Establishment of the permanent certification program for health information technology. Final rule

This final rule establishes a permanent certification program for the purpose of certifying health information technology (HIT). This final rule is issued pursuant to the authority granted to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (the National Coordinator) by section 3001(c)(5) of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), as added by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. The permanent certification program will eventually replace the temporary certification program that was previously established by a final rule. The National Coordinator will use the permanent certification program to authorize organizations to certify electronic health record (EHR) technology, such as Complete EHRs and/or EHR Modules. The permanent certification program could also be expanded to include the certification of other types of HIT.     

Program grants for black lung clinics--PHS. Notice of proposed rulemaking

The Public Health Service proposed to revise the regulations governing the grants program for black lung clinics established under section 427(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The revision is in keeping with the Department of Health and Human Services' desire to remove as many programmatic burdens and restrictions from grantees as possible, while maintaining program integrity.     

Federal influence on state health policy

This paper reports on research that was intended to demonstrate the impact of federal programs on state health policy goals. The sample included four Public Health Service programs (Health Planning and Resources Development, Nurse Training, Cooperative Health Statistics and the Community Mental Health Centers program) in six states (Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina, and Texas). The authors conclude that, in general, states' political environments tailor program implementation to suit state preferences.     

Maternal and child assistance programs; model application form--HHS, Department of Agriculture. Notice

This notice publishes a model application form that States have the option of using in full, in part, with modification or not at all. It would be used by pregnant women or by children under 6 years of age to apply for benefits simultaneously under several congressionally specified "maternal and child assistance programs": (1) The Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act; (2) the Health Care for the Homeless grant program under section 340 of the Public Health Service Act; (3) the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services block grand program under title V of the Social Security Act; (4) the Migrant and Community Health Centers programs under sections 329 and 330 of the Public Health Service Act; (5) the Head Start program under the Head Start Act; and (6) the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. This notice is published in accordance with section 6506(a) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (OBRA '89) (Pub. L. 101-239), which requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to develop a model application form for the specified maternal and child assistance programs for publication in the Federal Register. This model application form represents a first effort to develop a joint model application form covering the programs mandated by Congress. If modifications are necessary due to changes in program requirements, or States or other user experience, they will be pursued.     

Health Resources and Services Administration. Final eligibility criteria, preferences, and priorities for scholarships for disadvantaged students

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces final eligibility criteria, preferences, and priorities for the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program, under the authority of section 737 of the Public Health Service Act (the Act), Title VII, Part B, as amended by the Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998. Pub. L. 105-392, dated November 13, 1998. A notice which proposed eligibility criteria, preferences, and priorities for the SDS program was published in the Federal Register at 64 FR 29660, dated June 2, 1999. A period of 30 days was established to allow public comment concerning the proposed eligibility criteria, preferences, and priorities. Five comments were received. This notice discusses these comments and sets forth the final eligibility criteria, preferences, and priorities.     

Permanent certification program for health information technology; revisions to ONC-Approved Accreditor processes. Final rule

Under the authority granted to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology by section 3001(c)(5) of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) as added by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, this final rule establishes a process for addressing instances where the ONC-Approved Accreditor (ONC-AA) engages in improper conduct or does not perform its responsibilities under the permanent certification program. This rule also addresses the status of ONC-Authorized Certification Bodies (ONC-ACBs) in instances where there may be a change in the accreditation organization serving as the ONC-AA and clarifies the responsibilities of the new ONC-AA.     

Fees for certifying insulin drugs--FDA. Interim rule; opportunity for public comment

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing interim regulations to revise the fee schedule for insulin certification services. Under the revision, FDA will charge a fixed fee for each master lot or batch submitted for certification. The changes in fee schedule reflect a change in agency testing policy for certification and release of batches of insulin. The changes in fees will allow FDA to continue to maintain an adequate insulin certification program as required by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act). The fees are intended to recover the full costs of operation of FDA's insulin certification program, including the unfunded liability of the Civil Service Retirement Fund and appropriate overhead costs of the Public Health Service and Department of Health and Human Services.     

Grants for the establishment of Departments of Family Medicine--HRSA. Final rule

This final regulation amends the existing regulations governing the program for Grants for the Establishment of Departments of Family Medicine authorized by section 747(b) of the Public Health Service Act (the Act), to bring the regulations into conformity with technical amendments made by the Health Professions Extension Amendments of 1992 and to include other changes for consistency with current grant program policies.     

Health care for homeless veterans. Final rule

This final rule establishes regulations for contracting with community-based treatment facilities in the Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The HCHV program assists certain homeless veterans in obtaining treatment from non-VA community-based providers. The final rule formalizes VA's policies and procedures in connection with this program and clarifies that veterans with substance use disorders may qualify for the program.     

Payment method for health care services under the Supplemental Health Care Program for Active Duty Members of the Uniformed Services; adoption of CHAMPUS procedures--DoD. Final rule

This final rule partially implements 10 U.S.C. 1074(c), as amended by section 729 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991, Public Law 101-189. The recent amendment authorizes the Department of Defense to establish for the active duty supplemental care program payment rules similar to those used under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS). The supplemental care program is the program which provides for the payment to civilian (non federal-governmental) health care providers for care provided to active duty members of the uniformed services. This final rule would adopt CHAMPUS payment amounts for the supplemental care program.     

Do Health Interventions Support Peace Through “Disaster Diplomacy?”

