80 FR 15224 - Solicitation for Nominations for Members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 55 (March 23, 2015)

Page Range		15224-15225
FR Document		2015-06452

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).

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 55 (Monday, March 23, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15224-15225]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06452]


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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).

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.

Arrangement for Public Inspection

    Nominations and applications are kept on file at the Center for 
Evidence and Practice Improvement, 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 (in accord 
with the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(6); 45 CFR 5.67).

Nomination Submissions

    Nominations may be submitted in writing or electronically, but 
should 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

[[Page 15225]]

willingness to serve as a member of the USPSTF.
    AHRQ will later ask persons under serious consideration for USPSTF 
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.
    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 at any time. Individuals nominated prior to 
May 15, 2014, who continue to have interest in serving on the USPSTF, 
should be re-nominated.

Qualification Requirements

    To qualify for the USPSTF and support its mission, an applicant or 
nominee should, at a minimum, demonstrate knowledge, 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.
    Additionally, the Task Force benefits from members with expertise 
in the following areas:

    [ssquf] Public health
    [ssquf] Health equity and the reduction of health disparities
    [ssquf] Application of science to health policy
    [ssquf] Behavioral medicine
    [ssquf] 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.

ADDRESSES: Submit your responses either in writing or electronically 
to: Lydia Hill, ATTN: USPSTF Nominations, Center for Evidence and 
Practice Improvement, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 
Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland 20850, 
USPSTFmembernominations@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Nominee Selection

    Nominated individuals will be selected for the USPSTF on the basis 
of their qualifications (in particular, those that address the required 
qualifications, as outlined) and the current expertise needs of the 
USPSTF. It is anticipated that new members will be invited to serve on 
the USPSTF beginning in January, 2016. All nominated individuals will 
be considered; however, strongest consideration will be given to 
individuals with demonstrated training and expertise in the areas of 
Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Nursing and Preventive Medicine. 
AHRQ will retain and may consider nominations received this year and 
not selected during this cycle for future vacancies.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lydia Hill at 
USPSTFmembernominations@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. See 42 U.S.C. 299(b).
    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 USPSTF was first established in 1984 under the auspices of the 
U.S. Public Health Service. Currently, the USPSTF is convened by the 
Director of AHRQ, and AHRQ provides ongoing scientific, administrative, 
and dissemination support for the USPSTF's operation. USPSTF members 
serve four year terms. New members are selected each year to replace 
those members who are completing their appointments.
    The USPSTF is charged with rigorously evaluating the effectiveness, 
appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of clinical preventive services 
and formulating or updating recommendations regarding the appropriate 
provision of preventive services. See 42 U.S.C. 299b-4(a)(1). Current 
USPSTF recommendations and associated evidence reviews are available on 
the Internet (www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org).
    USPSTF members currently 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 to receive frequent emails, can expect to 
participate in multiple conference calls each month, and can expect to 
have periodic interaction with stakeholders. AHRQ estimates that 
members devote approximately 200 hours a year outside of in-person 
meetings to their USPSTF duties. The members are all volunteers and do 
not receive any compensation beyond support for travel to in person 
meetings.

    Dated: March 17, 2015.
Sharon B. Arnold,
Deputy Director, AHRQ.
[FR Doc. 2015-06452 Filed 3-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 55 / Monday, March 23, 2015 / Notices 15225

