Sec. 499B–4. Long COVID Research Program Advisory Board
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/bill/118/s/4964/is/section-499b-4·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Director of NIH shall establish the Long COVID Research Program Advisory Board (referred to in this section as the Advisory Board ). The Advisory Board shall be comprised of 18 members, including appointed members and nonvoting ex officio members, as follows: The Secretary shall conduct a nomination process that allows for public input on nominees. The Secretary shall appoint nominated individuals, giving particular consideration to individuals from backgrounds that represent the diversity of the Long COVID population, with an emphasis on patients who face the highest disease burden.
Individuals so appointed shall include the following: 10 members who are scientists, physicians, and other health care professionals, who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government, and who have primary expertise in Long COVID and other infection-associated chronic conditions, with consideration given to such individuals with expertise in pediatric populations. 5 members who live with Long COVID. 1 member who is a caregiver to an individual with Long COVID. 2 members who are employed by the National Institutes of Health and have expertise in Long COVID research.
The following shall be ex officio members of the Advisory Board: A representative of the Long COVID Research Program established under section 499. A representative of the National Institutes of Health. A representative of the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. A representative of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. A representative of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. A representative of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.
A representative of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A representative of the Administration for Community Living. A representative of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Representatives of any other agency or office of the Department of Health and Human Services that the Secretary determines appropriate for the Advisory Board to carry out its function. In appointing individuals to the Advisory Board, the Secretary shall engage with leading scientific experts on Long COVID and independent, patient-led organizations of advocacy groups representing Long COVID patients.
Ex officio members of the Advisory Board who are officers or employees of the Federal Government shall not receive any compensation for service on the Advisory Board. Non-Federal members of the Advisory Board may receive, for each day (including travel time) they are engaged in the performance of the functions of the advisory committee, compensation at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent to the annual rate of basic pay for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code.
The term of office of an appointed member of the Advisory Board is 5 years. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. A member may serve after the expiration of the member’s term until a successor has taken office. If a vacancy occurs in the Advisory Board, the Secretary shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy not later than 60 days from the date the vacancy occurred. The members of the Advisory Board shall select a chair from among the appointed members.
The term of the Office of Chair shall be 2 years. The Advisory Board shall meet at the call of the chairman or upon request of the Director of the Program established under section 499B, but not less often than monthly in the first year after establishment, then not less often than 6 times a year for each subsequent year. The meetings of the Advisory Board may be held virtually. Of the meetings held, one or more shall be held to address research priorities of the National Institutes of Health relating to Long COVID.
For each meeting held, the Director of NIH shall post on the website of the National Institutes of Health a summary of the proceedings. The Advisory Board shall, subject to the direction and supervision of the Director of NIH— review, approve, and evaluate the implementation of the research plan issued under section 499B–1, and advise in updating the plan; provide guidance to the Director of the Program established under section 499B with respect to appropriate research activities to be undertaken regarding the clinical treatment of Long COVID, which may include— research on interventions for preventing, treating, and understanding the mechanisms of Long COVID; research on the effectiveness of treating Long COVID with drugs that are not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Long COVID; reviewing ongoing publicly- and privately-supported research on treatments for Long COVID; issue and make available to health care professionals and the public reports describing and evaluating research described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C); and convene accessible meetings for the purpose of determining the recommendations which may inform development of clinical guidelines by health care provider organizations; and engage in other necessary activities to contribute to the National Institutes of Health’s overall research priorities related to Long COVID, and ensure accountability, transparency, and communication of results of the Program established under section 499B.