2021-13966. National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality: Request for Nominations for Members

AGENCY:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION:

Notice of request for nominations for members.

SUMMARY:

The National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality (the Council) is to advise the Secretary of HHS (Secretary) and the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) with respect to activities proposed or undertaken to carry out AHRQ's statutory mission. AHRQ produces evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used. Seven current members' terms will expire in November 2021.

DATES:

Nominations should be received on or before 60 days after date of publication.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations should be sent to Jaime Zimmerman via email at [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jaime Zimmerman, AHRQ, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

42 U.S.C. 299c provides that the Secretary shall appoint to the Council twenty one appropriately qualified individuals. At least seventeen members shall be representatives of the public and at least one member shall be a specialist in the rural aspects of one or more of the professions or fields listed below. In addition, the Secretary designates, as ex officio members, representatives from other Federal agencies, principally agencies that conduct or support health care research, as well as Federal officials the Secretary may consider appropriate. 42 U.S.C. 299c(c)(3).

Seven current members' terms will expire in November 2021. To fill these positions, we are seeking individuals who: (1) Are distinguished in the conduct of research, demonstration projects, and evaluations with respect to health care; (2) are distinguished in the fields of health care quality research or health care improvement; (3) are distinguished in the practice of medicine; (4) are distinguished in other health professions; (5) represent the private health care sector (including health plans, providers, and purchasers) or are distinguished as administrators of health care delivery systems; (6) are distinguished in the fields of health care economics, information systems, law, ethics, business, or public policy; and (7) represent the interests of patients and consumers of health care. 42 U.S.C. 299c(c)(2). Individuals are particularly sought with experience and success in these activities. AHRQ will accept nominations to serve on the Council in a representative capacity.

The Council meets in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, generally in Rockville, Maryland, approximately three times a year to provide broad guidance to the Secretary and AHRQ's Director on the direction of and programs undertaken by AHRQ.

Seven individuals will be selected by the Secretary to serve on the Council beginning with the meeting in the spring of 2022. Members generally serve 3-year terms. Appointments are staggered to permit an orderly rotation of membership.

Interested persons may nominate one or more qualified persons for membership on the Council. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominations shall include: (1) A copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae; and (2) a statement that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of the Council. Selected candidates will be asked to provide detailed information concerning their financial interests, consultant positions and research grants and contracts, to permit evaluation of possible sources of conflict of interest. Please note that once a candidate is nominated, AHRQ may consider that nomination for future positions on the Council.

The Department seeks a broad geographic representation. In addition, AHRQ conducts and supports research concerning priority populations, which include: Inner city; rural; low income; minority; women; children; elderly; and those with special health care needs, including those who have disabilities, need chronic care, or need end-of-life health care. See 42 U.S.C. 299(c). AHRQ also includes in its definition of priority populations those groups identified in Section 2(a) of Executive Order 13985 as members of underserved communities: Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. Nominations of persons with expertise in health care for these priority populations are encouraged.

Dated: June 24, 2021.

Marquita Cullom,

Acting Director.