willingness to serve as a member of the substantively to the work products of adults and children, and include
USPSTF. the USPSTF. screening tests, counseling services, and
AHRQ will later ask persons under ADDRESSES: Submit your responses preventive medications.
serious consideration for USPSTF either in writing or electronically to: The USPSTF was first established in
membership to provide detailed Lydia Hill, ATTN: USPSTF 1984 under the auspices of the U.S.
information that will permit evaluation Nominations, Center for Evidence and Public Health Service. Currently, the
of possible significant conflicts of Practice Improvement, Agency for USPSTF is convened by the Director of
interest. Such information will concern Healthcare Research and Quality, 540
matters such as financial holdings, AHRQ, and AHRQ provides ongoing
Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland
consultancies, and research grants or scientific, administrative, and
20850, USPSTFmembernominations@
contracts. dissemination support for the USPSTF’s
ahrq.hhs.gov.
To obtain a diversity of perspectives, operation. USPSTF members serve four
AHRQ particularly encourages Nominee Selection year terms. New members are selected
nominations of women, members of Nominated individuals will be each year to replace those members who
minority populations, and persons with selected for the USPSTF on the basis of are completing their appointments.
disabilities. Interested individuals can their qualifications (in particular, those The USPSTF is charged with
self-nominate. Organizations and that address the required qualifications, rigorously evaluating the effectiveness,
individuals may nominate one or more as outlined) and the current expertise appropriateness and cost-effectiveness
persons qualified for membership on the needs of the USPSTF. It is anticipated of clinical preventive services and
USPSTF at any time. Individuals that new members will be invited to formulating or updating
nominated prior to May 15, 2014, who serve on the USPSTF beginning in recommendations regarding the
continue to have interest in serving on January, 2016. All nominated appropriate provision of preventive
the USPSTF, should be re-nominated. individuals will be considered; services. See 42 U.S.C. 299b–4(a)(1).
however, strongest consideration will be
Qualification Requirements Current USPSTF recommendations and
given to individuals with demonstrated
To qualify for the USPSTF and associated evidence reviews are
training and expertise in the areas of
support its mission, an applicant or available on the Internet (www.us
Family Medicine, Internal Medicine,
nominee should, at a minimum, Nursing and Preventive Medicine. preventiveservicestaskforce.org).
demonstrate knowledge, expertise and AHRQ will retain and may consider USPSTF members currently meet
national leadership in the following nominations received this year and not three times a year for two days in the
areas: selected during this cycle for future Washington, DC area. A significant
1. The critical evaluation of research vacancies. portion of the USPSTF’s work occurs
published in peer reviewed literature Some USPSTF members without between meetings during conference
and in the methods of evidence review; primary health care clinical experience calls and via email discussions. Member
2. Clinical prevention, health may be selected based on their expertise duties include prioritizing topics,
promotion and primary health care; and in methodological issues such as meta- designing research plans, reviewing and
3. Implementation of evidence-based analysis, analytic modeling or clinical commenting on systematic evidence
recommendations in clinical practice epidemiology. For individuals with reviews of evidence, discussing and
including at the clinician-patient level, clinical expertise in primary health care, making recommendations on preventive
practice level, and health system level. additional qualifications in services, reviewing stakeholder
Additionally, the Task Force benefits methodology would enhance their
comments, drafting final
from members with expertise in the candidacy.
following areas: recommendation documents, and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: participating in workgroups on specific
D Public health Lydia Hill at USPSTFmember topics and methods. Members can
D Health equity and the reduction of nominations@ahrq.hhs.gov. expect to receive frequent emails, can
health disparities SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
D Application of science to health expect to participate in multiple
policy Background conference calls each month, and can
D Behavioral medicine expect to have periodic interaction with
Under Title IX of the Public Health stakeholders. AHRQ estimates that
D Communication of scientific findings Service Act, AHRQ is charged with
to multiple audiences including health members devote approximately 200
enhancing the quality, appropriateness,
care professionals, policy makers and hours a year outside of in-person
and effectiveness of health care services
the general public. and access to such services 42 U.S.C. meetings to their USPSTF duties. The
Candidates with experience and skills 299(b). AHRQ accomplishes these goals members are all volunteers and do not
in any of these areas should highlight through scientific research and receive any compensation beyond
them in their nomination materials. promotion of improvements in clinical support for travel to in person meetings.
Applicants must have no substantial practice, including clinical prevention Dated: March 17, 2015.
conflicts of interest, whether financial, of diseases and other health conditions. Sharon B. Arnold,
professional, or intellectual, that would See 42 U.S.C. 299(b). Deputy Director, AHRQ.
impair the scientific integrity of the The USPSTF, an independent body of
[FR Doc. 2015–06452 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am]
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

work of the USPSTF and must be experts in prevention and evidence-
willing to complete regular conflict of based medicine, works to improve the BILLING CODE P

interest disclosures. health of all Americans by making
Applicants must have the ability to evidence-based recommendations about
work collaboratively with a team of the effectiveness of clinical preventive
diverse professionals who support the services and health promotion. The
mission of the USPSTF. Applicants recommendations made by the USPSTF
must have adequate time to contribute address clinical preventive services for

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Document Created: 2018-02-21 09:47:38
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 09:47:38

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Solicits nominations for new members of 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.
Contact		Lydia Hill at [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 15224

80 FR 15224 - Solicitation for Nominations for Members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 55 (March 23, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality