74 FR 190 pg. 50981 - Meeting of the AHRQ National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality Subcommittee on Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform Demonstrations
Type: NOTICEVolume: 74Number: 190Page: 50981
FR document: [FR Doc. E9-23594 Filed 10-1-09; 8:45 am]
Agency: Health and Human Services Department
Sub Agency: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Meeting of the AHRQ National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality Subcommittee on Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform Demonstrations
AGENCY:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.
ACTION:
Notice of public meeting.
SUMMARY:
This notice announces a meeting of the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality Subcommittee on Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform Demonstrations.
DATES:
The meeting will be held in October; specific information will be available on the AHRQ Web site at http://www.AHRQ.gov.
ADDRESSES:
To be determined; in Washington, DC Metro area; specific information will be available at http://www.AHRQ.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Christine Williams, Director for Strategic Partnerships,Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality,540 Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland 20850,(301) 427-1850.
For press-related information, please contact: Karen Migdail at (301) 427-1855.
If sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed, please contact: Mr. Michael Chew,Director,Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Program,Program Support Center,(301) 443-1144 (no later than October 15, 2009).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Purpose
The National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality wasestablished in accordance with Section 921 (now Section 931) of the PublicHealth Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 299c. In accordance with its statutory mandate,the Council is to advise the Secretary of the Department of Health and HumanServices and the Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality(AHRQ), on matters related to actions of AHRQ to enhance the quality, andimprove the outcomes, of health care services; improve access to suchservices through scientific research; and promote improvements in clinicalpractice and in the organization, financing, and delivery of health careservices.
The Council is composed of members of the public, appointed by theSecretary, and Federal ex-officio members. AHRQ's National Advisory Councilon Healthcare Research and Quality (NAC) will establish a Subcommittee onPatient Safety and Medical Liability Reform Demonstrations.
The Subcommittee will be created to provide advice to the NAC forconsideration and transmission to AHRQ as AHRQ undertakes the developmentof a new demonstration initiative that will help States and health caresystems to test models that put patient safety first and work to reducepreventable injuries, foster better communication between doctors and theirpatients, ensure that patients are compensated in a fair and timely mannerfor medical injuries, while reducing the incidence of frivolous lawsuits;and reduce liability premiums.
As directed by President Obama, the Secretary of the Department of Healthand Human Services (HHS) will launch a competitive three-pronged initiativethat will include support for demonstration grants to States and healthsystems, planning grants to States and health systems, and a rapid andcomprehensive review of current efforts, targeting patient safety and medicalliability. Prior to finalizing the Funding Opportunity Announcement for thisnew initiative, the chairman of AHRQ's National Advisory Council will convenea subcommittee with diverse representation from expert andstakeholder groups to provide advice for this initiative. The date, time,location and agenda for the subcommittee meeting, which will be open to thepublic, will be available on the AHRQ Web site no later than two weeks inadvance of such meeting. Members of the public will have the opportunity tosubmit comments to the subcommittee in person or in writing, and canparticipate in the meeting in person or via Web casting. The subcommitteewill not review individual grants nor participate in award decisions.
A roster of the Subcommittee members will be available at http://www.AHRQ.gov.
A more specific proposed agenda will be available before the meeting at http://www.AHRQ.gov.
The final agenda, including the time for public comment during the meeting,will be available on the AHRQ Web site at http://www.AHRQ.gov. Publiccomments may also be submitted in writing by e-mail, fax, mail, or handdelivery. E-mails are preferred. Please submit comments to: Medicalliabilitydemos@AHRQ.hhs.gov. A comment submitted by e-mail shouldindicate that it is in response to "Medical Liability Reform DemonstrationsSubcommittee." The deadline for written comments will be posted on theAHRQ Web site. Meeting minutes will be available within 21 business daysafter the meeting.
Dated: September 24, 2009.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E9-23594 Filed 10-1-09; 8:45 am]
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