Pub. L. 91-515, tit. II, pt. I, sec. 281

Sec. 281. Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by adding after section 315 thereof the following new section: “national advisory council on comprehensive health planning programs “Sec. 316. (a) The Secretary shall appoint, without regard to the civil service laws, a National Advisory Council on Comprehensive Health Planning Programs. The Council shall consist of the Secretary or his designee, who shall lie the chairman, and sixteen members, not otherwise in the regular full-time employ of the United States, who are (1) leaders in the fields of the fundamental sciences, the medical sciences, or the organization, delivery, and financing of health care, (2) officials in State and areawide health planning agencies, (3) leaders in health care administration, or State or community or other public affairs, who are State or local officials, or (4) representatives of consumers of health care. At least six of the appointed members shall be individuals representing the consumers of health care, one shall be an official of a State health planning agency, one shall be an official of an areawide health planning agency, and one shall be a member of the National Advisory Council on Regional Medical Programs. “(b) Each appointed member of the Council shall hold office for a term of four years, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term, and except that the terms of office of the members first taking office shall expire, as designated by the Secretary at the time of appointment, four at the end of the first year, four at the end of the second year, four at the end of the third year, and four at the end of the fourth year after the date of appointment. An appointed member shall not be eligible to serve continuously for more than two terms. “(c) Appointed members of the Council, while attending meetings or conferences thereof or otherwise serving on the business of the Council, shall be entitled to receive compensation at rates fixed by the Secretary, but at rates not exceeding the daily equivalent of the rate specified at the time of service for GS–18 of the general schedule,84 Stat. 1308 including travel time, and while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703(b) of title 5 of the United States Code for persons in the Government service employed intermittently. “(d) The Council shall advise and assist the Secretary in the preparation of general regulations for, and as to policy matters arising with respect to, the administration of section 314 of this title, with increased emphasis on cooperation in the coordination of programs thereunder with the National Advisory Council on Regional Medical Programs, with particular attention to the relationship between the improved organization and delivery of health services and the financing of such services; and shall, in carrying out such functions, review, not less often than annually, the grants made under section 314 to determine their effectiveness in carrying out its purposes.”