Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 73 / Tuesday, April 17, 2007 / Notices 19203 

sponsored, overseen, or disseminated by 

the Council and advise the Secretary, as 

necessary, concerning such needs. 

The PCPFS holds at a minimum, one 

meeting in the calendar year to (1) 

assess ongoing Council activities and (2) 

discuss and plan future projects and 

programs. 

Dated: April 12, 2007. 

Melissa Johnson, 

Executive Director, President’s Council on 

Physical Fitness and Sports. 

[FR Doc. E7–7251 Filed 4–16–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4150–35–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Committee on Vital and Health 

Statistics: Meeting 

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act, the Department of 

Health and Human Services (HHS) 

announces the following advisory 

committee meeting. 

Name: National Comittee on Vital and 

Health Statistics (NCVHS) 

Subcommittee on Privacy and 

Confidentiality. 

Time and Date: April 17, 2007, 9 

a.m.–5 p.m. 

Place: Hilton Embassy Row, 2015 

Massachusetts Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20036. 

Status: Open. 

Purpose: The purpose of this session 

will be to discuss consumer controls for 

sensitive health records. 

For Further Information Contact: 

Substantive program information as 

well as summaries of meetings and a 

roster of committee members may be 

obtained from Maya A. Berstein, Lead 

Staff for Subcommittee on Privacy and 

Confidentiality, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 

434E Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 

200 Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20201; telephone (202) 

690–7100; or Marjorie S. Greenberg, 

Executive Secretary, NcVHS, National 

Center for Health Statistics, Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention, 3311 

Toledo Road, Room 2402, Hyattsville, 

Maryland 20782; telephone (301) 458–

4245. Information also is available on 

the NCVHS home page of the HHS Web 

site: http://www.ncvhs.hhs.gov/, where 

further information including an agenda 

will be posted when available. 

Should you require reasonable 

accommodation, please contact the CDC 

Office of Equal Employment 

Opportunity on (301) 458–4EEO (4336) 

as soon as possible. 

Dated: April 10, 2007. 

James Scanlon, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and 

Evaluation (OSDP), Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. 

[FR Doc. 07–1885 Filed 4–16–07; 8:45am] 

BILLING CODE 4151–05–M 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Agency for Healthcare Research and 

Quality 

Nominations of Topics for Evidencebased Practice Centers 

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research 

and Quality (AHRQ), HHS. 

ACTION: Nomination of topics for 

evidence reports, technology 

assessments, and comparative and 

effectiveness reviews. 

SUMMARY: AHRQ invites nominations of 

topics for evidence reports, technology 

assessments, and comparative and 

effectiveness reviews conducted by its 

Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) 

Program relating to the prevention, 

diagnosis, treatment and management of 

common diseases and clinical 

conditions, as well as topics relating to 

the organization and financing of health 

care. Previous evidence reports and 

comparative effectiveness reviews can 

be found at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/ 

epcix.htm and http:// 

effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/ 

progress.cfm, respectively. 

DATES: Topic nominations for general 

evidence reports should be submitted by 

May 14, 2007, in order to be considered 

for fiscal year 2007 selection. Topic 

nominations for comparative and 

effectiveness reviews are accepted on an 

on going basis at: http:// 

effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/ 

topicNomination/ 

nominationsForm.cfm. In addition to 

timely responses to this request for 

nominations, AHRQ also accepts topic 

nominations on an ongoing basis for 

consideration for future years. Topics 

submitted for consideration as general 

evidence reports will concurrently be 

considered as comparative effectiveness 

reviews as appropriate. AHRQ will not 

reply to individual responses, but will 

consider all nominations during the 

selection process. Those who submit 

topics that are selected will be notified 

by AHRQ. 

ADDRESSES: Topics nominations should 

be submitted to Beth A. Collins Sharp, 

Ph.D., R.N., Director, Evidence-based 

Practice Centers (EPC) Program, Center 

for Outcomes and Evidence, AHRQ, 540 

Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850. 

Electronic submissions to epc@ahrq.gov 

are preferred. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth 

A. Collins Sharp, Ph.D., R.N., Center for 

Outcomes and Evidence, AHRQ, 540 

Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850; 

Phone: (301) 427–1503; Fax: (301) 427–

1640; E-mail: 

beth.collinssharp@ahrq.hhs.gov. 

