Public Health Authority Notification, 8042 [06-1424]
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8042
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 15, 2006 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Public Health Authority Notification
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The FAA is publishing this
notice to inform hospitals and other
health care organizations of its status as
a ‘‘public health authority’’ under the
medical privacy requirements of the
Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charles DeJohn, CAMI, Aeromedical
Research Division, Federal Aviation
Administration, CAMI Building, AAM–
600, RM #112A, P.O. Box 25082,
Oklahoma City, OK 73125. 405–954–
5519.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was
enacted to improve the portability and
continuity of health insurance coverage
in the group and individual markets, to
combat waste, fraud, and abuse in
health insurance and health care
delivery, to promote the use of medical
savings accounts, to improve access to
long-term care services and coverage to
simplify the administration of health
insurance, and for other purposes (Pub.
L. 104–191, 110 Stat. 196 (1996)). The
administration simplification provisions
(HIPAA, Title II) require the Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) to
establish national medical privacy
regulations to protect the privacy of
individually identifiable electronic
health information. These regulations
(the ‘‘Privacy Rule’’) were published by
the HHS on December 28, 2000, and
established the standards to identify the
rights of individuals who are the
subjects of ‘‘protected health
information,’’ which is defined as
individually-identifiable health
information; provide procedures for the
exercise of those rights; and define the
general rules and disclosures of
protected health information. (45 CFR
160–164).
Beginning April 14, 2003, the Privacy
Rule prohibits health plans, health care
clearinghouses and selected health care
providers from using or disclosing
protected health information, except as
permitted by certain exceptions (45 CFR
164.502). Under one exception, the
Privacy Rule permits the disclosure of
protected information to public health
authorities legally authorized to ‘‘collect
or receive the information for the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
13:17 Feb 14, 2006
Jkt 208001
purpose of preventing or controlling
disease, injury, or disability’’ (45 CFR
164.512(b)(1)(i)) A ‘‘public health
authority’’ includes ‘‘an agency or
authority of the United States * * * that
is responsible for public health matters
as part of its official mandate’’ (45 CFR
164.501). Examples of public health
matters include the reporting of disease,
injury, or vital events; and public health
surveillance, public health
investigations or public health
interventions (45 CFR 164.512(b)(1)(i)).
Guidance issued by HHS titled
‘‘Disclosures for Public Health Activities
(45 CFR 164.512(b))’’ on December 3,
2002, and revised on April 3, 2003,
further addressed the issue of disclosure
to public health authorities. The
guidance states that:
The HIPAA Privacy Rule recognizes the
legitimate need for public health authorities
and others responsible for ensuring public
health and safety to have access to protected
health information to carry out their public
health mission. The Rule also recognizes that
public health reports made by covered
entities are an important means of identifying
threats to the health and safety of the public
at large, as well as individuals. Accordingly,
the Rule permits covered entities to disclose
protected health information without
authorization for specified public health
purposes. (See: https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/
hipaa/publichealth.pdf.pdf).
The FAA has statutory responsibility
for promoting safe flight of civil aircraft
in air commerce. The scope of this
statutory responsibility includes the
performance of medical research
intended to protect the occupants of
aircraft from risks and hazards that are
attendant to flight (49 U.S.C. 44701,
44703, 44507). The Administrator has
delegated to the Federal Air Surgeon the
responsibility for this research, which is
conducted at the Civil Aerospace
Medical Institute (CAMI). The medical
and crash injury research conducted at
CAMI requires collection and analysis
of relevant data which the FAA relies
upon to establish safety standards for
such issues as cabin materials, seat
design and strength, and environmental
control. These research functions are
conducted in the interests of public
health and the improvement of aviation
safety for the traveling public. Public
health authority status will allow CAMI
to efficiently obtain medical information
necessary to fulfill its statutory mission.
In light of the statutory duties
described above, the FAA has
determined that it is a public health
authority within the meaning of the
Privacy Rule. As a public health
authority, FAA is entitled to receive
protected health information from
hospitals and other health care
PO 00000
Frm 00131
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
organizations, without written consent
or authorization because disclosures of
protected health information to a public
authority are permitted disclosures
under the Privacy Rule (45 CFR
164.502(a)(1)(vi)).
Issued in Washington, DC on February 10,
2006.
Nicholas A. Sabatini,
Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety,
AVS–1.
[FR Doc. 06–1424 Filed 2–14–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–M
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA (Aircraft Certification Service)
Information Sharing and Listening
Session
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces a
meeting to discuss various FAA
rotorcraft safety initiatives and to gather
any relevant information that will help
to reduce general aviation rotorcraft
accidents. This meeting supports the
FAA’s Flight Plan initiative to reduce
general aviation accidents.
DATES: The meeting will be on February
28, 2006, 1–3:30 p.m. CST.
