83 FR 8675 - 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 83, Issue 40 (February 28, 2018)

Page Range		8675-8676
FR Document		2018-04052

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 83 Issue 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8675-8676]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04052]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 the USPSTF.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 2019.

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 or 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 people under serious consideration for USPSTF 
membership to provide detailed information that will permit evaluation 
of possible significant conflicts of interest. Such information could 
include financial holdings, consultancies, non-financial scientific 
interests, 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 nominate themselves. 
Organizations and individuals may nominate one or more people qualified 
for membership on the USPSTF at any time. Individuals nominated prior 
to May 15, 2017, 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

[[Page 8676]]

Healthcare Research and Quality, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mailstop: 06E53A, 
Rockville, Maryland 20857, [email protected].

Nominee Selection

    Nominated individuals will be selected for the USPSTF on the basis 
of how well they meet the required qualifications 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 2019. All 
nominated individuals will be considered; however, strongest 
consideration will be given to individuals with demonstrated training 
and expertise in the areas of Pediatrics and Behavioral Health. AHRQ 
will retain and may consider for future vacancies nominations received 
this year and not selected during this cycle.
    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: Lydia Hill at (301) 427-1587 or 
[email protected].

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.

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 
5.31(f).

Gopal Khanna,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-04052 Filed 2-27-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 40 / Wednesday, February 28, 2018 / Notices 8675

(CAT). The information will inform making, quality improvement, include financial holdings,
AHRQ’s decision in selecting physical research?) What has been your consultancies, non-financial scientific
function PRO measures for the experience with the use of these interests, and research grants or
Challenge Competition and the measures? contracts.
subsequent pilot test. AHRQ is interested in all of the To obtain a diversity of perspectives,
Your contribution will be very questions listed above, but respondents AHRQ particularly encourages
beneficial to AHRQ’s PRO projects. This are welcome to address as many or as nominations of women, members of
is a voluntary request for information, few as they choose and to address minority populations, and persons with
and all costs for complying with this additional areas of interest not listed. disabilities. Interested individuals can
request must be borne by the submitter. Submission of copies of existing nominate themselves. Organizations and
This RFI is for planning purposes documentation or reports describing the individuals may nominate one or more
only and should not be construed as a measure and its properties, existing data people qualified for membership on the
policy, solicitation for applications, or sources, etc., is highly desirable but not USPSTF at any time. Individuals
as an obligation on the part of the required. nominated prior to May 15, 2017, who
Government to provide support for any continue to have interest in serving on
ideas identified in response to it. AHRQ Gopal Khanna,
the USPSTF should be re-nominated.
will use the information submitted in Director.
response to this RFI at its discretion and [FR Doc. 2018–04050 Filed 2–27–18; 8:45 am] Qualification Requirements
will not provide comments to any BILLING CODE 4160–90–P To qualify for the USPSTF and
responder’s submission. However, support its mission, an applicant or
responses to the RFI may be reflected in nominee should, at a minimum,
future solicitation(s) or policies. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND demonstrate knowledge, expertise and
Respondents are advised that the HUMAN SERVICES national leadership in the following
Government is under no obligation to areas:
acknowledge receipt of the information Agency for Healthcare Research and
1. The critical evaluation of research
received or provide feedback to Quality
published in peer-reviewed literature
respondents with respect to any Solicitation for Nominations for and in the methods of evidence review;
information submitted. No proprietary, Members of the U.S. Preventive 2. Clinical prevention, health
classified, confidential, or sensitive Services Task Force (USPSTF) promotion and primary health care; and
information should be included in your 3. Implementation of evidence-based
response. The Government reserves the AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research recommendations in clinical practice
right to use any non-proprietary and Quality (AHRQ), HHS. including at the clinician-patient level,
technical information in any resultant ACTION: Solicits nominations for new practice level, and health-system level.
solicitation(s). The contents of all members of the USPSTF. Additionally, the Task Force benefits
submissions will be made available to from members with expertise in the
the public upon request. Materials SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare following areas:
submitted must be publicly available or Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites
D Public health
able to be made public. nominations of individuals qualified to
D Health equity and the reduction of
serve as members of the U.S. Preventive
Submission Instructions health disparities
Services Task Force (USPSTF).
D Application of science to health
Specific questions of interest to DATES: All nominations submitted in policy
AHRQ include, but are not limited to: writing or electronically will be D Behavioral medicine
1. What physical function PRO considered for appointment to the D Communication of scientific findings
measures does your health system/ USPSTF. Nominations must be received to multiple audiences including
practice currently use to collect PRO by May 15th of a given year to be health care professionals, policy
data? Which PRO measures in use do considered for appointment to begin in makers and the general public.
you find most useful with respect to January 2019.
clinical management, quality Candidates with experience and skills
improvement, population health, or for Nomination Submissions in any of these areas should highlight
other uses? Nominations may be submitted in them in their nomination materials.
2. What is the type of care setting writing or electronically, but should Applicants must have no substantial
(primary care or specialty care) within include: conflicts of interest, whether financial,
which these physical function PRO data 1. The applicant’s current curriculum professional, or intellectual, that would
are collected? Are similar measures vitae and contact information, including impair the scientific integrity of the
used in other settings (e.g., acute care, mailing address, email address, and work of the USPSTF and must be
post-acute care, rehabilitation, home telephone number; and willing to complete regular conflict of
care, long term care)? 2. A letter explaining how this interest disclosures.
3. How are the PRO data collected? Is individual meets the qualification Applicants must have the ability to
the PRO data collection via paper or an requirements and how he or she would work collaboratively with a team of
electronic mechanism? Please specify contribute to the USPSTF. The letter diverse professionals who support the
the electronic mechanism (e.g., patient should also attest to the nominee’s mission of the USPSTF. Applicants
must have adequate time to contribute
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

portal, tablet) and whether the willingness to serve as a member of the
electronic mechanism is internal or USPSTF. substantively to the work products of
external to an electronic health records AHRQ will later ask people under the USPSTF.
system. Is CAT used? What is the serious consideration for USPSTF ADDRESSES: Submit your responses
typical workflow for collecting PRO membership to provide detailed either in writing or electronically to:
data? information that will permit evaluation Lydia Hill, ATTN: USPSTF
4. How are the PRO data used (e.g., of possible significant conflicts of Nominations, Center for Evidence and
patient assessment, shared decision interest. Such information could Practice Improvement, Agency for

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:25 Feb 27, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM 28FEN1

Document Created: 2018-02-28 03:19:51
Document Modified: 2018-02-28 03:19:51

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 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 2019.
FR Citation		83 FR 8675

83 FR 8675 - 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 83, Issue 40 (February 28, 2018)

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