Notice of Request for Information Regarding Health Care Standards for Quality, 42983-42984 [2018-18440]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 165 / Friday, August 24, 2018 / Notices
oral comments, testimonies, and/or
technical remarks during the meeting
may be subject to the number of inperson attendees, and to ensure ample
time is allotted to those registered
attendees. There will be no opportunity
for audio-visual presentations during
the meeting. Written comments will be
accepted from those attending in-person
(see above instructions for submitting
written comments).
Audio (for listening purposes only):
Limited to the first 200 participants, on
a first-come, first-served basis.
Advanced registration is not required.
Audio attendees will not be allowed to
offer oral comments, testimonies, and/or
technical remarks as the phone line will
be muted. Written comments will be
accepted from those participating via
audio (see above instructions for
submitting written comments).
Note: VA will conduct the public
meeting informally, and technical rules
of evidence will not apply. VA will
arrange for a written transcript of the
meeting and keep the official record
open for 15 days after the meeting to
allow submission of supplemental
information. You may make
arrangements for copies of the transcript
directly with the reporter, and the
transcript will also be posted in the
docket of the rule as part of the official
record when the rule is published.
Should it be necessary to cancel the
meeting due to inclement weather or
other emergencies, VA will take
available measures to notify registered
participants.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Agenda
09:00–10:00 Arrival/Check-In
10:00–12:00 Morning Public Meeting
Session
12:00–13:00 Lunch Break (Note: Meals
will not be provided by VA.)
13:00–16:00 Afternoon Public Meeting
Session
16:00 Adjourn
Public Meeting Topics
Pursuant to section 1703C(a)(3)–(4) of
title 38, U.S.C., as added by section
104(a) of Public Law 115–182, (the VA
MISSION Act), VA requests information
that will assist in developing the
standards for quality required by the VA
MISSION Act. This includes datasets
that include, at a minimum, elements
relating to timely care, effective care,
safety (including, at a minimum,
complications, readmissions, and
deaths), and efficiency.
Specifically, VA requests information
related to the below:
1. What standards for quality do
public or private providers or health
systems currently use? How do public
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:17 Aug 23, 2018
Jkt 244001
or private providers or health systems
measure performance against these
standards for quality (i.e., what data sets
and measures are employed)? How are
those standards and measures used to
make decisions regarding patient
referrals to specific public or private
providers?
2. How does the health system
communicate standards for quality to
their stakeholders?
3. How are data on quality standards
obtained or collected from public or
private providers and health systems?
4. Does the public or private provider
or health system publicly report
performance on those quality standards,
including comparisons of quality
measures, and in what manner?
5. How does the public or private
provider or health system respond to
findings when quality standards are not
being met?
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
designee, approved this document and
authorized the undersigned to sign and
submit the document to the Office of the
Federal Register for publication
electronically as an official document of
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Robert L. Wilkie, Secretary, Department
of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on August 21, 2018, for
publication.
Dated: August 21, 2018.
Michael Shores,
Director, Regulation Policy & Management,
Office of the Secretary, Department of
Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018–18439 Filed 8–23–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
Notice of Request for Information
Regarding Health Care Standards for
Quality
Office of Reporting, Analytics,
Performance, Improvement, and
Deployment (RAPID), Veterans Health
Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
AGENCY:
The Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) is requesting information to
assist in establishing health care
standards for quality regarding hospital
care, medical services, and extended
care services furnished by the
Department, including through nonDepartment health care providers.
DATES: Comments must be received by
VA on or before September 24, 2018.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00125
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
42983
Written comments may be
submitted through https://
www.regulations.gov; by mail or hand
delivery to the Director, Office of
Regulation Policy and Management
(00REG), Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Room 1063B, Washington, DC 20420; or
by fax to (202) 273–9026. Comments
should indicate that they are submitted
in response to ‘‘Notice of Request for
Information Regarding Health Care
Standards for Quality.’’ Copies of
comments received will be available for
public inspection in the Office of
Regulation Policy and Management
(00REG), Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Room 1063B, Washington, DC 20420,
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday (except
Federal holidays). Please call (202) 461–
4902 (this is not a toll-free number) for
an appointment. During the comment
period, comments may also be viewed
online through the Federal Docket
Management System at
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chris Rossio, Health System Specialist,
Office of Strategic Integration | Veterans
Engineering Resource Center
(OSI|VERC), Veterans Health
Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20420, (858) 245–9493.
