Privacy Act; exempt record system--Office of the Secretary, DHHS. Notice of proposed rulemaking

The Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services maintains a system of records entitled "Complaint Files and Log. HHS/OS/OCR." The Department intends to exempt this system from certain provisions of the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a. The proposed exemption is authorized by subsection (k)(2) of the Privacy Act, which applies to investigative materials compiled for law enforcement purposes. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is authorized to gather information for civil and administrative law enforcement purposes pursuant to several statutes requiring nondiscrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance. In order to maintain the integrity of the OCR investigative process and to access to complete and accurate information, the Department proposes to exempt this system, under subsection (k)(2), from the notification, access, correction and amendment provisions of the Privacy Act. The Department is requesting public comments on the proposed exemption.     

Privacy Act of 1974; exempt record system--HHS. Final rule

The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is amending its Privacy Act Regulations to exempt the system of records, "Civil and Administrative Investigative Files of the Inspector General, HHS/OS/OIG," from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. This exemption is authorized by subsection (k)(2) of the Privacy Act, which applies to investigative materials compiled for law enforcement purposes. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is authorized to gather information for Civil and administrative law enforcement purposes under Pub. L. 94-505, establishing the HHS Office of Inspector General, and section 1128A of the Social Security Act, authorizing civil money penalties for the filing of false claims in certain health care financing programs. In order to maintain the integrity of the OIG investigative process and to assure that the OIG will be able to obtain access to complete and accurate information, the Department is exempting this system, under subsection (k)(2), from the notification, access, correction and amendment provisions of the Privacy Act.     

Privacy Act; exempt record system--HHS. Final rule

The Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services maintains a system of records entitled "Complaint Files and Log. HHS/OC/OCR." The Department is exempting this system from certain provisions of the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 552a. The exemption is authorized by subsection (k)(2) of the Privacy Act, which applies to investigative materials compiled for law enforcement purposes. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is authorized to gather information for civil and administrative law enforcement purposes pursuant to several statutes requiring nondiscrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance. In order to maintain the integrity of the OCR investigative process and to assure that OCR will be able to obtain access to complete and accurate information, the Department is exempting this system, under subsection (k)(2), from the notification, access, correction and amendment provisions of the Privacy Act.     

Public inspection of exempt organization returns--Internal Revenue Service. Notice of proposed rulemaking

This document contains proposed regulations relating to the public inspection of returns of certain tax exempt organizations. The regulations clarify the rules relating to the disclosure of certain information of exempt organizations. Additionally, the regulations reflect changes made by Pub. L. 96-603 and Pub. L. 95-488.     

Privacy Act of 1974; proposed major alterations to an existing system of records--Public Health Service. Notice of proposed major alterations

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act, the Public Health Service (PHS) is publishing a notice proposing major alterations in the Privacy Act system of records entitled "Grants Act system of records entitled "Grants: Research, Research Training, Research Scientist Development, Education, Demonstration, Fellowships, Clinical Training, Community Services, Cooperation Agreements, "HHS/ADAMHA/OA, 09-03-0027. The system contains the official documentation of the grant programs of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA). The proposed alterations are necessary to ensure compliance with recently added provisions in the Public Health Service Act (PHSA). Section 303 (42 U.S.C 242a), concerning clinical training awardees' payback obligations.     

Privacy Act of 1974; system of records--HCFA. Notice of proposed new routine use for existing system of records

One of the top priorities of HHS is to assure high quality and effective health care. HCFA is proposing to revise the system notice for the Medicare Bill File (Statistics). System No. 09-70-0005, by adding a new routine use for release of Medicare Hospital Mortality Information which is derived from data in the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) File, and other files available to HCFA. The purpose of this routine use is to allow individuals hospitals to participate in quality of care studies and activities by using data that they have previously supplied to HCFA. This new routine use will allow release to individual hospitals of patient-specific data including mortality predictors which have been statistically derived.     

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; rules and regulations for administration and enforcement; claims procedure--Department of Labor. Notice of proposed rulemaking

This document contains a proposed regulation revising the minimum requirements for benefit claims procedures of employee benefit plans covered by Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act). This proposed regulation would establish new standards for the processing of group health disability, pension, and other employee benefit plan claims filed by participants and beneficiaries. In the case of group health plans, as well as certain plans providing disability benefits, the new standards are intended to ensure more timely benefit determinations, improved access to information on which a benefit determination is made, and greater assurance that participants and beneficiaries will be afforded a full and fair review of denied claims. If adopted as final, the proposed regulation would affect participants and beneficiaries of employee benefit plans, plan, fiduciaries, and others who assist in the provision of plan benefits, such as third-party benefits administrators and health service providers or health maintenance organizations that provide benefits to participants and beneficiaries of employee benefit plans.     

Privacy Act of 1974; systems of records--HCFA. Notice of proposed new routine use for an existing system of records

HCFA is proposing to add a new routine use to the "Medicare Physician Supplier Master File," HHS/HFCA/BPO, No. 09-70-0516, to permit the release of the Unique Physician Identification Number (UPIN) to entities that bill for services they performed upon order or referral from a physician.     

