Department of Health and Human Services February 28, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is extending the comment period for a proposed recommendation that community water systems adjust the amount of fluoride in drinking water to 0.7 mg/L to provide the best of balance of protection from dental caries while limiting the risk of dental fluorosis. The proposed recommendation was published in the Federal Register on January 13, 2011, Volume 76, Number 9, page 2383.

HHS gives notice as required by 42 CFR 83.12(e) of a decision to evaluate a petition to designate a class of employees from the W.R. Grace and Company in Curtis, Maryland, to be included in the Special Exposure Cohort under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000. The initial proposed definition for the class being evaluated, subject to revision as warranted by the evaluation, is as follows: Facility: W.R. Grace and Company. Location: Curtis, Maryland. Job Titles and/or Job Duties: All Atomic Weapons Employer employees. Period of Employment: Operational period from January 1, 1955 through December 31, 1958, and the residual radiation period from January 1, 1959 through October 31, 2009.

The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, 42 U.S.C. 299b-21 to b-26, (Patient Safety Act), and its implementing regulation at 42 CFR part 3, provides for the formation of Patient Safety Organizations (PSO5), which collect, aggregate, and analyze confidential information regarding the quality and safety of healthcare delivery. On December 30, 2010, HHS issued ``Guidance Regarding Patient Safety Organizations' Reporting Obligations and the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005'' (Guidance) which can be accessed electronically at: https://www.PSO.AHRQ.gov/regulations/guidance.pdf. This notice announces the intention of AHRQ to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) amend the approved clearance, OMB No. 0935-0143, that allows information collection related to implementation of the Patient Safety Act. This amendment includes a new attestation form related to the Guidance. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for public comment on the new attestation form related to the Guidance.

The Federally Supported Health Centers Assistance Act of 1992, as amended in 1995 (FSHCAA), provides for liability protection for certain grantees of the Public Health Service and for certain individuals associated with these grantees. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is the operating division within the Department responsible for administering certain aspects of FSHCAA. HRSA proposes replacing the current regulations with the key text and examples of activities that have been determined, consistent with provisions of the existing regulation, to be covered by the FTCA, as previously published in the Sept. 25, 1995 Federal Register. In addition, HRSA proposes adding an example of services covered under the FTCA involving individual emergency care provided to a non-health center patient and updating the September 1995 Notice immunization example to include events to immunize individuals against infectious illnesses. When finalized, the amended regulation will supersede the September 1995 Notice.