Opportunity To Co-sponsor an AHRQ Research Conference, 18912-18913 [2014-07562]
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18912
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 65 / Friday, April 4, 2014 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality
Opportunity To Co-sponsor an AHRQ
Research Conference
Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of opportunity to cosponsor an AHRQ Conference.
AGENCY:
AHRQ announces the
opportunity for non-Federal public and
private sector entities to co-sponsor an
AHRQ conference in the Washington,
DC area in early March, 2015. Potential
co-sponsors must have a demonstrated
interest and experience in health
services research, implementation, and
evaluation. Potential co-sponsors must
also be capable of sponsoring and
managing various discrete sessions or
events associated with the conference
and be willing to participate
substantively in the co-sponsored
activity.
DATES: To receive consideration for this
opportunity, a proposal to participate as
a co-sponsor must be received by AHRQ
by 5 p.m. EDT May 5, 2014 at the
address listed below. Proposals will
meet the deadline if they are either (1)
received or (2) postmarked on or before
the deadline. Privately metered
postmarks will not be accepted as proof
of timely mailing. Proposals received
after the established deadline will not
be considered.
ADDRESSES: Proposals for cosponsorship should be sent to Ms. Jaime
Zimmerman, Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road,
Room 3006, Rockville, Maryland 20850.
Proposals may also be emailed to
Jaime.zimmerman@ahrq.hhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Jaime Zimmerman, Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality, 540
Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland,
20850; (301) 427–1456;
Jaime.zimmerman@ahrq.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
Description
AHRQ was originally created as the
Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research on December 19, 1989, under
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
of 1989, as a Public Health Service
Agency in the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS). The
agency was reauthorized on December
6, 1999, by the Healthcare Research and
Quality Act of 1999, and re-named the
Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:37 Apr 03, 2014
Jkt 232001
AHRQ’s mission is to produce
evidence to make health care safer,
higher quality, more accessible,
equitable, and affordable, and to work
with HHS and other partners to make
sure that the evidence is understood and
used.
AHRQ’s priority areas of focus are:
• Improve health care quality by
accelerating implementation of patientcentered outcomes research.
• Make health care safer and reduce
the number of patients who experience
preventable harm in the course of
receiving care.
• Increase accessibility by providing
evidence on the effects of expanding
insurance coverage.
• Improve health care affordability,
efficiency, and cost transparency.
The purpose of the conference,
consistent with AHRQ’s mission, is to
bring together grantees, contractors, and
others who produce AHRQ-supported
research and products with stakeholders
who can use those findings and
products to achieve measurable
improvements in the health care
services patients receive. The
conference provides additional
opportunities to ensure that AHRQsupported research is delivering the
expected results—namely, independent,
user-driven research that can help
people and organizations at all levels of
health care. The conference’s goal is to
focus on the results of AHRQ’s research,
share best practices, and demonstrate
how these findings provide solutions for
the challenges facing today’s health care
system. The conference also provides
opportunities to interact with grantees,
contractors, and users who can
implement research-based solutions to
improve care.
The co-sponsors will assist with
conference and agenda development,
strategic messaging, coordination,
financial management, and meeting
logistics in conjunction with AHRQ
staff. A co-sponsor can charge
registration fees to recover costs
associated with its sponsored events;
however, a co-sponsor may not set
registration fees at an amount higher
than necessary to recover a co-sponsor’s
related conference expenses. Further,
the co-sponsor is solely responsible for
collecting, holding and disbursing any
registration fees it collects.
Eligibility for Co-Sponsorship: To be
eligible, a potential co-sponsor shall: (1)
Have a demonstrated understanding,
commitment, and experience in
conducting and/or sponsoring health
services research, especially as it relates
to one or more of AHRQ’s priority areas;
(2) be knowledgeable about strategies for
disseminating and implementing
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
research findings, products, and tools
and fostering changes in practice and
health care policy; (3) have a track
record in using a variety of methods for
evaluating research impact; (4)
participate substantively in the cosponsored activity, not just provide
funding or logistical support; and (5)
have an organizational or corporate
mission that is consistent with AHRQ
and HHS.
