Dr. Donna K. Arnett, professor and chair in the department of epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been appointed to the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC)—under the Department of Health and Human Services — which was established to provide impartial guidance and expert advice to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on clinical topics.

According to its website, MEDCAC reviews and evaluates medical literature, technology assessments, and examines data and information on the effectiveness and appropriateness of medical items and services that are covered under Medicare or that may be eligible for coverage under Medicare. It also judges the strength of the available data and makes recommendations to CMS based on that evidence.

Dr. Arnett’s primary research area is cardiovascular genetic epidemiology. Her current research involves the genetic epidemiology of atherosclerosis hypertension and target organ damage from hypertension, with pharmacogenetics as another research interest.