66 1 the organization of health services and of the flow of patients 2 make an interstate area a more practical unit of 3 administration. 4 NATIONAL HEALTH SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL 5 SEC. 125. (a) There is hereby established a National 6 Health Security Advisory Council, which shall consist of the 7 Chairman of the Board, who shall serve as Chairman of the 8 Council, and twenty members, not otherwise in the employ 9 of the United States, appointed by the Secretary on recom10 mendation of the Board, without regard to the provisions 11 of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in 12 the competitive service. The appointed members shall in13 clude persons who are representative of providers of health 14 services, and of persons (who shall constitute a majority 15 of the Council) who are representative of consumers of 16 such services. Each appointed member shall hold office for a term of four years, except that (1) any member appointed 18 to fill a vacancy occurring during the term for which his 19 predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the re20 mainder of that term, and (2) the terms of the members 21 first taking office shall expire, as designated by the Secre22 tary at the time of appointment, five at the end of the first 23 year, five at the end of the second year, five at the end 24 of the third year, and five at the end of the fourth year after 25 the date of enactment of this Act. Members of the Council 17 67 1 who are representative of providers of health care shall be 2 persons who are outstanding in fields related to medical, 3 hospital, or other health activities, or who are representa4 tive of organizations or associations of professinal health 5 personnel; members who are representative of consumers of 6 such care shall be persons, not engaged in and having no 7 financial interest in the furnishing of health services, who 8 are familiar with the needs of various segments of the popu9 lation for personal health services and are experienced in 10 dealing with problems associated with the furnishing of 11 such services. 12 13 14 15 (b) The Advisory Council is authorized to appoint such professional or technical committees, from its own members or from other persons or both, as may be useful in carrying out its functions. The Council, its members, and its commit16 tees shall be provided with such secretarial, clerical, or other 17 assistance as may be authorized by the Board for carrying 18 out their respective functions. The Council shall meet as 19 frequently as the Board deems necessary, but not less than 20 four times each year. Upon request by seven or more mem21 bers it shall be the duty of the Chairman to call a meeting 22 of the Council. 23 24 (c) It shall be the function of the Advisory Council (1) to advise the Board on matters of general policy in the 25 administration of this title, in the formulation of regulations, 68 1 and in the performance of the Board's functions under part 2 F, and (2) to study the operation of this title and the utiliza 3 tion of health services under it, with a view to recommending 4 any changes in the administration of the title or in its pro 5 visions which may appear desirable. The Council shall make 6 an annual report to the Board on the performance of its 7 functions, including any recommendations it may have with 8 respect thereto, and the Board, through the Secretary, shall 9 promptly transmit the report to the Congress, together with 10 11 a report by the Board on any administrative recommendations of the Council which have not been followed, and a 12 report by the Secretary of his views with respect to any legislative recommendations of the Council. 13 14 (d) Appointed members of the Advisory Council and 15 members of technical or professional committees, while serving on business of the Council (inclusive of traveltime), shall receive compensation at rates fixed by the Board, but not exceeding $100 per day; and shall be entitled to receive actual and necessary traveling expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence while so serving away from their places of residence. REGIONAL AND LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS SEC. 126. (a) The Board shall appoint for each of the regions of the Department and for each health service area. a regional or local advisory council, consisting of the regional 69 1 2 or local representative of the Board as chairman and (in such numbers as the Board may determine) representatives 3 of providers of health services and representatives (who 4 shall constitute a majority of the members of each council) 5 of consumers of such services. It shall be the function of 6 each such council to advise the regional or local representa7 tive of the Board, as the case may be, on all matters directly 8 relating to the administration of this title in the region or 9 10 area. (b) The provisions of section 125 (d) shall be appli11 cable to the members of council appointed under this section. 121 PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES 13 SEC. 127. (a) The Board shall appoint such standing 14 professional and technical committees at it deems necessary to 15 advise it on the administration of this title with respect to the 16 several classes of covered services described in part B. Each 17 such committee shall consist of experts (in such number as 18 the Board may determine) drawn from the health profes19 sions, from medical schools or other health educational insti20 tutions, from providers of services, or from other sources, 21 whom the Board deems best qualified to advise it with respect to the professional and technical aspects of the furnishing 23 and utilization of, the payment for, and the evaluation of, a 24 class of covered services designated by the Board, and of the 25 relationship of that class of services to other covered services. 22 70 1 (b) The Board is authorized to appoint such temporary 2 professional and technical committees as it deems necessary 3 to advise it on special problems not encompassed in the 4 assignments of standing committees appointed under sub 5 section (a). 6 (c) Committees appointed under this section shall re 7 port from time to time to the Board, and copies of their re8 ports shall be transmitted by the Board to the National 9 Advisory Council. 10 (d) The provisions of section 125 (d) shall be appli11 cable to the members of committees appointed under this 12 section. 13 14 15 DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION; STUDIES AND EVALUA TIONS; SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT SEC. 128. (a) The Board shall disseminate, to pro16 viders of services and to the public, information concerning the provisions of this title, the persons eligible to receive the 18 benefits of the title, and the nature, scope, and availability 19 of covered services; and to providers of services, informa20 tion concerning the conditions of participation, methods, and amounts of compensation to providers, and other matters 22 relating to their participation. With the approval of the 23 Secretary, the Board may furnish to all professional prac24 titioners information concerning the safety and efficacy of 21 51-658 O 70-6 |