[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18823-18825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7269]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Solicitation for Nominations for Members of the U.S. Preventive 
Services Task Force (USPSTF)

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

ACTION: Solicits nominations for new members of USPSTF.

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SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites 
nominations of individuals qualified to serve as members of the U.S. 
Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
    Qualification Requirements: Qualified applicants and nominees must 
at a minimum demonstrate knowledge,

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expertise and national leadership in the following areas:
    1. The critical evaluation of research published in peer reviewed 
literature and in the methods of evidence review;
    2. Clinical prevention, health promotion and primary health care; 
and
    3. Implementation of evidence-based recommendations in clinical 
practice including at the clinician-patient level, practice level, and 
health system level.
    Some USPSTF members without primary health care clinical experience 
may be selected based on their expertise in methodological issues such 
as meta-analysis, analytic modeling or clinical epidemiology. For 
individuals with clinical expertise in primary health care, additional 
qualifications in methodology would enhance their candidacy.
    Additionally, the Task Force benefits from members with expertise 
in the following areas:
    <bullet> Behavioral medicine
    <bullet> Public health
    <bullet> Health equity and the reduction of health disparities
    <bullet> Application of science to health policy
    <bullet> Communication of scientific findings to multiple audiences 
including health care professionals, policy makers and the general 
public.
    Candidates with experience and skills in any of these areas should 
highlight them in their nomination materials.
    Applicants must have no substantial conflicts of interest, whether 
financial, professional, or intellectual, that would impair the 
scientific integrity of the work of the USPSTF and must be willing to 
complete regular conflict of interest disclosures.
    Applicants must have the ability to work collaboratively with a 
team of diverse professionals who support the mission of the USPSTF. 
Applicants must have adequate time to contribute substantively to the 
work products of the USPSTF.

DATES: All nominations submitted in writing or electronically will be 
considered for appointment to the USPSTF. Nominations must be received 
by May 15th of a given year to be considered for appointment to begin 
in January of the following year.
    Nominated individuals will be selected for the USPSTF on the basis 
of their qualifications (in particular, those that address the required 
qualifications, outlined above) and the current expertise needs of the 
USPSTF. It is anticipated that two or three individuals will be invited 
to serve on the USPSTF beginning in January, 2013. All individuals will 
be considered; however, strongest consideration will be given in 2012 
to individuals with demonstrated training and expertise in the areas of 
behavioral medicine, family medicine, general internal medicine, and 
obstetrics/gynecology. AHRQ will retain and may consider nominations 
received this year and not selected during this cycle for future 
vacancies.

ADDRESSES: Submit your responses either in writing or electronically 
to: Gloria Washington, ATTN: USPSTF Nominations, Center for Primary 
Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships, Agency for Healthcare 
Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland 20850. 
USPSTFmennbernominationsaAHRQ.hhs.gov.

Nomination Submissions

    Nominations may be submitted in writing or electronically, but must 
include:
    (1) The applicant's current curriculum vitae and contact 
information, including mailing address, email address, and telephone 
number and
    (2) A letter explaining how this individual meets the qualification 
requirements and how he/she would contribute to the USPSTF. The letter 
should also attest to the nominee's willingness to serve as a member of 
the USPSTF.
    AHRQ will later ask persons under serious consideration for 
membership to provide detailed information that will permit evaluation 
of possible significant conflicts of interest. Such information will 
concern matters such as financial holdings, consultancies, and research 
grants or contracts.

Nominee Selection

    Appointments to the USPSTF will be made on the basis of 
qualifications as outlined above (see Qualification Requirements) and 
the current expertise needs of the USPSTF.

Arrangement for Public Inspection

    Nominations and applications are kept on file at the Center for 
Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships, AHRQ, and are 
available for review during business hours. AHRQ does not reply to 
individual nominations, but considers all nominations in selecting 
members. Information regarded as private and personal, such as a 
nominee's social security number, home and email addresses, home 
telephone and fax numbers, or names of family members will not be 
disclosed to the public. See 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(6); 45 CFR 5.67.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gloria Washington at 
USPSTFmembernominationsa--AHRQ.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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. 42 U.S.C. 299(b). 
AHRQ accomplishes these goals through scientific research and promotion 
of improvements in clinical practice, including clinical prevention of 
diseases and other health conditions, and improvements in the 
organization, financing, and delivery of health care services. See 42 
U.S.C. 299(b).
    AHRQ is authorized to convene the United States Preventive Services 
Task Force and to provide ongoing research, technical, administrative, 
and dissemination support for USPSTF's operation See 42 U.S.C. 299b-
4(a)(1). The USPSTF, an independent body of experts in prevention and 
evidence-based medicine, works to improve the health of all Americans 
by making evidence-based recommendations about the effectiveness of 
clinical preventive services and health promotion.
    The recommendations made by the USPSTF address clinical preventive 
services for adults and children, and include screening tests, 
counseling services, and preventive medications. The Task Force makes 
its recommendations based on comprehensive, systematic reviews and 
careful assessment of the available medical evidence. Current 
recommendations and procedures of the USPSTF may be found at: 
uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.
    The USPSTF is composed of members appointed by the Director of AHRQ 
to serve for four year terms. New members are selected each year to 
replace those members who are completing their appointments.
    USPSTF members meet three times a year for two days in the 
Washington, DC area. A significant portion of the USPSTF's work occurs 
between meetings during conference calls and via email discussions. 
Member duties include prioritizing topics, designing research plans, 
reviewing and commenting on systematic evidence reviews of evidence, 
discussing and making recommendations on preventive services, reviewing 
stakeholder comments, drafting final recommendation documents, and 
participating in workgroups on specific topics and methods. Members can 
expect frequent emails, to participate in multiple conference calls 
each month, periodic interactions with stakeholders. AHRQ estimates 
that members devote approximately 200 hours a year outside

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of in-person meetings to their USPSTF duties. The members are all 
volunteers.
    To obtain a diversity of perspectives, AHRQ particularly encourages 
nominations of women, members of minority populations, and persons with 
disabilities. Interested individuals can self nominate. Organizations 
and individuals may nominate one or more persons qualified for 
membership on the USPSTF. Individuals nominated prior to May 15, 2011 
who continue to have interest in serving should be re-nominated for 
consideration in the future.

    Dated: March 15, 2012.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-7269 Filed 3-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M