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[Federal Register: August 5, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 150)]
[Notices]               
[Page 47310]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05au10-83]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

 
Solicitation for Nominations for New Clinical Preventive Health 
Topics To Be Considered for Review by the United States Preventive 
Services Task Force

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

ACTION: Solicit for new topic nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites 
individuals and organizations to nominate primary and secondary 
prevention topics pertaining to clinical preventive services that they 
would like the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to 
consider for review. All topics previously reviewed by the USPSTF are 
available on AHRQ's Web site, http://www.preventive services.AHRQ.gov.
    The USPSTF is an independent panel of experts that makes evidence-
based recommendations regarding the provision of clinical preventive 
services. Clinical preventive services include screening, counseling 
and preventive medications associated with primary care. The USPSTF 
makes recommendations about preventive services for asymptomatic 
people--people without recognized signs or symptoms of the specific 
condition targeted by the preventive service.
    Topics can be nominated by individuals, organizations, evidence-
based practice centers (EPC) and USPSTF members. The USPSTF will 
consider topic nominations in two steps. The USPSTF will first 
determine if the topic relates to a service is eligible, i.e., 
constitutes primary or secondary prevention applicable to healthy 
asymptomatic persons; is primary care-feasible or referable from 
primary care; and addresses a condition with a substantial health 
burden. As a second step, within eligible topics, the USPSTF will 
prioritize based on the following set of criteria: Public health 
importance (burden of suffering, potential of preventive service to 
reduce the burden); and potential for greatest Task Force impact (e.g., 
clinical controversy, practice does not reflect evidence, inappropriate 
timing in delivery of services).

Basic Topic Nomination Requirements

    Nominations must be no more than 500 words in length and must 
include the information listed below. Nominations may include 
supporting documentation; reference lists and other supporting 
documents are not counted against the 500 word limit, but should not 
exceed ten pages.

Required Information

    1. Name of topic.
    2. Rationale for consideration by the USPSTF, describing:
    a. Characterization as primary or secondary prevention topic 
(screening, counseling or preventive medication).
    b. Primary care relevance (applicable clinical preventive service 
must be provided by a primary care provider and or initiated in the 
primary care setting which can be defined as family practice, internal 
medicine, pediatrics or obstetrics/gynecology).
    c. Public health importance (burden of disease/suffering, potential 
of preventive service to reduce burden, including effective 
interventions). Citations and supporting documents are recommended.
    d. Potential impact of USPSTF's review of the topic, i.e., change 
in clinical practice, research focus, etc.

DATES: Topic nominations should be submitted by August 27, 2010 in 
order to be considered for 2010-2012. AHRQ will not reply to 
submissions in response to the request for nominations, but will 
consider all topic nominations during the selection process. If a topic 
is selected for review by the USPSTF, the nominator will be notified by 
AHRQ.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to: Gloria Washington, ATTN: 
USPSTF Topic Nominations, Center for Primary Care, Prevention & 
Clinical Partnerships, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 540 
Gaither Road, Room 6117, Rockville, MD 20850. Fax: 301-427-1595. E-
mail: qloria.washinqton@AHRQ.hhs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Cosby at robert.cosby@ 
AHRQ.hhs.qov or Gloria Washington at qloria.washington@AHRQ.hhs.gov.
    Arrangement for Public Inspection: All nominations will be 
available for public inspections by appointment at the Center for 
Primary Care, Prevention & Clinical Partnerships, 301-427-1500, 
weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern time).

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. AHRQ accomplishes these 
goals through scientific research and promotion of improvements in 
clinical practice, including prevention of diseases and other health 
conditions. 42 U.S.C. 299(b).
    The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is an 
independent expert panel, first established in 1984 under the auspices 
of the U.S. Public Health Service. Under AHRQ's authorizing 
legislation, see 42 U.S.C. 299b-4(a)(1), the Director of AHRQ is 
responsible for convening the USPSTF, which is to be composed of 
individuals with appropriate expertise. The mission of the Task Force 
is to review the scientific evidence related to the effectiveness, and 
appropriateness of clinical preventive services for the purpose of 
developing recommendations for the health care community. Current Task 
Force recommendations and associated evidence reviews are available at 
http://www.preventiveservices.AHRQ.gov.

Topic Nomination Solicitation

    The purpose of this solicitation for new topics by AHRQ and the 
USPSTF is to create a balanced portfolio of relevant topics for the 
current Task Force library. Balance in the library is sought on the 
basis of populations, types of services (screening, counseling, 
preventive medications) and disease types (cancer; heart and vascular 
disease; injury and violence-related disorders; infectious diseases; 
mental disorders and substance abuse; metabolic, nutritional and 
endocrine diseases; musculoskeletal conditions; obstetric and 
gynecological conditions; pediatric disorders; and, vision and hearing 
disorders). Selection of suggested topics will be made on the basis of 
the qualifications of nominations as outlined above (see basic topic 
nomination requirements).

    Dated: July 26, 2010.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-19117 Filed 8-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M
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