The selected co-sponsoring
organization(s) shall furnish the
necessary personnel, materials, services,
and facilities to administer its
responsibility for the conference. These
duties will be outlined in a cosponsorship agreement with AHRQ that
will set forth the details of the cosponsored activity, including the
requirements that any fees collected by
the co-sponsor shall be limited to the
amount necessary to cover the cosponsor’s related conference expenses.
A co-sponsorship agreement may
include the following language:
Model Co-Sponsorship Agreement
The Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) [or name of
subcomponent] and [name of cosponsor] agree to co-sponsor [name of
event], according to the terms expressed
below:
1. Background
[Provide the following information:
(a) The nature and purpose of the event;
(b) the identity and background of the
co-sponsor(s); (c) the importance of the
event to both HHS and the co-sponsor;
(d) the substantive interest and special
expertise of the co-sponsor in the
subject matter of the event; (e) any other
relevant background information that
may explain the mutual interest of HHS
and the co-sponsor in working together
on the event.]
2. Responsibilities for Developing the
Event
[Provide the following information:
(a) The respective responsibilities of
HHS and the co-sponsor for developing
the substantive aspects of the event,
such as the agenda and speakers; (b) the
respective responsibilities of HHS and
the co-sponsor for logistics and
finances, such as arranging and paying
for conference facilities, advertising,
food, and any other event expenses.
Note: This is the core paragraph of the
co-sponsorship agreement, and it should
reflect as much detail as HHS and the
co-sponsor reasonably can provide.]
3. Registration Fees and Other Charges
[Provide the following information:
(a) State whether the co-sponsor intends
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 65 / Friday, April 4, 2014 / Notices
to charge registration fees, and, if so,
state that the co-sponsor agrees to set a
fee no higher than necessary to recover
its share of the costs of the event; (b)
state whether HHS and the co-sponsor
agree that HHS employees will be
allowed free attendance at the event; (c)
state whether the co-sponsor intends to
sell educational materials pertaining to
the event or transcripts or recordings of
the event, and, if so, state that the cosponsor agrees to sell such items at
cost.]
4. Independently Sponsored Portions of
Event
[Provide the following information:
(a) State whether either HHS or the cosponsor intends to sponsor any discrete
portion of the event independently; (b)
describe any separately sponsored
portion; (c) state that HHS resources,
including staff, will not be used to
develop, promote or otherwise support
a portion of the event that is
independently sponsored by the cosponsor, although official
announcements and brochures may
contain factual references to the
schedule of the entire event, including
portions sponsored solely by the cosponsor.]
5. Fundraising
[Name of co-sponsor] will make clear,
in any solicitation for funds to cover its
share of the event costs, that it, not
HHS, is asking for the funds. [Name of
co-sponsor] will not imply that HHS
endorses any fundraising activities in
connection with the event. [Name of cosponsor] will make clear to donors that
any gift will go solely toward defraying
the expenses of [name of co-sponsor],
not HHS.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
6. Promotional Activity
[Name of co-sponsor] will not use the
event primarily as a vehicle to sell or
promote products or services. [Name of
co-sponsor] will ensure that any
incidental promotional activity does not
imply that HHS endorses any products
or services. [Name of co-sponsor] will
make reasonable efforts, subject to HHS
review, to segregate any incidental
promotional activity from the main
activities of the event.
7. Event Publicity and Endorsements
[Name of co-sponsor] will not use the
name of HHS or any of its components,
except in factual publicity for the
specific event. Factual publicity
includes dates, times, locations,
purposes, agendas, fees, and speakers
involved with the event. Such factual
publicity shall not imply that the
involvement of HHS in the event serves
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:37 Apr 03, 2014
Jkt 232001
as an endorsement of the general
policies, activities, or products of [name
of co-sponsor]; where confusion could
result, publicity should be accompanied
by a disclaimer to the effect that no
endorsement is intended. [Name of cosponsor] will clear all publicity
materials for the event with HHS to
ensure compliance with this paragraph.
