[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 38668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14002]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


National Healthcare Disparities Report Measures and Candidate 
Data Sets--Request for Nominations

AGENCY: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Request for Nominations.

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SUMMARY: AHRQ invites nominations of measures and candidate data sets 
for inclusion in the National Healthcare Disparities Report, (NHDR).

DATES: Nominations should be submitted by August 5, 2002 in order to be 
considered for the NHDR. AHRQ will not reply to individual nominations, 
but will consider all nominations during the report development 
process.

ADDRESSES: The nominations should be submitted to Sari Siegel, Center 
for Primary Care Research, AHRQ, 6010 Executive Boulevard, Suite 201, 
Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sari Siegel, Center for Primary Care 
Research, AHRQ, 6010 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 
20852. Phone: (301) 5946373; FAX: (301) 5943721. E-mail: 
[email protected].
    Arrangement for Public Inspection: All nominations will be 
available for public inspection at the Center for Primary Care 
Research, telephone (301) 594-6373, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 
p.m. (Eastern time).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    In FY 2003, AHRQ is required to submit to the Congress the first 
annual report on prevailing disparities in health care. AHRQ's 
authorizing legislation requires that the Director prepare and annually 
submit to the Congress a report regarding prevailing disparities in 
health care delivery as it relates to racial factors and socioeconomic 
factors in priority populations. The legislation further specifies that 
priority populations include: Low income groups; minority groups; 
women; children; the elderly; and individuals with special health care 
needs, including individuals with disabilities and individuals who need 
chronic care or end-of-life care. The first NHDR will focus on health 
care disparities for these groups compared to other Americans with 
respect to access to and quality of care.
    This effort will be implemented in partnership with other Agency 
and Department projects to ensure synergy with existing efforts, 
including, Healthy People 2010, HHS survey integration priorities and 
the AHRQ National Healthcare Quality Report. The report will provide 
answers on a national basis to critical questions about disparities in 
health care and will permit the development of a more complete picture 
of health care in America, including who has access to care and how 
good is the care received. The NHDR provides an important opportunity 
for the Department of Health and Human Services to further its long-
term commitment to identifying and reducing avoidable disparities in 
health care.

2. Purpose

    The purpose of this Federal Register notice is to encourage 
submission of measures and candidate data sets for inclusion in the 
NHDR. The AHRQ will review nominations and supporting information and 
determine which measures and data sets will be included in the NHDR, 
seeking additional information as appropriate.

    Dated: May 29, 2002.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 02-14002 Filed 6-4-02; 8:45 am]
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