Notice2024-29479
Solicitation for Nominations for Members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 16, 2024
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Abstract
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality invites nominations of individuals qualified to serve as members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 241 (Monday, December 16, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 101605-101606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29479]
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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
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.
ACTION: Solicitation of nominations.
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SUMMARY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality invites
nominations of individuals qualified to serve as members of the U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
DATES: Nominations must be received electronically by March 15th of a
given year to be considered for appointment to begin in January of the
following year.
ADDRESSES: Submit your responses electronically via: <a href="https://uspstfnominations.ahrq.gov/register">https://uspstfnominations.ahrq.gov/register</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lydia Hill at (301) 427-1587.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 making recommendation for appointment.
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).
Nomination Submissions
Nominations must be submitted electronically, and should include:
1. The applicant's current curriculum vitae and contact
information, including mailing address, and email address; 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 will
concern matters such as 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 underrepresented 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 March 15, 2024, 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
[[Page 101606]]
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] Decision modeling
[ssquf] Dissemination and Implementation
[ssquf] Behavioral Medicine/Clinical Health Psychology
[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.
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, 2026. 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, Pediatrics, Behavioral
Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. 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.
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, a body of experts in prevention and evidence-based
medicine, works to improve the health of people nationwide 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. AHRQ provides ongoing scientific,
administrative, and dissemination support for the USPSTF's operation.
See 42 U.S.C. 299b-4(a)(3). Members are appointed by the Secretary of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to serve four-year
terms. New members are selected each year to replace those members who
are completing their appointments.
The USPSTF rigorously evaluates the effectiveness of clinical
preventive services and formulating or updating recommendations
regarding the appropriate provision of preventive services. Current
USPSTF recommendations and associated evidence reviews are available on
the internet (<a href="http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org">www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org</a>).
USPSTF members meet three times a year for two days in the
Washington, DC area or virtually if necessary. A significant portion of
the USPSTF's work occurs between meetings during video conference calls
and via email discussions. Member duties include prioritizing topics,
designing research plans, reviewing and commenting on systematic
evidence review reports, discussing evidence 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 video conference calls each month,
and can expect to have periodic interaction with stakeholders. AHRQ
estimates that members devote approximately 250 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 attend the thrice yearly meetings and trainings.
Dated: December 10, 2024.
Marquita Cullom,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-29479 Filed 12-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P
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