[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 99 (Monday, May 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 28809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12450]



[[Page 28809]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Notice of Request for Public Comment

AGENCY: Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and 
Society, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human 
Services.

SUMMARY: The Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and 
Society (SACGHS) is requesting public comment on a draft report to the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on genetics education and 
training of health care professionals, public health providers, and 
consumers. A copy of the draft report is available electronically at 
http://oba.od.nih.gov/SACGHS/sacghs_public_comments.html. A copy may 
also be obtained by contacting Kathryn Camp at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3754565a475c5a77585319595e5f19505841"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2645474b564d4b66494208484f4e08414950">[email protected]</span></a> or 
301-496-9838.

DATES: Please submit all public comments by June 30, 2010, for 
consideration by SACGHS as it finalizes its report to the Secretary.

ADDRESSES: Public comments on the draft report should be addressed to 
Steven Teutsch, MD, MPH, SACGHS Chair, and transmitted via e-mail to 
Kathryn Camp at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b080a061b00062b040f45050203450c041d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="91f2f0fce1fafcd1fef5bffff8f9bff6fee7">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Comments may also be mailed to SACGHS, attn: Kathryn Camp, Office 
of Biotechnology Activities, National Institutes of Health, 6705 
Rockledge Drive, Suite 750, Bethesda, MD 20892, or faxed to 301-496-
9839.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Camp, NIH Office of 
Biotechnology Activities, 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 750, Bethesda, MD 
20892, 301-496-9838, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#492a282439222409262d67272021672e263f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e5d5f534e55537e515a1050575610595148">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) established SACGHS to serve as a public forum for deliberations 
on the broad range of human health and societal issues raised by the 
development and use of genetic technologies and, as warranted, to 
provide advice on these issues. For more information about the 
Committee, please visit its Web site: http://oba.od.nih.gov/SACGHS/sacghs_public_comments.html.
    SACGHS identified genetics education and training of health care 
professionals, the public health workforce, and consumers as a high 
priority during its 2004 and 2008 priority-setting processes. Providing 
genetics education and training for health professionals is vital to 
achieve the optimal use of genetic and genomic technologies and ensure 
the appropriate integration of genetic knowledge into the health care 
and public health systems. In addition, the public will need sound 
information regarding the role of genetics and genomics in health and 
disease and guidance to assist in informed decisionmaking as the 
availability of genetic tests and direct-to-consumer genetic services 
increases.
    The draft report, Genetics Education and Training of Health Care 
Professionals, Public Health Providers, and Consumers, discusses the 
current state of genetics education and training of health care 
professionals, public health providers, and consumers and explores 
genetics education and training activities of Federal departments and 
agencies, health professional organizations, and consumer advocacy 
groups. It presents recommendations in three major areas: (1) The 
genetics education and training needs and gaps for health care 
professionals, public health providers, and consumers; (2) the specific 
needs of health care professionals and public health providers who work 
with underserved and underrepresented groups and populations and the 
needs of consumers with varying literacy levels; and (3) the importance 
of family health history in risk assessment and health promotion. Once 
finalized, the report and recommendations will be transmitted to the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    SACGHS is requesting comments on all aspects of the draft report 
and recommendations. In particular, the Committee would welcome 
feedback on the following questions:
    <bullet> Are the discussions of topics and issues accurate and 
complete?
    <bullet> Do the conclusions of the draft report follow from the 
literature review and SACGHS survey and interview results?
    <bullet> Do the draft recommendations target the issues and 
concerns identified in this report?
    <bullet> Are the recommendations specific enough? Do they rely to 
the appropriate degree on the public sector? On the private sector? On 
public-private partnerships?
    <bullet> Which draft recommendations should be of highest priority 
for the Federal government to address?
    Comments received by June 30, 2010, will be considered by SACGHS in 
preparing the final report. The revised draft report and public 
comments will be discussed at a future SACGHS meeting.
    Comments will also be available for public inspection at the NIH 
Office of Biotechnology Activities, Monday through Friday, between the 
hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

    Dated: May 18, 2010.
Anna Snouffer,
Deputy Director, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010-12450 Filed 5-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P


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