8. Records
Records concerning the event shall
account fully and accurately for the
financial commitments and
expenditures of HHS and [name of cosponsor]. Such records shall reflect, at a
minimum, the amounts, sources, and
uses of all funds.
9. Public Availability
This co-sponsorship agreement, as
well as the financial records described
in paragraph 8, shall be publicly
available.
10. Co-Sponsorship Guidance
HHS and [name of co-sponsor] will
abide by the legal memorandum of
August 8, 2002, entitled ‘‘CoSponsorship Guidance,’’ issued by the
HHS Designated Agency Ethics Official.
Co-Sponsorship Proposal: Each cosponsorship proposal shall contain a
description of: (1) The entity or
organization’s background and history,
(2) its ability to satisfy the cosponsorship criteria detailed above, and
(3) its proposed involvement in the cosponsored activity.
Evaluation Criteria: After engaging in
exploratory discussions with potential
co-sponsors that respond to this notice,
AHRQ will select the co-sponsor or cosponsors using the following evaluation
criteria:
(1) Qualifications and capability to
fulfill co-sponsorship responsibilities;
(2) Creativity related to enhancing the
conference, including options for
interactive sessions and ideas for
improving the event based on the 2012
conference offerings;
(3) Potential for reaching and
generating attendees from among key
stakeholders, including Federal, State
and local policymakers, health care
providers, consumers and patients,
purchasers and payers, and other health
officials and underserved/special
populations;
(4) Experience administering
conferences;
(5) Past or current work specific to
health services research;
(6) Personnel names, professional
qualifications, and specific expertise
with conference planning;
(7) Availability and description of
facilities needed to participate in and
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
18913
support the conference planning
process, including office space,
information technology, and
telecommunication resources;
(8) Description of financial
management expertise, including
demonstration of experience in
developing a budget and collecting and
managing monies from organizations
and individuals; and,
(9) Proposed plan for managing a
conference with AHRQ.
Dated: March 28, 2014.
Richard Kronick,
Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality.
[FR Doc. 2014–07562 Filed 4–3–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160–90–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[Document Identifier: CMS–10421]
Emergency Clearance: Public
Information Collection Requirements
Submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB)
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, HHS.
In compliance with section
3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS),
Department of Health and Human
Services, is publishing a summary of
this proposed information collection for
public comment. Interested persons are
invited to send comments regarding this
collection’s proposed burden estimates
or any other aspect of this collection of
information, including any of the
following subjects: (1) The necessity and
utility of the proposed information
collection for the proper performance of
the agency’s functions; (2) the accuracy
of the estimated burden; (3) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(4) the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology to minimize the information
collection burden.
In compliance with section
3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, we have also
submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) the proposed
information collection for their
emergency review. While the
information collection request (ICR) is
necessary to ensure compliance with an
initiative of the Administration, we are
requesting emergency review of the ICR
AGENCY:
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04APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 65 (Friday, April 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18912-18913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07562]
[[Page 18912]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Opportunity To Co-sponsor an AHRQ Research Conference
AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of opportunity to co-sponsor an AHRQ Conference.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: AHRQ announces the opportunity for non-Federal public and
private sector entities to co-sponsor an AHRQ conference in the
Washington, DC area in early March, 2015. Potential co-sponsors must
have a demonstrated interest and experience in health services
research, implementation, and evaluation. Potential co-sponsors must
also be capable of sponsoring and managing various discrete sessions or
events associated with the conference and be willing to participate
substantively in the co-sponsored activity.
DATES: To receive consideration for this opportunity, a proposal to
participate as a co-sponsor must be received by AHRQ by 5 p.m. EDT May
5, 2014 at the address listed below. Proposals will meet the deadline
if they are either (1) received or (2) postmarked on or before the
deadline. Privately metered postmarks will not be accepted as proof of
timely mailing. Proposals received after the established deadline will
not be considered.
ADDRESSES: Proposals for co-sponsorship should be sent to Ms. Jaime
Zimmerman, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither
Road, Room 3006, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Proposals may also be
emailed to Jaime.zimmerman@ahrq.hhs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jaime Zimmerman, Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, Maryland,
20850; (301) 427-1456; Jaime.zimmerman@ahrq.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description
AHRQ was originally created as the Agency for Health Care Policy
and Research on December 19, 1989, under the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1989, as a Public Health Service Agency in the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The agency was
reauthorized on December 6, 1999, by the Healthcare Research and
Quality Act of 1999, and re-named the Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality.
