[Federal Register: October 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 190)]
[Notices]
[Page 50981]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02oc09-54]
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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.
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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
was established in accordance with Section 921 (now Section 931) of the
Public Health 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 Human Services and the Director, Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), on matters related to actions
of AHRQ to enhance the quality, and improve the outcomes, of health
care services; improve access to such services through scientific
research; and promote improvements in clinical practice and in the
organization, financing, and delivery of health care services.
The Council is composed of members of the public, appointed by the
Secretary, and Federal ex-officio members. AHRQ's National Advisory
Council on Healthcare Research and Quality (NAC) will establish a
Subcommittee on Patient Safety and Medical Liability Reform
Demonstrations.
The Subcommittee will be created to provide advice to the NAC for
consideration and transmission to AHRQ as AHRQ undertakes the
development of a new demonstration initiative that will help States and
health care systems to test models that put patient safety first and
work to reduce preventable injuries, foster better communication
between doctors and their patients, ensure that patients are
compensated in a fair and timely manner for medical injuries, while
reducing the incidence of frivolous lawsuits; and reduce liability
premiums.
As directed by President Obama, the Secretary of the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) will launch a competitive three-pronged
initiative that will include support for demonstration grants to States
and health systems, planning grants to States and health systems, and a
rapid and comprehensive review of current efforts, targeting patient
safety and medical liability. Prior to finalizing the Funding
Opportunity Announcement for this new initiative, the chairman of
AHRQ's National Advisory Council will convene a subcommittee with
diverse representation from expert and stakeholder groups to provide
advice for this initiative. The date, time, location and agenda for the
subcommittee meeting, which will be open to the public, will be
available on the AHRQ Web site no later than two weeks in advance of
such meeting. Members of the public will have the opportunity to submit
comments to the subcommittee in person or in writing, and can
participate in the meeting in person or via Web casting. The
subcommittee will 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:[sol][sol]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.
Public comments may also be submitted in writing by e-mail, fax, mail,
or hand delivery. E-mails are preferred. Please submit comments to:
Medicalliabilitydemos@AHRQ.hhs.gov. A comment submitted by e-mail
should indicate that it is in response to ``Medical Liability Reform
Demonstrations Subcommittee.'' The deadline for written comments will
be posted on the AHRQ Web site. Meeting minutes will be available
within 21 business days after the meeting.
Dated: September 24, 2009.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. E9-23594 Filed 10-1-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M