GERIATRIC RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CLINICAL CENTERS.

SEC. 521. GERIATRIC RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CLINICAL CENTERS. Section 7314 is amended— (1) in subsection (c), by inserting after “unless” in the matter preceding paragraph (1) the following: “the peer review panel established under subsection (d) has determined under that subsection that the proposal submitted by such facility 106 STAT. 4959 as a location for a new center under subsection (a) is among those proposals which have met the highest competitive standards of scientific and clinical merit, and ; (2) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as sub sections (e), (f), and (g), respectively; and (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new sub section (d): “(d) (1) In order to provide advice to assist the Chief Medical Director and the Secretary to carry out their responsibilities under this section, the Assistant Chief Medical Director described in section 7306(b)(3) of this title shall establish a panel to assess the scientific and clinical merit of proposals that are submitted to the Secretary for the establishment of new centers under this section. “(2) The membership of the panel shall consist of experts in the fields of geriatric and gerontological research, education, and clinical care. Members of the panel shall serve as consultants to the Department for a period of no longer than six months. “(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted to the panel by the Assistant Chief Medical Director and shall submit its views on the relative scientific and clinical merit of each such proposal to the Assistant Chief Medical Director. “(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.”.