Arrangement for Public Inspection: 

All nominations will be available for 

public inspection by appointment at the 

Center for Outcomes and Evidence, 

telephone (301) 427–1600, weekdays 

between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern 

time). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background 

Under Title IX of the Public Health 

Service Act, AHRQ is charged with 

enhancing the quality, appropriateness, 

and effectiveness of health care services 

and access to such services. AHRQ 

accomplishes these goals through 

scientific research, including evaluative 

medical literature reviews and 

technology assessments, and through 

the promotion of improvements in 

clinical practice and health systems 

practices. 

2. Purpose and Overview 

The purpose of this notice is to solicit 

topic nominations for evidence reports, 

technology assessments, and 

comparative and effectiveness reviews. 

Professional societies, health systems, 

employers, insurers, providers, and 

consumer groups are encouraged to 

nominate topics and then collaborate 

with AHRQ, as it carries out its mission 

to promote the practice of evidencebased health care. In this endeavor, 

AHRQ serves as a science partner with 

private-sector and public organizations 

in their efforts to improve the quality, 

effectiveness, and appropriateness of 

health care delivery in the United 

States, and to expedite the translation of 

evidence-based research findings into 

improved health care services. To 

undertake scientific analyses and 

evidence syntheses on topics of high 

priority to its public and private health 

care partners and the health care 

community generally, AHRQ awards 

task order contracts to its Evidencebased Practice Centers (EPCs). 

The EPCs produce systematic reviews 

of the scientific literature—evidence 

reports, technology assessments, and 

comparative and effectiveness reviews—

that provide to public and private 

organizations the foundation for 

developing and implementing their own 

practice guidelines, performance 


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19204 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 73 / Tuesday, April 17, 2007 / Notices 

measures, educational programs, and 

other strategies to improve the quality of 

health care and decision-making related 

to the effectiveness and appropriateness 

of specific health care technologies and 

services. The evidence reports, 

technology assessments, and 

comparative and effectiveness reviews 

also may be used to inform coverage and 

reimbursement policies. As the body of 

scientific studies related to organization 

and financing of health care grows, 

systematic review and analysis of these 

studies, in addition to clinical and 

behavioral research, can provide health 

system organizations with a scientific 

foundation for developing or improving 

system-wide policies and practices. 

Currently, AHRQ supports 

approximately nine general evidence 

reports per year, in collaboration with 

non-federal partners, and 4–10 

comparative effectiveness reviews. 

Nominations of general topics from nonFederal partners are solicited annually 

through a notice in the Federal Register. 

However, topic nominations are 

accepted on an ongoing basis. All 

nominations received in the previous 

year as well as topics that were 

previously submitted but not selected 

are considered for the upcoming year. 

Reports and assessments usually 

require about 12 months for completion 

once assigned to an EPC. AHRQ widely 

disseminates the EPC evidence reports 

and technology assessments, both 

electronically and in print. The EPC 

evidence reports, technology 

assessments and comparative and 

effectiveness reviews do not make 

clinical recommendations or 

recommendations regarding 

reimbursement and coverage policies. 

3. Role/Responsibilities of Partners for 

General Topics 

Nominators of topics selected for 

development of an EPC evidence report 

assume the role of Partners of AHRQ 

and the EPCs. Partners have defined 

roles and responsibilities. AHRQ places 

high value on these cooperative 

relationships, and takes into 

consideration a Partner organization’s 

past performance of these 

responsibilities when considering 

whether to accept additional topics 

nominated by that organization in 

subsequent years. Specifically, Partners 

are expected to serve as resources to 

EPCs as they develop the evidence 

reports related to the nominated topic; 

serve as external peer reviewers of 

relevant draft evidence reports and 

assessments; and commit to timely 

translation of the EPC reports and 

assessments into their town quality 

improvement tolls (e.g., clinical practice 

guidelines, performance measures), 

educational programs, or reimbursement 

policies; and dissemination of these 

derivative products to their membership 

or other health care stakeholders, as 

appropriate. AHRQ also is interested in 

all the uses of these derivative products 

and the products’ impact on enhanced 

health care. AHRQ looks to its Partners 

to provide use and impact data on 

products that are based on EPC evidence 

reports and technology assessments. 

