National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality: Request for Nominations for Public Members

AGENCY:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, HHS.

ACTION:

Request for nominations for public members.

SUMMARY:

42 U.S.C. 299c, section 921 of the Public Health Service (PHS Act), established a National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality (the Council). The Council is to advise the Secretary for HHS and the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), on matters related to actions of the Agency to enhance the quality, improve the outcomes, and reduce the costs of health care services, as well as improve access to such services, through scientific research and the promotion of improvements in clinical practice and in the organization, financing, and delivery of health care services.

Eight current members' terms will expire in June 2000, and the Agency's recent reauthorization law added an additional four members. To fill these positions in accordance with the legislative mandate establishing the Council, we are seeking individuals who are distinguished in the conduct of research, demonstration projects, and evaluations with respect to health care; individuals distinguished in the fields of health care quality research or health care improvement; individuals distinguished in the practice of medicine; individuals distinguished in the other health professions; individuals either representing the private health care sector (including health plans, providers, and purchasers) or individuals distinguished as administrators of health care delivery systems; individuals distinguished in the fields of health care economics, information systems, law, ethics, business, or public policy; and individuals representing the interests of patients and consumers of health care. Individuals are particularly sought with experience and success in activities specified in the summary paragraph above, through which the Agency carries out its work.

DATE:

Nominations should be received on or before April 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations should be sent to Ms. Anne Lebbon, AHRQ, 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 600, Rockville, Maryland, 20852. Nominations also may be faxed to (301) 443-0251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Anne Lebbon, AHRQ, at (301) 594-7216.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

42 U.S.C. 299c, section 921 of the PHS Act, provides that the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality consist of 21 appropriately qualified representatives of the public appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and eight ex officio representatives from Federal agencies conducting or supporting health care research. 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 and programs for AHRQ.

Eight individuals will presently be selected by the Secretary to serve on the Council beginning with the meeting in the fall of 2000. Members generally serve 3-year terms. Appointments are staggered to permit an orderly rotation of membership.

Interested persons may nominee one or more qualified persons for membership on the Council. Nominations shall include a copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae, and state that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of the Council. Potential 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.

The Department is seeking a broad geographic representation and has special interest in assuring that women, minority groups, and the physically handicapped are adequately represented on advisory bodies and, therefore, extends particular encouragement to nominations for approximately qualified female, minority, and/or physically handicapped candidates.