Ph.D., newly appointed National Health Information Technology Coordinator for DHHS, who will discuss the information technology goals for the Department, and a discussion of enhancements to AHRQ's available web-based information tools. The official agenda will be available on AHRQ's Web site at http://www.ahrq.gov no later than July 19, 2004. The meeting will adjourn at 4 p.m.

Dated: July 13, 2004.

Carolyn M. Clancy,

Director.