This is not a toll-free number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The John
S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and
Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining
Internal Systems and Strengthening
Integrated Outside Networks Act of
2018, Public Law 115–182, (the VA
MISSION Act) created a new 1703C in
title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.),
that contains requirements for VA to
facilitate the establishment and use of
standards for quality. In establishing
standards for quality, VA is required to
consider existing health quality
measures that are applied to public and
privately sponsored health care systems
with the purpose of providing covered
Veterans relevant comparative
information to make informed decisions
regarding their health care. VA requests
information from the public regarding
the development of these standards for
quality, including but not limited to
information on the use of standards for
quality and the use and availability of
comparative information to assist
consumers in making informed
decisions regarding their health care.
Responses to this notice will support
industry research and VA’s
development of standards for quality
regarding care furnished by the
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM
24AUN1
42984
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 165 / Friday, August 24, 2018 / Notices
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Department, including through nonDepartment health care providers.
Section 1703C(a)(4) specifically
requires VA to consult with all pertinent
Federal entities (including the
Department of Defense, the Department
of Health and Human Services, and the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services), entities in the private sector,
and other non-governmental entities in
establishing standards for quality. We
note that VA will also hold a public
meeting on Monday, September 24,
2018, to provide these groups and
entities an opportunity to provide
additional information. The meeting
notice is published elsewhere in this
issue of the Federal Register and can
also be found in www.regulations.gov
under the title ‘‘Announcement for
Public Meeting Regarding Health Care
Standards for Quality’’. VA will use the
comments it receives to help determine
the health care standards for quality in
compliance with the VA MISSION Act.
VA will then submit a report, no later
than March 3, 2019, as required by
section 1703C(a)(5)(A), detailing the
standards for quality to the appropriate
committees of Congress.
In order to submit a report to Congress
detailing the standards for quality by
March 3, 2019, VA must expedite this
consultation, which will be
foundational to the process of
determining the health care standards
for quality. Hence, this notice and
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:17 Aug 23, 2018
Jkt 244001
request for information has a comment
period of 30 days. VA believes that 30
days is sufficient to provide comments,
as the groups and entities with expertise
in standards for quality will likely have
the information readily available or can
quickly compile and submit such
information.
This notice is a request for
information only. Commenters are
encouraged to provide complete but
concise responses to the questions
outlined below. VA may choose to
contact individual commenters, and
such communications would serve to
further clarify their written comments.
Request for Information
VA requests information that will
assist in developing the standards for
quality required by the VA MISSION
Act. This includes datasets that include,
at a minimum, elements relating to
timely care, effective care, safety
(including, at a minimum,
complications, readmissions, and
deaths), and efficiency.
Specifically, VA requests information
related to the following:
1. What standards for quality do
public or private providers or health
systems currently use? How do public
or private providers or health systems
measure performance against these
standards for quality (i.e., what data sets
and measures are employed)? How are
those standards and measures used to
make decisions regarding patient
PO 00000
Frm 00126
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
referrals to specific public or private
providers?
2. How does the health system
communicate standards for quality to
their stakeholders?
3. How are data on quality standards
obtained or collected from public or
private providers and health systems?
4. Does the public or private provider
or health system publicly report
performance on those quality standards,
including comparisons of quality
measures, and in what manner?
5. How does the public or private
provider or health system respond to
findings when quality standards are not
being met?
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
designee, approved this document and
authorized the undersigned to sign and
submit the document to the Office of the
Federal Register for publication
electronically as an official document of
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Robert L. Wilkie, Secretary, Department
of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on August 21, 2018, for
publication.
Dated: August 21, 2018.
Michael Shores,
Director, Regulation Policy & Management,
Office of the Secretary, Department of
Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018–18440 Filed 8–23–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM
24AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42983-42984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18440]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Notice of Request for Information Regarding Health Care Standards
for Quality
AGENCY: Office of Reporting, Analytics, Performance, Improvement, and
Deployment (RAPID), Veterans Health Administration, Department of
Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is requesting
information to assist in establishing health care standards for quality
regarding hospital care, medical services, and extended care services
furnished by the Department, including through non-Department health
care providers.