4. Topics for Reports 

The EPCs prepare evidence reports, 

technology assessments, and 

comparative and effectiveness reviews 

on topics for which there is significant 

demand for information by health care 

providers, insurers, purchasers, healthrelated societies, and patient advocacy 

organizations. Such topics may include 

the prevention, diagnosis and/or 

treatment of particular clinical and 

behavioral conditions, use of alternative 

or complementary therapies, and 

appropriate use of commonly provided 

services, procedures, or technologies. 

Topics also may include issues related 

to the organization and financing of care 

such as risk adjustment methodologies, 

market performance measures, provider 

payment mechanisms, and insurance 

purchasing tools, as well as 

measurement or evaluation of provider 

integration of new scientific findings 

regarding health care and delivery 

innovations. Previous reports and 

reviews can be found at http:// 

www.ahrg.gov/clinic/epcix.htm and 

http://effectivehealthcare.ahrg.gov/ 

products/progress.cfm. 

AHRQ is very interested in receiving 

topic nominations from professional 

societies and organizations composed of 

members of minority populations, as 

well as topic nominations that have 

significant impact on AHRQ priority 

populations including low income 

groups, minority groups, women, 

children, the elderly, and individuals 

with special health care needs, such as 

those with disabilities, those who need 

chronic care or end-of-life healthcare, or 

those who live in inner-city and rural 

areas. 

5. Topic Nomination 

Nominations of topics for AHRQ 

evidence reports, technology 

assessments, and comparative 

effectiveness reviews should focus on 

specific aspects of prevention, 

diagnosis, treatment and/or 

management of a particular condition; 

an individual procedure, treatment, or 

technology; or a specific healthcare 

organizational or financial strategy. The 

processes that AHRQ employs to select 

clinical and behavioral topics as well as 

organization and financing topics 

nominated by the EPCs are described 

below. For each topic, the nominating 

organization must provide the following 

information: 

A. Rationale and supporting evidence 

on the relevance and importance of the 

topic; 

B. Three to five focused questions on 

the topic to be addressed; 

C. Plans for rapid translation of the 

evidence reports and technology 

assessments into clinical guidelines, 

performance measures, educational 

programs, or other strategies for 

strengthening the quality of health care 

services, or plans to inform 

development of reimbursement or 

coverage policies; 

D. Plans for use and/or dissemination 

of these derivative products, e.g., to 

membership and others, if appropriate; 

and, 

E. Process by which the nominating 

organization will measure the use of 

these products and impact of such use. 

6. Topic Selection 

Factors that will be considered in the 

selection of topics for AHRQ evidence 

reports, technology assessments, and 

comparative and effectiveness reviews 

and which should/may be addressed in 

nomination material, include: 

A. Burden of related disease(s) 

including severity, incidence and/or 

prevalence or relevance of the 

organizational/financial topic to the 

general population and/or AHRQ’s or 

the Secretary’s priorities which are 

available at http:// 

www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov; 

B. Total costs associated with a 

condition, procedure, treatment, 

technology, or organization/financial 

topic taking into account the number of 

people needing such care, the unit cost 

of care, and related or indirect costs; 

C. Relevance to the needs of the 

Medicare, Medicaid and other Federal 

healthcare programs; 

D. Controversy or uncertainty about 

the topic and availability of scientific 

data to support the systematic review 

and analysis of the topic; 

E. Potential for reducing clinically 

significant variations in the prevention, 

diagnosis, treatment, or management of 

a disease or condition; or in changing 

the use of a procedure or technology; 

informing and improving patient and/or 

provider decisionmaking; improving 

health outcomes; and/or reducing costs; 

and, 

F. Nominating organization’s plan to 

disseminate derivative products, 

measure use and impact of these 

products on outcomes, or otherwise 


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 73 / Tuesday, April 17, 2007 / Notices 19205 

incorporate the report into its 

managerial or policy decision making. 

7. Submission of Nominations 

Topics nominations for general topics 

should be submitted to Beth A. Collins 

Sharp, PhD, R.N., Director, Evidencebased Practice Centers (EPC) Program, 

Center for Outcomes and Evidence, 

AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 

20850. Electronic submissions to 

epc@ahrq.gov are preferred. Topic 

nominations for comparative 

effectiveness reviews should be 

submitted to http:// 

www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov. 

