[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 47310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19117]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Solicitation for Nominations for New Clinical Preventive Health
Topics To Be Considered for Review by the United States Preventive
Services Task Force
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), DHHS.
ACTION: Solicit for new topic nominations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) invites
individuals and organizations to nominate primary and secondary
prevention topics pertaining to clinical preventive services that they
would like the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to
consider for review. All topics previously reviewed by the USPSTF are
available on AHRQ's Web site, http://www.preventiveservices.AHRQ.gov.
The USPSTF is an independent panel of experts that makes evidence-
based recommendations regarding the provision of clinical preventive
services. Clinical preventive services include screening, counseling
and preventive medications associated with primary care. The USPSTF
makes recommendations about preventive services for asymptomatic
people--people without recognized signs or symptoms of the specific
condition targeted by the preventive service.
Topics can be nominated by individuals, organizations, evidence-
based practice centers (EPC) and USPSTF members. The USPSTF will
consider topic nominations in two steps. The USPSTF will first
determine if the topic relates to a service is eligible, i.e.,
constitutes primary or secondary prevention applicable to healthy
asymptomatic persons; is primary care-feasible or referable from
primary care; and addresses a condition with a substantial health
burden. As a second step, within eligible topics, the USPSTF will
prioritize based on the following set of criteria: Public health
importance (burden of suffering, potential of preventive service to
reduce the burden); and potential for greatest Task Force impact (e.g.,
clinical controversy, practice does not reflect evidence, inappropriate
timing in delivery of services).
Basic Topic Nomination Requirements
Nominations must be no more than 500 words in length and must
include the information listed below. Nominations may include
supporting documentation; reference lists and other supporting
documents are not counted against the 500 word limit, but should not
exceed ten pages.
Required Information
1. Name of topic.
2. Rationale for consideration by the USPSTF, describing:
a. Characterization as primary or secondary prevention topic
(screening, counseling or preventive medication).
b. Primary care relevance (applicable clinical preventive service
must be provided by a primary care provider and or initiated in the
primary care setting which can be defined as family practice, internal
medicine, pediatrics or obstetrics/gynecology).
c. Public health importance (burden of disease/suffering, potential
of preventive service to reduce burden, including effective
interventions). Citations and supporting documents are recommended.
d. Potential impact of USPSTF's review of the topic, i.e., change
in clinical practice, research focus, etc.
DATES: Topic nominations should be submitted by August 27, 2010 in
order to be considered for 2010-2012. AHRQ will not reply to
submissions in response to the request for nominations, but will
consider all topic nominations during the selection process. If a topic
is selected for review by the USPSTF, the nominator will be notified by
AHRQ.
ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to: Gloria Washington, ATTN:
USPSTF Topic Nominations, Center for Primary Care, Prevention &
Clinical Partnerships, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 540
Gaither Road, Room 6117, Rockville, MD 20850. Fax: 301-427-1595. E-
mail: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Cosby at [email protected] or Gloria Washington at [email protected].
Arrangement for Public Inspection: All nominations will be
available for public inspections by appointment at the Center for
Primary Care, Prevention & Clinical Partnerships, 301-427-1500,
weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern time).
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. AHRQ accomplishes these
goals through scientific research and promotion of improvements in
clinical practice, including prevention of diseases and other health
conditions. 42 U.S.C. 299(b).
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is an
independent expert panel, first established in 1984 under the auspices
of the U.S. Public Health Service. Under AHRQ's authorizing
legislation, see 42 U.S.C. 299b-4(a)(1), the Director of AHRQ is
responsible for convening the USPSTF, which is to be composed of
individuals with appropriate expertise. The mission of the Task Force
is to review the scientific evidence related to the effectiveness, and
appropriateness of clinical preventive services for the purpose of
developing recommendations for the health care community. Current Task
Force recommendations and associated evidence reviews are available at
http://www.preventiveservices.AHRQ.gov.
Topic Nomination Solicitation
The purpose of this solicitation for new topics by AHRQ and the
USPSTF is to create a balanced portfolio of relevant topics for the
current Task Force library. Balance in the library is sought on the
basis of populations, types of services (screening, counseling,
preventive medications) and disease types (cancer; heart and vascular
disease; injury and violence-related disorders; infectious diseases;
mental disorders and substance abuse; metabolic, nutritional and
endocrine diseases; musculoskeletal conditions; obstetric and
gynecological conditions; pediatric disorders; and, vision and hearing
disorders). Selection of suggested topics will be made on the basis of
the qualifications of nominations as outlined above (see basic topic
nomination requirements).
Dated: July 26, 2010.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-19117 Filed 8-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M