In the last 10 years a prevention model of health has woven its way into the fabric of traditional models of care. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the role preventive services has expanded significantly in the US health care delivery system. Preventive health care services prevent diseases and illnesses from happening in the first place rather than treating them after they happen.
“Category A & B” preventive services recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force are now included (at no cost to consumers) in all Qualified Health Plans offered on the marketplace. In addition, many employer-based and government-sponsored health plans have included Category A & B preventive services in the health insurance plans they offer to their respective members.
Currently, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends more than 50 Category A or B preventive health services. Category A services are those that “… there is high certainty that the net benefit is substantial”. Category B services are those that: “… the net benefit is moderate or there is moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial”.
The Task Force operates within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The Task Force consists of a panel of experts representing public health, primary care, family medicine, and academia. They update the list of recommended services by reviewing best practices research conducted across a wide range of disciplines.
The Preventive Health Services Task Force is currently accepting applications to serve on the Task Force.
This is a terrific opportunity for a mid to late career public health professional to serve the public health community, improve outcomes in the US, develop further professionally, and to increase your professional network connections.
DATES:
Nominations must be received in writing or electronically by March 15th to be considered for appointment (to begin in January 2021).
NOMINATION SUBMISSIONS:
Nominations must be submitted electronically or in writing, and should include:
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The applicant’s current curriculum vitae and contact information, including mailing address, and email address; and
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A letter explaining how this individual meets the qualification requirements and how he or she would contribute to the USPSTF. The letter should also attest to the nominee’s willingness to serve as a member of the USPSTF.
AHRQ will later ask people under serious consideration for USPSTF membership to provide detailed information that will permit evaluation of possible significant conflicts of interest.
Interested individuals can nominate themselves. Organizations and individuals may nominate one or more people qualified for membership on the USPSTF at any time.
ADDRESSES:
Submit your responses either electronically or in writing to: https://uspstfnominations.ahrq.gov/register, Lydia Hill, ATTN: USPSTF Nominations, Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mailstop: 06E53A, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
USPSTF members currently meet three times a year for two days in the Washington, DC area. A significant portion of the USPSTF’s work occurs between meetings during conference calls and via email discussions.
Member duties include prioritizing topics, designing research plans, reviewing and commenting on systematic evidence reviews of evidence, discussing and making recommendations on preventive services, reviewing stakeholder comments, drafting final recommendation documents, and participating in workgroups on specific topics and methods.
Members can expect to receive frequent emails, can expect to participate in multiple conference calls each month, and can expect to have periodic interaction with stakeholders. AHRQ estimates that members devote approximately 200 hours a year outside of in-person meetings to their USPSTF duties. The members are all volunteers and do not receive any compensation beyond support for travel to in person meetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Lydia Hill at coordinator@uspstf.net.
For more information, including nominee selection, qualification requirements, and additional background information: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/07/2020-00019/solicitation-for-nominations-for-members-of-the-us-preventive-services-task-force-uspstf