DATES: Comments must be received by VA on or before September 24, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through https://www.regulations.gov; by mail or hand delivery to the Director, Office
of Regulation Policy and Management (00REG), Department of Veterans
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Room 1063B, Washington, DC 20420; or by
fax to (202) 273-9026. Comments should indicate that they are submitted
in response to ``Notice of Request for Information Regarding Health
Care Standards for Quality.'' Copies of comments received will be
available for public inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and
Management (00REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue
NW, Room 1063B, Washington, DC 20420, between the hours of 8:00 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). Please
call (202) 461-4902 (this is not a toll-free number) for an
appointment. During the comment period, comments may also be viewed
online through the Federal Docket Management System at
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Rossio, Health System
Specialist, Office of Strategic Integration [bond] Veterans Engineering
Resource Center (OSI[bond]VERC), Veterans Health Administration,
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20420, (858) 245-9493. This is not a toll-free number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and
Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening
Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018, Public Law 115-182, (the VA
MISSION Act) created a new 1703C in title 38, United States Code
(U.S.C.), that contains requirements for VA to facilitate the
establishment and use of standards for quality. In establishing
standards for quality, VA is required to consider existing health
quality measures that are applied to public and privately sponsored
health care systems with the purpose of providing covered Veterans
relevant comparative information to make informed decisions regarding
their health care. VA requests information from the public regarding
the development of these standards for quality, including but not
limited to information on the use of standards for quality and the use
and availability of comparative information to assist consumers in
making informed decisions regarding their health care. Responses to
this notice will support industry research and VA's development of
standards for quality regarding care furnished by the
[[Page 42984]]
Department, including through non-Department health care providers.
Section 1703C(a)(4) specifically requires VA to consult with all
pertinent Federal entities (including the Department of Defense, the
Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services), entities in the private sector, and other non-
governmental entities in establishing standards for quality. We note
that VA will also hold a public meeting on Monday, September 24, 2018,
to provide these groups and entities an opportunity to provide
additional information. The meeting notice is published elsewhere in
this issue of the Federal Register and can also be found in
www.regulations.gov under the title ``Announcement for Public Meeting
Regarding Health Care Standards for Quality''. VA will use the comments
it receives to help determine the health care standards for quality in
compliance with the VA MISSION Act. VA will then submit a report, no
later than March 3, 2019, as required by section 1703C(a)(5)(A),
detailing the standards for quality to the appropriate committees of
Congress.
In order to submit a report to Congress detailing the standards for
quality by March 3, 2019, VA must expedite this consultation, which
will be foundational to the process of determining the health care
standards for quality. Hence, this notice and request for information
has a comment period of 30 days. VA believes that 30 days is sufficient
to provide comments, as the groups and entities with expertise in
standards for quality will likely have the information readily
available or can quickly compile and submit such information.
This notice is a request for information only. Commenters are
encouraged to provide complete but concise responses to the questions
outlined below. VA may choose to contact individual commenters, and
such communications would serve to further clarify their written
comments.
Request for Information
VA requests information that will assist in developing the
standards for quality required by the VA MISSION Act. This includes
datasets that include, at a minimum, elements relating to timely care,
effective care, safety (including, at a minimum, complications,
readmissions, and deaths), and efficiency.
Specifically, VA requests information related to the following:
1. What standards for quality do public or private providers or
health systems currently use? How do public or private providers or
health systems measure performance against these standards for quality
(i.e., what data sets and measures are employed)? How are those
standards and measures used to make decisions regarding patient
referrals to specific public or private providers?
2. How does the health system communicate standards for quality to
their stakeholders?
3. How are data on quality standards obtained or collected from
public or private providers and health systems?
4. Does the public or private provider or health system publicly
report performance on those quality standards, including comparisons of
quality measures, and in what manner?
5. How does the public or private provider or health system respond
to findings when quality standards are not being met?
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Robert L.
Wilkie, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on August 21, 2018, for publication.
Dated: August 21, 2018.
Michael Shores,
Director, Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-18440 Filed 8-23-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
