Advisory Committee on Minority Health

Charter - Advisory Committee on Minority Health

COMMITTEE’S OFFICIAL DESIGNATION

Advisory Committee on Minority Health

AUTHORITY

The Advisory Committee on Minority Health (ACMH or Committee) is required under Section 1707 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 300u-6). The Committee is also governed by provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, P.L. 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Ch. 10).

OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES

Establishment of the ACMH is mandated under Section 1707(c) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C § § 300u-6(c)) to provide advice to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health (DASMH) on the development of goals and program activities related to the Office of Minority Health’s (OMH) duties cited under Section 1707(c) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C § 300u-6(b)).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Committee shall provide advice to the DASMH on the development of goals and specific
program activities for improving the health of and the quality of health care received by minority
populations and eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities consistent with OMH’s duties
outlined in Section 1707 of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300u-6, which include:

  1. Establish short-range and long-range goals and objectives and coordinate all other activities within the Public Health Service that relate to disease prevention, health promotion, service delivery, and research concerning such individuals. The heads of each of the agencies of the Service shall consult with the Deputy Assistant Secretary to ensure the coordination of such activities.
  2. Enter into interagency agreements with other agencies of the Public Health Service.
  3. Support research, demonstrations, and evaluations to test new and innovative models.
  4. Increase knowledge and understanding of health risk factors.
  5. Develop mechanisms that support better information dissemination, education, prevention, and service delivery to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including individuals who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups.
  6. Ensure that the National Center for Health Statistics collects data on the health status of each minority group.
  7. With respect to individuals who lack proficiency in speaking the English language, enter into contracts with public and nonprofit private providers of primary health services for the purpose of increasing the access of the individuals to such services by developing and carrying out programs to provide bilingual or interpretive services.
  8. Support a national minority health resource center to carry out the following:
    1. Facilitate the exchange of information regarding matters relating to health information and health promotion, preventive health services, and education in appropriate use of health care.
    2. Facilitate access to such information.
    3. Assist in the analysis of issues and problems relating to such matters.
    4. Provide technical assistance with respect to the exchange of such information (including facilitating the development of materials for such technical assistance).
  9. Carry out programs to improve access to health care services for individuals with limited proficiency in speaking the English language. Activities under the preceding sentence shall include developing and evaluating model projects.
  10. Advise in matters related to the development, implementation, and evaluation of health professions education in decreasing disparities in health care outcomes, including cultural competency as a method of eliminating health disparities.

AGENCY OR OFFICIAL TO WHOM THE COMMITTEE REPORTS

It is stipulated in the authorizing legislation that the Committee shall advise the DASMH.

SUPPORT

Management and support services for Committee activities will be provided by the OMH, which is organizationally located within the Office of the Secretary in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). OMH is administratively supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, which is a staff division in the Office of the Secretary, DHHS.

ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS AND STAFF YEARS

The estimated annual cost for operating the Committee, including compensation and travel expenses for members, but excluding staff support, is $120,000. The estimated annual person years of staff support required is 0.6 at an estimated annual cost of $128,600.

DESIGNATED FEDERAL OFFICER (DFO)

The DFO for the Committee will be selected by the DASMH, or a designee, from among permanent full-time or part-time senior level staff within the OMH. In the event that the DFO cannot fulfill the assigned responsibilities for the Committee, the DASMH, or a designee, will
temporarily select one or more permanent full-time or part-time senior level OMH staff to be designated as the DFO to carry out the assigned duties.

The DFO will schedule and approve all meetings to be held by the Committee and respective subcommittees. The DFO will prepare and approve all meeting agendas in collaboration with the Committee Chair. The DFO will attend all meetings of the Committee and respective subcommittees. The DFO also has authority to adjourn meetings, when it is determined to be in the public interest and can be directed by the DASMH, or a designee, to chair Committee
meetings.

ESTIMATED NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

The Committee will meet up to four times each calendar year, depending upon the availability of funds. Meetings will be open to the public, except as determined otherwise by the Secretary or designee, in keeping with the guidelines under Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552b(c). Notice of meetings will be published in the Federal Register. Meeting records and proceedings will be kept, as required by applicable laws and Departmental policies. To conduct business, the Committee must equally represent the health interests of the racial and ethnic minority groups as mandated under Section 1707(c) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C § §300u 6(c)(4)(B)) and stated in the Charter’s “Membership and Designation” section.

When it is determined by the Secretary or designee that a meeting will be closed or partially closed to the public, in accordance with stipulations of Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552b(c), a report will be prepared that includes, at a minimum, a list of the members and their business addresses, the Committee’s functions, the date and place of the meeting, and a summary of the Committee’s activities and recommendations made during the fiscal year. A copy of the report will be provided to the Department Committee Management Officer.

DURATION

Continuing

TERMINATION

Unless renewed by appropriate action prior to its expiration, the charter for the Committee will expire two years from the date it is filed.

MEMBERSHIP AND DESIGNATION

The Committee shall be composed of 12 voting members. The Committee membership also may include non-voting ex-officio members. The voting members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Secretary or designee from among individuals who are not officers or
employees of the Federal Government and who have expertise regarding issues of minority health. The Committee must equally represent the health interests of the racial and ethnic minority groups: American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian Americans; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics, as defined by 42 USC § 300u-6(g)(1). The Chairperson of the Committee is selected by the Secretary or designee from among the voting members of the Committee. All voting members of the Committee are classified as Special Government Employees (SGEs). Officials of DHHS organizational components may be invited to serve as non-voting ex-officio members, as deemed appropriate by the Secretary or designee to effectively carry out the Committee’s mission.

A quorum of the membership is required for the parent Committee to meet to conduct business. A quorum is defined as a majority (one more than half) of the Committee’s appointed membership.

Committee members shall be invited to serve a term of four years. The term of the Chairperson shall be two years.

A member may serve after the expiration of his/her term until a successor has taken office, but not longer than 180 days. If a vacancy occurs on the Committee, a new member shall be appointed by the Secretary or designee within 90 days from the date that the vacancy occurs and serve for the remainder of the term for which the predecessor of such member was appointed. The vacancy shall not affect the power of remaining members to execute the duties of the Committee.

Members of the Committee who are not officers or employees of the United States shall be paid at a rate not to exceed $200 per day for each day (including travel time) they are engaged in performing duties in relation to work being done by the Committee. Such compensation cannot be in an amount in excess of the daily equivalent of the annual maximum rate of basic pay payable under the General Schedule (under Title 5 U.S.C.) for positions above GS-15. Non members who are selected to work with the Committee as special consultants and/or subcommittee members will be compensated for services performed at a rate of pay that is consistent with the rate of pay authorized for members of the parent committee. Individuals who serve as members of the parent committee and/or subcommittees also may receive per diem and reimbursement for any applicable travel expenses, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703 for persons who are employed intermittently in Government service. Members of the parent committee and/or subcommittees who are officers or employees of the United States Government shall serve without compensation.

SUBCOMMITTEES

To conduct business and with approval of the DASMH, or designee, the Committee may establish subcommittees that are composed of members of the Committee, as well as other individuals who have expertise regarding issues of minority health (including racial and ethnic health disparities) to provide assistance in carrying out the function of the Committee. The Department Committee Management Officer shall be notified upon establishment of each subcommittee and shall be given information regarding its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meetings. Subcommittees must report back to the parent committee and must not provide advice or work products directly to the agency.

RECORDKEEPING

Records of the Committee and its subcommittees will be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2, Federal Advisory Committee Records, or other approved agency records disposition schedule. These records will be available for public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552.

FILING DATE:

September 17, 2023

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Last Edited: 05/03/2024