Federal Register: December 20, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 245)

DOCID: FR Doc 01-31319

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health and Human Services Department

NOTICE: NOTICES

ACTION: Meetings:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUBJECT CATEGORY:

Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform; Notice of Meeting

DATES: The first meeting of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform will be held on Monday, January 7, 2002, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Tuesday, January 8, 2002, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given of a meeting by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform. As governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act in accordance with section 10(a)(2), the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform is seeking guidance for the Department's efforts to streamline regulatory requirements. The Advisory Committee will advise and make recommendations for changes that would be beneficial in four broad areas: health care delivery, health systems operations, biomedical and health research, and the development of pharmaceuticals and other products.

All meetings and hearings of the Committee are open to the general public. During each meeting, invited witnesses will address how regulations affect healthrelated issues. Meeting agendas will also allow time for public comment. Additional information on each meeting's agenda and list of participating witnesses will be posted on the Committee's Web site prior to the meetings (http:// www.regreform.hhs.gov).

SUMMARY:

Secretary's Regulatory Reform Advisory Committee,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Providence Hospital and the Hubert H. Humphrey Building are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Anyone planning to attend the meeting who requires special disabilityrelated arrangements such as signlanguage interpretation should provide notice of their need by Friday, December 31, 2001. Please make any request to Michael Starkweather `` phone: 3016283141; fax: 3016283101; email: mstarkweather@s3.com.

On June 8, 2001, HHS Secretary Thompson announced a Departmentwide initiative to reduce regulatory burdens in health care, to improve patient care, and to respond to the concerns of health care providers and industry, State and local Governments, and individual Americans who are affected by HHS rules. As part of this initiative, the Department is establishing the Secretary's Advisory Committee on
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Regulatory Reform to provide findings and recommendations regarding potential regulatory changes. These changes would enable HHS to reduce burdens and costs associated with departmental regulations and paperwork, while at the same time maintaining or enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and access of HHS programs.

Dated: December 13, 2001.
Dr. William F. Raub,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 0131319 Filed 121901; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 415105P

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Christy Schmidt, Executive Coordinator, Secretary's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 801, Washington, DC 20201, (202) 401 5182.