Control of a chemical precursor used in the illicit manufacture of fentanyl as a List I chemical. Final rule

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is finalizing the Interim Rule with Request for Comment published in the Federal Register on April 23, 2007. The Interim Rule controlled the chemical N-phenethyl-4- piperidone (NPP) as a List I chemical under the Controlled Substances Act. Clandestine laboratories are using this chemical to illicitly manufacture the schedule II controlled substance fentanyl. No comments to the Interim Rule were received. This Final Rule finalizes the regulations without change.     

Interim procedures for certain health care workers--INS. Interim rule with request for comments

This interim rule, which has been drafted in consultation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), amends regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Service or INS) in order to implement, on a temporary basis, certain portions of section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility act of 1996 (IIRIRA) as they relate to prospective immigrants. Section 343, which was codified at section 212(a)(5)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act or INA), provides that aliens coming to the United States to perform labor in covered health care occupations (other than as a physician) are inadmissible unless they present a certificate relating to their education, qualifications, and English language proficiency. This requirement is intended to ensure that aliens possess proficiency in the skills that affect the provision of health care services in the United States. This rule establishes a temporary mechanism to allow applicants for immigrant visas or adjustment of status in the fields of nursing and occupational therapy of satisfy the requirements of section 343 on a provisional basis. The Service expects to publish a proposed rule in the near future which will implement in full the provisions of section 343.     

Allotments from federal employees. Interim rule with request for comments

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing interim regulations dealing with the use of OPM's allotment authority to allow for pretax salary reductions as part of OPM's flexible benefits plan. Using an allotment from an employee's pay to the employing agency allows certain payments (e.g., employee health insurance premiums, contributions to a flexible spending arrangement, and contributions to a health savings account) to be paid with pretax dollars, as provided under section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, these regulations include certain policy clarifications and changes to make the regulations more readable.     

Health maintenance organizations--Public Health Service. Interim rule with request for comments

This notice amends the Public Health Service regulations on Federal qualification of health maintenance organizations [HMOs]. The purpose is to provide greater flexibility for already existing prepaid health care delivery systems to become transitionally qualified HMOs. Adoption of this amendment wil allow entities operating these systems to satisfy the requirement that basic health services be provided to members by demonstrating that members enrolled at the time of transitional qualification receive hospital services or are insured for hospital services through an arrangement not made by the HMO.     

Import and production quotas for certain List I chemicals. Interim final rule with request for comment

In March 2006, Congress enacted the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, which mandates that DEA establish total annual requirements, import quotas, individual manufacturing quotas, and procurement quotas for three List I chemicals--ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine. DEA is promulgating this rule to incorporate the statutory provisions and make its regulations consistent with the new requirements.     

Requirements for accrediting bodies of mammography facilities--FDA. Interim rule with request for comments

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing regulations to implement the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 (MQSA), which requires the establishment of a Federal certification and inspection program for mammography facilities; regulations and standards for accrediting bodies for mammography facilities; and standards for mammography equipment, personnel, and practices, including quality assurance. This rule establishes procedures for application to FDA for approval as an accrediting body and requirements and responsibilities of such bodies. This action is being taken to assure adequate and consistent evaluation of mammography facilities on a nationwide level and to help assure their compliance with quality standards. The agency requests comments on the contents of this document.     

Quality standards and certification requirements for mammography facilities--FDA. Interim rule with request for comments

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing regulations to implement the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 (the MQSA), which requires the establishment of a Federal certification and inspection program for mammography facilities; regulations and standards for accrediting bodies for mammography facilities; and standards for mammography equipment, personnel, and practices, including quality assurance. This rule establishes requirements for certification of mammography facilities, including quality standards for mammography. This action is being taken to assure safe, accurate, and reliable mammography on a nationwide basis. The agency requests comments on the contents of this document.     

Adjustment of status; certain H-1 nonimmigrant nurses--INS. Interim rule with request for comments

This interim rule implements section 162(f) of the Immigration Act of 1990 (IMMACT 90), Public Law 101-649, November 29, 1990. The interim rule establishes procedures for the adjustment of status to that of lawful permanent resident for certain alien nurses, their spouses and children.     

