---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 299c"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "299c"
heading: "Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/299c"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter VII — Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality"
  - "Part E — General Provisions"
---

# §299c. Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality

- (a) **Establishment—** There is established an [advisory council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) to be known as the National [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) for Healthcare Research and Quality.
- (b) **Duties—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) shall advise the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) and the [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) with respect to activities proposed or undertaken to carry out the mission of the [Agency](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=2) under [section 299(b) of this title](/usc/42/299.md?p=b).
  - (2) **Certain recommendations—** Activities of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall include making recommendations to the [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) regarding—
    - (A) priorities regarding health care research, especially studies related to quality, outcomes, cost and the utilization of, and access to, health [care services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-7);
    - (B) the field of health care research and related disciplines, especially issues related to training needs, and dissemination of information pertaining to health care quality; and
    - (C) the appropriate role of the [Agency](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=2) in each of these areas in light of private sector activity and identification of opportunities for public-private sector partnerships.
- (c) **Membership—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) shall, in accordance with this subsection, be composed of appointed members and ex officio members. All members of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) shall be voting members other than the individuals designated under [paragraph (3)(B)](#c-3-B) as ex officio members.
  - (2) **Appointed members—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall appoint to the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) 21 appropriately qualified individuals. At least 17 members of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) shall be representatives of the public who are not officers or [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) of the United States and at least 1 member who shall be a specialist in the rural aspects of 1 or more of the professions or fields described in subparagraphs [(A)](#c-2-A) through [(G)](#c-2-G). The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall ensure that the appointed members of the Council, as a group, are representative of professions and entities concerned with, or affected by, activities under this subchapter and under [section 1320b–12 of this title](/usc/42/1320b–12.md). Of such members—
    - (A) three shall be individuals distinguished in the conduct of research, demonstration [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), and evaluations with respect to health care;
    - (B) three shall be individuals distinguished in the fields of health care quality research or health care improvement;
    - (C) three shall be individuals distinguished in the practice of medicine of which at least one shall be a primary care practitioner;
    - (D) three shall be individuals distinguished in the other health professions;
    - (E) three shall be individuals either representing the private health care sector, including health plans, [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8), and purchasers or individuals distinguished as [administrators](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of health care delivery systems;
    - (F) three shall be individuals distinguished in the fields of health care economics, information systems, law, ethics, business, or public policy; and
    - (G) three shall be individuals representing the interests of patients and consumers of health care.
  - (3) **Ex officio members—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall designate as ex officio members of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1)—
    - (A) the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) for Health, the [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) of the National Institutes of Health, the [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), the Commissioner of the Food and [Drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) Administration, the [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) of the Office of Personnel Management, the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Defense (Health Affairs), and the Under [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
    - (B) such other Federal officials as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may consider appropriate.
- (d) **Terms—**
  - (1) **In general—** Members of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) appointed under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2) shall serve for a term of 3 years.
  - (2) **Staggered terms—** To ensure the staggered rotation of one-third of the members of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) each year, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) is authorized to appoint the initial members of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) for terms of 1, 2, or 3 years.
  - (3) **Service beyond term—** A member of the Council appointed under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2) may continue to serve after the expiration of the term of the members until a successor is appointed.
- (e) **Vacancies—** If a member of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) appointed under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2) does not serve the full term applicable under [subsection (d)](#d), the individual appointed to fill the resulting vacancy shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of the predecessor of the individual.
- (f) **Chair—** The [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) shall, from among the members of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) appointed under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2), designate an individual to serve as the chair of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1).
- (g) **Meetings—** The [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) shall meet not less than once during each discrete 4-month period and shall otherwise meet at the call of the [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) or the chair.
- (h) **Compensation and reimbursement of expenses—**
  - (1) **Appointed members—** Members of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) appointed under [subsection (c)(2)](#c-2) shall receive compensation for each day (including travel time) engaged in carrying out the duties of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) unless declined by the member. Such compensation may not be in an amount in excess of the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under [section 5315 of title 5](/usc/5/5315.md) for each day during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Ex officio members—** Officials designated under [subsection (c)(3)](#c-3) as ex officio members of the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) may not receive compensation for [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) on the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) in addition to the compensation otherwise received for duties carried out as officers of the United States.
- (i) **Staff—** The [Director](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=3) shall provide to the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) such staff, information, and other assistance as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the Council.
- (j) **Duration—** Notwithstanding [section 1013(a) of title 5](/usc/5/1013.md?p=a), the [Advisory Council](/usc/42/299c–7.md?p=1) shall continue in existence until otherwise provided by law.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 941, formerly § 921, as added Pub. L. 106–129, § 2(a), Dec. 6, 1999, 113 Stat. 1663; amended Pub. L. 108–173, title IX, § 900(e)(2)(D), Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2372; renumbered § 931, Pub. L. 109–41, § 2(a)(3), July 29, 2005, 119 Stat. 424; renumbered § 941, Pub. L. 111–148, title III, § 3013(a)(2), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 381; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(242), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4332.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 299c, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 921, as added Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6103(c), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2199; amended Pub. L. 102–410, § 8, Oct. 13, 1992, 106 Stat. 2100, established the Advisory Council for Health Care Policy, Research, and Evaluation, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 106–129.

Another prior section 299c, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IX, § 903, as added Oct. 6, 1965, Pub. L. 89–239, § 2, 79 Stat. 927; amended Oct. 15, 1968, Pub. L. 90–574, title I, § 104, 82 Stat. 1005; Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–515, title I, §§ 105, 111(b), 84 Stat. 1299, 1301, authorized Secretary to make planning grants and set forth requirements for grant applications, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–117, § 12(d), Oct. 7, 1985, 99 Stat. 495.

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 117–286, which directed amendment of “Section 942(j) of the Public Health Service Act” by substituting “section 1013(a) of title 5,” for “section 14(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act,”, was executed to this section, which is section 941 of the Public Health Service Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

2003—Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 108–173 substituted “Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services” for “Health Care Financing Administration”.