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act amendments--BIA, IHS. Notice of proposed rulemaking

The Secretaries of the Department of Interior (DOI) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) propose a joint rule to implement section 107 of the Indian Self-Determination Act, as amended, including Title I, Public Law 103-413, the Indian Self-Determination Contract Reform Act of 1994. A joint rule, as required by section 107(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act, will permit the Departments to award contracts and grants to Indian tribes without the unnecessary burden or confusion associated with having two sets of rules for single program legislation. In section 107(a)(1) of the Act Congress delegated to the Departments limited legislative rulemaking authority in certain specified subject matter areas, and the joint rule addresses only those specific areas. As required by section 107(d) of the Act, the Departments have developed this proposed rule with active tribal participation, using the guidance of the Negotiated Rulemaking Act.     

Respiratory protective devices--NIOSH. Notice of proposed rulemaking

This proposed rule addresses NIOSH's and the Department of Labor/Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) certification requirements for respiratory protective devices. Specifically, the proposal would replace existing MSHA regulations with new public health regulations, while also upgrading current testing requirements for particulate filters. This action is the first of a series of modulates which will, over the next several years, upgrade current respirator requirements. This modular approach will allow improvements to be implemented on a priority basis as well as facilitate adaptation to new requirements by the manufacturers and users of respirators. Except for the particulate-filter requirements, most requirements of existing regulations would be incorporated into the new regulations without change. The proposed testing requirements for particulate filters would significantly improve the current approach to evaluating the effectiveness of an air-purifying respirator's filter to remove toxic particulates from the ambient air, updating existing provisions to be consistent with two decades of advances in respiratory protection technology. The certification of air-purifying respirators under these proposed requirements would also enable respirator users to select from a broader range of certified respirators that meet the current performance criteria recommended by CDC for respiratory devices used in health-care settings for protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the infectious agent that causes tuberculosis (TB). This Notice also announces an informal public meeting on the proposed rule, as indicated below. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, MSHA is publishing a proposal to remove existing regulations at 30 CFR part 11, which would be made obsolete by a final rule resulting from this proposed rule.     

NIH center grants--PHS. Notice of proposed rulemaking

This Notice sets forth proposed regulations covering grants by the National Institutes of Health for the support of research and demonstration centers. These regulations would replace existing regulations covering just centers supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.     

Privacy Act of 1974; system of records--HCFA. Notice of new system of records

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, we are proposing to establish a new system of records, called "Health Plan Management System (HPMS),"HHS/HCFA/CHPP, No. 09-70-4004. We have provided background information about the proposed new system in the Supplementary information section below. Although the Privacy Act requires only that the "routine uses" portion of the system be published for comment, HCFA invites comments on all portions of this notice.     

Nursing student loan program--PHS. Notice of proposed rulemaking

This proposed rule would revise existing regulations governing the Nursing Student Loan (NSL) program. These revisions would impose more detailed requirements concerning the exercise of due diligence by schools in loan collections.     

Privacy Act of 1974; report of new system--HCFA. Notice of new system of records

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, we are proposing to establish a new system of records, "Evaluation of the Medicare Case Management Demonstration" No. 09-07-0061 HHS/HCFA/ORD. We have provided background information about the proposed system in the "Supplementary Information" section below. Although the Privacy Act requires that only the "routine uses" portion of the systems be published for comment, HCFA invites comments on all portions of this notice. See "Dates" section for comment period.     

Privacy Act of 1974; report of new system--HCFA. Notice of new system of records

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 we are proposing to establish a new system of records, Credit Reports for Medicaid Recipients, (Credit Bureau(s)), HHS/HCFA/BQC No. 09-70-2004. We have provided background information about the proposed system in the "Supplementary Information" section below. HCFA invites public comments by May 9, 1985, with respect to routine uses of the system.     

Privacy Act of 1974; report of new system--HCFA. Notice of new system of records

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, we are proposing to establish a new system of records, called the "National Provider System (NPS)," HHS/HCFA/OIS No. 09-70-0008. We have provided background information about the proposed system in the "Supplementary Information" section below. Both institutional (e.g., hospitals, skilled nursing facilitaties) and individually identifiable (e.g., physicians and other practitioners) providers are included in the NPS database. The institutional providers' data are covered by section 1106 of the Social Security Act and the Freedom of Information Act, while the individually identifiable providers' data are also covered by the Privacy Act of 1974. Although the Privacy Act requires only that the "routine uses" portion of the system be published for comment, HCFA invites comments on all portions of this notice. See "Effective Dates" for comment period.     

Privacy Act of 1974; report of new system--HCFA. Notice of new system of records

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, we are proposing to establish a new system of records, "Evaluation of the Medicare SELECT program, HHS/HCFA/ORD No. 09-70-0058." We have provided background information about the proposed system in the "SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION" section below. Although the Privacy Act requires only that the "Routine Uses" portion of the system be published for comment, HCFA invites comments on all portions of this notice. See "DATES" section for comment period.     

Privacy Act of 1974; report of new system--HCFA. Notice of new system of records

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 we are proposing to establish a new system of records, "The Medicare/Medicaid Multi-State Case-Mix and Quality Data Base for Nursing Home Residents," HHS/HCFA/ORD, No. 09-70-0050. We have provided background information about the proposed system in the "Supplementary Information" section below. Although the Privacy Act requires only that the "routine use" portion of the system be published for comment, HCFA invites comments on all portions of this notice. See "Dates" section for comment period.     

Privacy Act of 1974; report of new system--HCFA. Notice of new system of records

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, we are proposing to establish a new system of records, "Payments for Interns and Residents," HHS/HCFA/BPO No. 09-70-0524. We have provided background information about the proposed system in the "Supplementary Information" section below. HCFA invites public comments by March 18, 1985, with respect to routine uses of the system.