Dated: April 5, 2007. 

Carolyn M. Clancy, 

Director. 

[FR Doc. 07–1813 Filed 4–16–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4160–90–M 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention 

[60Day–07–0672] 

Proposed Data Collections Submitted 

for Public Comment and 

Recommendations 

In compliance with the requirement 

of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for 

opportunity for public comment on 

proposed data collection projects, the 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic 

summaries of proposed projects. To 

request more information on the 

proposed projects or to obtain a copy of 

the data collection plans and 

instruments, call 404–639–5960 and 

send comments to Joan Karr, CDC 

Acting Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 

Clifton Road, MS–D74, Atlanta, GA 

30333 or send an e-mail to 

omb@cdc.gov. 

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of the functions of the agency, including 

whether the information shall have 

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information; (c) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on respondents, including through the 

use of automated collection techniques 

or other forms of information 

technology. Written comments should 

be received within 60 days of this 

notice. 

Proposed Project 

Indicators of the Performance of Local 

and State and Education Agencies in 

HIV-prevention and Coordinated School 

Health Program Activities for 

Adolescent and School Health Programs 

(0920–0672)—(Extension)—National 

Center for Chronic Disease Prevention 

and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC). 

Background and Brief Description 

The proposed project is an annual 

Web-based questionnaire to assess 

programmatic activities among local 

education agencies (LEA) and state and 

territorial education agencies (SEA and 

TEA) funded by the Division of 

Adolescent and School Health (DASH), 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention. 

Currently, there is no standardized 

annual reporting process for HIV 

prevention activities or coordinated 

school health program (CSHP) activities 

among LEAs and SEAs/TEAs funded by 

DASH. Data being gathered will be in 

the form of four questionnaires, which 

will: (1) Provide standardized 

information about how HIV prevention, 

asthma management, and CSHP funds 

are used by LEAs and SEAs; (2) assess 

the extent to which programmatic 

adjustments are indicated; (3) provide 

descriptive and process information 

about program activities; and (4) 

provide greater accountability for use of 

public funds. These questionnaires are 

to be completed within ninety days after 

the end of the fiscal year by the DASHfunded partners on a Web site managed 

by DASH. 

Of the four Web-based questionnaires 

corresponding to the specific funding 

source: Two (2) questionnaires will 

pertain to HIV-prevention program 

activities among LEAs and SEAs/TEAs; 

one (1) will pertain to asthma 

management activities among LEAs; and 

one (1) will pertain to CSHP activities 

among SEAs. 

The HIV questionnaires will include 

questions on: 

• Distribution of, professional 

development and individualized 

technical assistance on school policies. 

• Distribution of professional 

development and individualized 

technical assistance on education 

curricula and instruction. 

• Distribution of professional 

development and individualized 

technical assistance assessment on 

student standards. 

• Collaboration with external 

partners. 

• Targeting priority populations. 

• Planning and improving projects. 

• Information about additional 

program activities. 

The asthma questionnaire will ask the 

questions above, but will focus on 

asthma management activities. 

The CSHP questionnaire will also ask 

the questions above, but focused on 

physical activity, nutrition, and tobaccouse prevention activities (PANT), and 

include additional questions on: 

• Joint activities of the State 

Education Agency and State Health 

Agency (SHA). 

• Activities of the CSHP state-wide 

coalition. 

• Health promotion programs and 

environmental approaches to PANT. 

There are no costs to respondents 

except their time to participate in the 

survey. 

ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS

Respondents Form name Number of 

respondents 

Number of responses 

per respondent 

Average burden 

per response 

(in hours) 

Total burden 

(in hours) 

HIV—Local Education Agency (LEA) Official.Indicators for School Health 

Programs: HIV Prevention.

18 1 7.2 129 

State & Territorial Educational Agency (SEA & 

TEA) Officials.

Indicators for School Health 

Programs: HIV Prevention.

55 1 7.2 396 

Asthma—Local Educational 

Agency (LEA) Officials.

Indicators for School Health 

Programs: Asthma Management.

10 1 7.2 72 


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