ADDRESSES: The meeting is in
conjunction with Heli-Expo at the
Dallas Convention Center, Conference
Room D167, 650 South Griffin Street,
Dallas, TX 75202; telephone (214) 939–
2700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jorge Castillo, Rotorcraft Standards
Staff, ASW–111, 2601 Meacham
Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76137,
telephone (817) 222–5127, or by e-mail
at Jorge.R.Castillo@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
meeting is announced pursuant to 49
U.S.C. 40113 and 49 U.S.C. 44701 to
take actions the FAA considers
necessary in order to enhance safety in
air commerce and the DOT policies and
procedures to seek public participation
in that process.
This meeting is part of the Rotorcraft
Directorate’s initiative and supports one
of the top safety objectives of the FAA
2006–2010 Flight Plan to reduce the
number of fatal accidents in general
aviation. At this meeting, we will brief
you on some of the FAA’s initiatives
intended to reduce rotorcraft accidents,
including installing Health Usage
Monitoring Systems (HUMS) and using
Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS).
E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM
15FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 8042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1424]
[[Page 8042]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Public Health Authority Notification
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA is publishing this notice to inform hospitals and
other health care organizations of its status as a ``public health
authority'' under the medical privacy requirements of the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles DeJohn, CAMI, Aeromedical
Research Division, Federal Aviation Administration, CAMI Building, AAM-
600, RM 112A, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. 405-
954-5519.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was enacted to improve the
portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group
and individual markets, to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health
insurance and health care delivery, to promote the use of medical
savings accounts, to improve access to long-term care services and
coverage to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for
other purposes (Pub. L. 104-191, 110 Stat. 196 (1996)). The
administration simplification provisions (HIPAA, Title II) require the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish national
medical privacy regulations to protect the privacy of individually
identifiable electronic health information. These regulations (the
``Privacy Rule'') were published by the HHS on December 28, 2000, and
established the standards to identify the rights of individuals who are
the subjects of ``protected health information,'' which is defined as
individually-identifiable health information; provide procedures for
the exercise of those rights; and define the general rules and
disclosures of protected health information. (45 CFR 160-164).
Beginning April 14, 2003, the Privacy Rule prohibits health plans,
health care clearinghouses and selected health care providers from
using or disclosing protected health information, except as permitted
by certain exceptions (45 CFR 164.502). Under one exception, the
Privacy Rule permits the disclosure of protected information to public
health authorities legally authorized to ``collect or receive the
information for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease,
injury, or disability'' (45 CFR 164.512(b)(1)(i)) A ``public health
authority'' includes ``an agency or authority of the United States * *
* that is responsible for public health matters as part of its official
mandate'' (45 CFR 164.501). Examples of public health matters include
the reporting of disease, injury, or vital events; and public health
surveillance, public health investigations or public health
interventions (45 CFR 164.512(b)(1)(i)).
Guidance issued by HHS titled ``Disclosures for Public Health
Activities (45 CFR 164.512(b))'' on December 3, 2002, and revised on
April 3, 2003, further addressed the issue of disclosure to public
health authorities. The guidance states that:
The HIPAA Privacy Rule recognizes the legitimate need for public
health authorities and others responsible for ensuring public health
and safety to have access to protected health information to carry
out their public health mission. The Rule also recognizes that
public health reports made by covered entities are an important
means of identifying threats to the health and safety of the public
at large, as well as individuals. Accordingly, the Rule permits
covered entities to disclose protected health information without
authorization for specified public health purposes. (See: https://
www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/publichealth.pdf.pdf).
The FAA has statutory responsibility for promoting safe flight of
civil aircraft in air commerce. The scope of this statutory
responsibility includes the performance of medical research intended to
protect the occupants of aircraft from risks and hazards that are
attendant to flight (49 U.S.C. 44701, 44703, 44507). The Administrator
has delegated to the Federal Air Surgeon the responsibility for this
research, which is conducted at the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
(CAMI). The medical and crash injury research conducted at CAMI
requires collection and analysis of relevant data which the FAA relies
upon to establish safety standards for such issues as cabin materials,
seat design and strength, and environmental control. These research
functions are conducted in the interests of public health and the
improvement of aviation safety for the traveling public. Public health
authority status will allow CAMI to efficiently obtain medical
information necessary to fulfill its statutory mission.
In light of the statutory duties described above, the FAA has
determined that it is a public health authority within the meaning of
the Privacy Rule. As a public health authority, FAA is entitled to
receive protected health information from hospitals and other health
care organizations, without written consent or authorization because
disclosures of protected health information to a public authority are
permitted disclosures under the Privacy Rule (45 CFR
164.502(a)(1)(vi)).
Issued in Washington, DC on February 10, 2006.
Nicholas A. Sabatini,
Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, AVS-1.
[FR Doc. 06-1424 Filed 2-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