AHRQ's mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer,
higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work
with HHS and other partners to make sure that the evidence is
understood and used.
AHRQ's priority areas of focus are:
Improve health care quality by accelerating implementation
of patient-centered outcomes research.
Make health care safer and reduce the number of patients
who experience preventable harm in the course of receiving care.
Increase accessibility by providing evidence on the
effects of expanding insurance coverage.
Improve health care affordability, efficiency, and cost
transparency.
The purpose of the conference, consistent with AHRQ's mission, is
to bring together grantees, contractors, and others who produce AHRQ-
supported research and products with stakeholders who can use those
findings and products to achieve measurable improvements in the health
care services patients receive. The conference provides additional
opportunities to ensure that AHRQ-supported research is delivering the
expected results--namely, independent, user-driven research that can
help people and organizations at all levels of health care. The
conference's goal is to focus on the results of AHRQ's research, share
best practices, and demonstrate how these findings provide solutions
for the challenges facing today's health care system. The conference
also provides opportunities to interact with grantees, contractors, and
users who can implement research-based solutions to improve care.
The co-sponsors will assist with conference and agenda development,
strategic messaging, coordination, financial management, and meeting
logistics in conjunction with AHRQ staff. A co-sponsor can charge
registration fees to recover costs associated with its sponsored
events; however, a co-sponsor may not set registration fees at an
amount higher than necessary to recover a co-sponsor's related
conference expenses. Further, the co-sponsor is solely responsible for
collecting, holding and disbursing any registration fees it collects.
Eligibility for Co-Sponsorship: To be eligible, a potential co-
sponsor shall: (1) Have a demonstrated understanding, commitment, and
experience in conducting and/or sponsoring health services research,
especially as it relates to one or more of AHRQ's priority areas; (2)
be knowledgeable about strategies for disseminating and implementing
research findings, products, and tools and fostering changes in
practice and health care policy; (3) have a track record in using a
variety of methods for evaluating research impact; (4) participate
substantively in the co-sponsored activity, not just provide funding or
logistical support; and (5) have an organizational or corporate mission
that is consistent with AHRQ and HHS.
The selected co-sponsoring organization(s) shall furnish the
necessary personnel, materials, services, and facilities to administer
its responsibility for the conference. These duties will be outlined in
a co-sponsorship agreement with AHRQ that will set forth the details of
the co-sponsored activity, including the requirements that any fees
collected by the co-sponsor shall be limited to the amount necessary to
cover the co-sponsor's related conference expenses. A co-sponsorship
agreement may include the following language:
Model Co-Sponsorship Agreement
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) [or name of
subcomponent] and [name of co-sponsor] agree to co-sponsor [name of
event], according to the terms expressed below:
1. Background
[Provide the following information: (a) The nature and purpose of
the event; (b) the identity and background of the co-sponsor(s); (c)
the importance of the event to both HHS and the co-sponsor; (d) the
substantive interest and special expertise of the co-sponsor in the
subject matter of the event; (e) any other relevant background
information that may explain the mutual interest of HHS and the co-
sponsor in working together on the event.]
2. Responsibilities for Developing the Event
[Provide the following information: (a) The respective
responsibilities of HHS and the co-sponsor for developing the
substantive aspects of the event, such as the agenda and speakers; (b)
the respective responsibilities of HHS and the co-sponsor for logistics
and finances, such as arranging and paying for conference facilities,
advertising, food, and any other event expenses. Note: This is the core
paragraph of the co-sponsorship agreement, and it should reflect as
much detail as HHS and the co-sponsor reasonably can provide.]