Health problems and health interventions do not stop in conflict zones. Conversely, many health-related topics fail to be addressed adequately because conflict interferes with health systems, health personnel, and health-related actions. Based on these experiences, health diplomacy, medical diplomacy, and vaccine diplomacy have developed as fields of research, policy, and practice. From the Journal of Health Diplomacy, initiated in 2013 to the United Nations World Health Organization’s (WHO) “Health as a Bridge for Peace” program, academics, decision makers, and practitioners have been examining and trying to apply health work for diplomatic, peace-related, and conflict resolution endeavors.     

Medicare program; hospital inpatient value-based purchasing program. Final rule

This final rule implements a Hospital Inpatient Value-Based Purchasing program (Hospital VBP program or the program) under section 1886(o) of the Social Security Act (the Act), under which value-based incentive payments will be made in a fiscal year to hospitals that meet performance standards with respect to a performance period for the fiscal year involved. The program will apply to payments for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2012, in accordance with section 1886(o) (as added by section 3001(a) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively known as the Affordable Care Act)). Scoring in the Hospital VBP program will be based on whether a hospital meets or exceeds the performance standards established with respect to the measures. By adopting this program, we will reward hospitals based on actual quality performance on measures, rather than simply reporting data for those measures.     

The WHO European program of health legislation and the Health for All policy

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the work of the World Health Organization (WHO), begun a decade ago in Europe, in the field of health legislation. This program is the result of the interaction between two important factors: the trends in national health policy and legislation at the country level, and the implementation of the Health for All policy, which has been collectively adopted by the European Member States in various WHO fora. Health legislation has proved to be a valuable tool in supporting National Health Policies in European countries and a key element in international health activities. The paper will be presented in three main parts. The first examines the legislative implications of the Health for All policy and strategy. The second gives an overview of developments in health legislation in Europe, focusing on national achievements in three areas in which change is necessary to achieve Health for All: health care systems, the environment, and lifestyles. The third part gives an account of activities carried out by the Regional Office for Europe of WHO in the health legislation field, recalls the organization of the first WHO medium-term program in this field, and summarizes its four current subprograms on health policy, health situation, exchange of information, and training. The conclusion briefly outlines the prospects for further developments in Europe.     

Medicare program; suggestion program on methods to improve Medicare efficiency. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS. Final rule with comment period

This final rule with comment period establishes a program to encourage individuals to submit suggestions that could improve the efficiency of the Medicare program. The rule implements section 203(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The intent of this rule is to encourage suggestions and to award, if we deem appropriate, monetary payments to individuals for suggestions that improve efficiency and produce monetary savings to the Medicare program.     

Projects grants for community health services; proposed rulemaking--Public Health Service. Notice of proposed rulemaking

The Assistant Secretary for Health with the approval of the Secretary of Health and Human Services proposes to revise the regulations governing the Community Health Centers grant program. The Health Services and Centers Amendments of 1978 made a number of changes in the statutory requirements governing the operation of the centers. The Amendments, among other things, change pharmacy services from supplemental to primary health services, establish priority for certain supplemental health services, provide an incentive for maximized collection of fees, permit conversion of certain centers from fee for service to prepaid operations, and change the governing board requirements or public centers. The proposed revisions are intended to revise the present regulations consistent with the revised statutory provisions.     

State offices of rural health grant program--HRSA. Notice of availability of funds

The Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announces that applications are being accepted for matching grants to States for the purpose of improving health care in rural areas through the continued operation of State Offices of Rural Health. This program is authorized by section 338J of the Public Health Service Act 42 U.S.C. 254r. Awards will be made from funds appropriated under Public Law 105-78 (HHS Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1998). Approximately $3.0 million will be available to support 50 grants in fiscal year (FY) 1998.     

Request for comments: technical assistance to rural hospitals--HRSA. Notice: request for comments

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP), is interested in obtaining public comments and suggestions to assist the Office in planning a program of technical assistance to rural hospitals. The ORHP is anticipating that funds may become available in Fiscal Year 1991 for technical assistance to rural hospitals. The ORHP invites comments on the needs of rural hospitals for technical assistance and support.     

INVOLVING YOUTH IN THE DEPENDENCY COURT PROCESS: THE WASHINGTON STATE EXPERIENCE

In 2008, the Washington State legislature established a pilot program in four designated sites wherein youth ages twelve years and older had the right to (1) receive notice of all dependency hearings that involve them, (2) be present at such hearings, and (3) be heard personally. Pursuant to the legislation, upon request by the youth, the court participating in the pilot program is permitted to conduct an in‐chambers interview with the youth to determine his or her wishes regarding issues pending before the court. The legislation further required that the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Department of Social and Health Services collaborate in implementing and assessing the effectiveness of the program. This article details the development of the pilot program, its implementation, and evaluation results as of the date of this publication.     

Solicitation of new safe harbors and special fraud alerts--Office of Inspector General, HHS. Notice of intent to develop regulations

In accordance with section 205 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, this notice solicits proposals and recommendations for developing new and modifying existing safe harbor provisions under the Federal and State health care programs' anti-kickback statute, as well as developing new OIG Special Fraud Alerts. The purpose of developing these documents is to clarify OIG enforcement policy with regard to program fraud and abuse.     

Medicaid program; eligibility changes under the Affordable Care Act of 2010. Final rule, Interim final rule

This final rule implements several provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively referred to as the Affordable Care Act). The Affordable Care Act expands access to health insurance coverage through improvements to the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance (CHIP) programs, the establishment of Affordable Insurance Exchanges ("Exchanges"), and the assurance of coordination between Medicaid, CHIP, and Exchanges. This final rule codifies policy and procedural changes to the Medicaid and CHIP programs related to eligibility, enrollment, renewals, public availability of program information and coordination across insurance affordability programs.