June 29, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice provides further clarification as to the jurisdiction and enforcement responsibilities of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and 14 of its approved State Plans at various Department of Energy (DOE) sites which are not subject to the Atomic Energy Act (AEA). OSHA's regulations in 29 CFR 1952 are amended to reflect this jurisdiction, as appropriate.

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 (the Task Force). The Task Force, a standing, independent panel of private-sector experts in prevention and primary care, is composed of members appointed to serve for four year terms with an option for reappointment. New members are selected each year to replace (approximately) one fourth of the Task Force members, i.e., those who are completing their appointments. Individuals nominated but not appointed in previous years, as well as those newly nominated, are considered in the annual selection process. Task Force members meet three times a year for two days in the Washington, DC area. Member duties include reviewing and preparing comments (off site) on systematic evidence reviews prior to discussing and making recommendations on preventive services, drafting final recommendation documents, and participating in workgroups on specific topics or methods. AHRQ particularly encourages nominations of women, members of minority populations, and persons with disabilities. Interested individuals and organizations may nominate one or more persons qualified for membership on the Task Force. Qualification Requirements: The mission of the Task Force is to produce evidence-based recommendations on the appropriate screening, counseling, and provision of preventive medication for asymptomatic patients seen in the primary care setting. Therefore, in order to qualify for the Task Force, an applicant or nominee MUST demonstrate the following: 1. Knowledge and experience in the critical evaluation of research published in peer reviewed literature and in the methods of evidence review; 2. Understanding and experience in the application of synthesized evidence to clinical decision-making and/or policy; 3. Expertise in disease prevention and health promotion; 4. Ability to work collaboratively with peers; and, 5. Clinical expertise in the primary health care of children and/or adults, and/or expertise in counseling and behavioral interventions for primary care patients. Some Task Force members without primary health care clinical experience may be selected based on their expertise in methodological issues such as medical decision making, clinical epidemiology, behavioral medicine, and health economics. Strongest consideration will be given to individuals who are recognized nationally or internationally for scientific leadership within their field of expertise. Applicants must have no substantial conflicts of interest that would impair in the scientific integrity of the work of the Task Force including financial, intellectual, or other conflicts.

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

Pursuant to sections 254(a)(11)(A) and 255(b) of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), Public Law 107-252, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) hereby causes to be published in the Federal Register material changes to the HAVA State plan previously submitted by American Samoa.

This proposed notice sets forth proposed revisions to work relative value units (RVUs) affecting payment for physicians' services. The statute requires that we review RVUs no less often than every 5 years. This is our third review of work RVUs since we implemented the physician fee schedule (PFS) on January 1, 1992. These revisions to work RVUs are proposed to be effective for services furnished beginning January 1, 2007. These revisions reflect changes in medical practice, coding changes, new data on relative value components, and the addition of new procedures that affect the relative amount of physician work required to perform each service as required by the statute. In addition, we are proposing revisions to our methodology for calculating practice expense (PE) RVUs, including changes based on supplemental survey data for PE. This revised methodology would be used to establish payment for services beginning January 1, 2007.