3. Registration Fees and Other Charges
[Provide the following information: (a) State whether the co-
sponsor intends
[[Page 18913]]
to charge registration fees, and, if so, state that the co-sponsor
agrees to set a fee no higher than necessary to recover its share of
the costs of the event; (b) state whether HHS and the co-sponsor agree
that HHS employees will be allowed free attendance at the event; (c)
state whether the co-sponsor intends to sell educational materials
pertaining to the event or transcripts or recordings of the event, and,
if so, state that the co-sponsor agrees to sell such items at cost.]
4. Independently Sponsored Portions of Event
[Provide the following information: (a) State whether either HHS or
the co-sponsor intends to sponsor any discrete portion of the event
independently; (b) describe any separately sponsored portion; (c) state
that HHS resources, including staff, will not be used to develop,
promote or otherwise support a portion of the event that is
independently sponsored by the co-sponsor, although official
announcements and brochures may contain factual references to the
schedule of the entire event, including portions sponsored solely by
the co-sponsor.]
5. Fundraising
[Name of co-sponsor] will make clear, in any solicitation for funds
to cover its share of the event costs, that it, not HHS, is asking for
the funds. [Name of co-sponsor] will not imply that HHS endorses any
fundraising activities in connection with the event. [Name of co-
sponsor] will make clear to donors that any gift will go solely toward
defraying the expenses of [name of co-sponsor], not HHS.
6. Promotional Activity
[Name of co-sponsor] will not use the event primarily as a vehicle
to sell or promote products or services. [Name of co-sponsor] will
ensure that any incidental promotional activity does not imply that HHS
endorses any products or services. [Name of co-sponsor] will make
reasonable efforts, subject to HHS review, to segregate any incidental
promotional activity from the main activities of the event.
7. Event Publicity and Endorsements
[Name of co-sponsor] will not use the name of HHS or any of its
components, except in factual publicity for the specific event. Factual
publicity includes dates, times, locations, purposes, agendas, fees,
and speakers involved with the event. Such factual publicity shall not
imply that the involvement of HHS in the event serves as an endorsement
of the general policies, activities, or products of [name of co-
sponsor]; where confusion could result, publicity should be accompanied
by a disclaimer to the effect that no endorsement is intended. [Name of
co-sponsor] will clear all publicity materials for the event with HHS
to ensure compliance with this paragraph.
8. Records
Records concerning the event shall account fully and accurately for
the financial commitments and expenditures of HHS and [name of co-
sponsor]. Such records shall reflect, at a minimum, the amounts,
sources, and uses of all funds.
9. Public Availability
This co-sponsorship agreement, as well as the financial records
described in paragraph 8, shall be publicly available.
10. Co-Sponsorship Guidance
HHS and [name of co-sponsor] will abide by the legal memorandum of
August 8, 2002, entitled ``Co-Sponsorship Guidance,'' issued by the HHS
Designated Agency Ethics Official. Co-Sponsorship Proposal: Each co-
sponsorship proposal shall contain a description of: (1) The entity or
organization's background and history, (2) its ability to satisfy the
co-sponsorship criteria detailed above, and (3) its proposed
involvement in the co-sponsored activity.
Evaluation Criteria: After engaging in exploratory discussions with
potential co-sponsors that respond to this notice, AHRQ will select the
co-sponsor or co-sponsors using the following evaluation criteria:
(1) Qualifications and capability to fulfill co-sponsorship
responsibilities;
(2) Creativity related to enhancing the conference, including
options for interactive sessions and ideas for improving the event
based on the 2012 conference offerings;
(3) Potential for reaching and generating attendees from among key
stakeholders, including Federal, State and local policymakers, health
care providers, consumers and patients, purchasers and payers, and
other health officials and underserved/special populations;
(4) Experience administering conferences;
(5) Past or current work specific to health services research;
(6) Personnel names, professional qualifications, and specific
expertise with conference planning;
(7) Availability and description of facilities needed to
participate in and support the conference planning process, including
office space, information technology, and telecommunication resources;
(8) Description of financial management expertise, including
demonstration of experience in developing a budget and collecting and
managing monies from organizations and individuals; and,
(9) Proposed plan for managing a conference with AHRQ.
Dated: March 28, 2014.
Richard Kronick,
Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
[FR Doc. 2014-07562 Filed 4-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P