Medical loss ratio rebate requirements for non-federal governmental plans. Interim final rule with request for comments

This interim final rule with comment period revises the regulations implementing medical loss ratio (MLR) requirements for health insurance issuers under the Public Health Service Act in order to establish rules governing the distribution of rebates by issuers in group markets for non-Federal governmental plans.     

Federal employees health benefits program; coverage of temporary employees--OPM. Interim rule with request for comments

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing interim regulations to clarify the eligibility of temporary employees to continue their Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage when they become compensationers. These regulations are necessary to distinguish between retirement as an employee annuitant and "retirement" as a compensationer. OPM is also issuing regulations to allow temporary employees an opportunity to change health plans if their salary is insufficient to pay the premium withholdings, to show the effective date of such an enrollment change, and to provide for the termination of these employees' enrollment if they do not change health plans.     

Obligated service for mental health traineeships; interim rule--Public Health Service. Interim rule with request for comments

This rule adds a new Part 64a to Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations which: (1) governs the length and type of service payback required of individuals who have received clinical traineeships in psychology, psychiatry, social work, or nursing section 303 of the Public Health Service Act. as amended by section 803 of the Mental Health Systems Act; and (2) in connection with this payback obligation, imposes certain notice and other requirements upon institutions receiving training grants under section 303 of the Public Health Service Act.     

Block grant programs: implementation of OMB Circular A-133--HHS. Interim final rule with request for comments

This interim final rule implements Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133 for Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) block programs.     

Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP): administrative implementation, interim final rule. Interim final rule with request for comments

The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP or Program). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is issuing this interim final rule with request for comments in order to establish administrative policies, procedures, and requirements for the CICP. This Program is designed to provide benefits to certain persons who sustain serious physical injuries or death as a direct result of administration or use of covered countermeasures identified by the Secretary in declarations issued under the PREP Act. In addition, the Secretary may provide death benefits to certain survivors of individuals who died as the direct result of such covered injuries or their health complications. The Secretary is seeking public comments on this interim final rule.     

Interim rules for health insurance portability for group health plans--HCFA. Interim rules with request for comments

This document contains interim rules governing access, portability and renewability requirements for group health plans and issuers of health insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan. The rules contained in this document implement changes made to certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) enacted as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the interim rules for consideration by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury (Departments) in developing final rules. The rules contained in this document are being adopted in an interim basis to accommodate statutorily established time frames intended to ensure that sponsors and administrators of group health plans, participants and beneficiaries, States, and issuers of group health insurance coverage have timely guidance concerning compliance with the recently enacted requirements of HIPAA.     

Waiver of the two-year home country physical presence requirement for certain foreign medical graduates--INS. Interim rule with request for comments

This rule amends the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Service) regulations by allowing certain foreign medical graduates who entered the United States in J-1 status, or who acquired J-1 status after arrival in the United States, to obtain a waiver of the 2-year home country residence and physical presence requirement under section 212(e)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) pursuant to a request by a State Department of Public Health, or its equivalent. The waiver is intended to permit these foreign medical graduates to work at a health care facility in an area designated by the Secretary, Health and Human Services (HHS), as having a shortage of health care professionals ("HHS-designated shortage area"). This interim rule also contains provisions which will permit these foreign medical graduates to change their nonimmigrant status in the United States from J-1 exchange visitor to H-1B specialty occupation worker.     

Interim rules for mental health parity--IRS, DoL, HCFA. Interim rules with request for comments

This document contains interim rules governing parity between medical/surgical benefits and mental health benefits in group health plans and health insurance coverage offered by issuers in connection with a group health plan. The rules contained in this document implement changes made to certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or Act), and the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) enacted as part of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (MHPA) and the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the interim rules for consideration by the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services (Departments) in developing final rules. The rules contained in this document are being adopted on an interim basis to ensure that sponsors and administrators of group health plans, participants and beneficiaries, States, and issuers of group health insurance coverage have timely guidance concerning compliance with the requirements of MHPA.