Department of Health and Human Services 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 201 - 400 of 3,234
Secondary Direct Food Additives Permitted in Food for Human Consumption; Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (CAS No. 25155-30-0) as an antimicrobial agent for use in wash water for fruits and vegetables without the requirement of a potable water rinse. This action is in response to a petition filed by Ecolab, Inc.
DSM Nutritional Products; Filing of Food Additive Petition (Animal Use)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that DSM Nutritional Products has filed a petition proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to provide for the safe use of benzoic acid as a feed acidifier in swine feed.
Artificially Sweetened Fruit Jelly and Artificially Sweetened Fruit Preserves and Jams; Proposed Revocation of Standards of Identity
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is proposing to revoke the standards of identity for artificially sweetened jelly, preserves, and jams. We are taking this action primarily in response to a citizen petition submitted by the International Jelly and Preserve Association (IJPA). We are taking this action because we tentatively conclude that these standards are both obsolete and unnecessary in light of our regulations for foods named by use of a nutrient content claim and a standardized term. We also tentatively conclude that this action will promote honesty and fair dealing in the interest of consumers.
Antiseptic Patient Preoperative Skin Preparation Products; Public Hearing; Request for Comments; Correction
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a document that appeared in the Federal Register of November 21, 2012 (77 FR 69863). The document announced a public hearing entitled ``Antiseptic Patient Preoperative Skin Preparation Products.'' The document was published with an incorrect email address. This document corrects that error. Due to this error, FDA is extending the Requests for Oral Presentations registration date from November 27, 2012, to December 7, 2012.
Request for Notification From Industry Organizations Interested in Participating in the Selection Process for Nonvoting Industry Representatives and Request for Nominations for Nonvoting Industry Representatives on the Device Good Manufacturing Practice Advisory Committee
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting that any industry organization interested in participating in the selection of nonvoting industry representatives to serve on the Device Good Manufacturing Practice Advisory Committee (DGMPAC) in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health notify FDA in writing. A nominee may either be self-nominated or nominated by an organization to serve as a nonvoting industry representative. Nominations will be accepted for current vacancies effective with this notice.
Guidance on Investigational New Drug Applications for Positron Emission Tomography Drugs; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a guidance entitled ``Investigational New Drug Applications for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Drugs.'' The guidance is intended to assist manufacturers of PET drugs in submitting investigational new drug applications (INDs).
Guidance on Food and Drug Administration Oversight of Positron Emission Tomography Drug Products-Questions and Answers; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a guidance entitled ``FDA Oversight of PET Drug ProductsQuestions and Answers.'' This guidance provides questions and answers that address nearly all aspects of the FDA approval and surveillance processes, including application submission, review, compliance with good manufacturing practices, inspections, registration and listing, and user fees.
Possession, Use, and Transfer of Select Agents and Toxins; Biennial Review
The Department of Health and Human Services is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on October 5, 2012 (77 FR 61084). The document updated the list of HHS and overlap biological agents and toxins and designated certain select agents and toxins as Tier 1 agents.
Medicare Program; Request for Information To Aid in the Design and Development of a Survey Regarding Patient Experiences With Emergency Department Care
This document is a request for information regarding consumer and patient experiences with emergency department care.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Investigational Device Exemptions Reports and Records
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a proposed collection of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Antiparasitic Drug and Resistance Survey
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on FDA's ``Antiparasitic Drug and Resistance Survey.''
Current List of Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Which Meet Minimum Standards To Engage in Urine Drug Testing for Federal Agencies
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notifies Federal agencies of the Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITF) currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Mandatory Guidelines). The Mandatory Guidelines were first published in the Federal Register on April 11, 1988 (53 FR 11970), and subsequently revised in the Federal Register on June 9, 1994 (59 FR 29908); September 30, 1997 (62 FR 51118); April 13, 2004 (69 FR 19644); November 25, 2008 (73 FR 71858); December 10, 2008 (73 FR 75122); and on April 30, 2010 (75 FR 22809). A notice listing all currently certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITF) is published in the Federal Register during the first week of each month. If any Laboratory/IITF's certification is suspended or revoked, the Laboratory/IITF will be omitted from subsequent lists until such time as it is restored to full certification under the Mandatory Guidelines. If any Laboratory/IITF has withdrawn from the HHS National Laboratory Certification Program (NLCP) during the past month, it will be listed at the end and will be omitted from the monthly listing thereafter. This notice is also available on the Internet at https:// www.workplace.samhsa.gov and https://www.drugfreeworkplace.gov.
Federal Financial Participation in State Assistance Expenditures; Federal Matching Shares for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and Aid to Needy Aged, Blind, or Disabled Persons for October 1, 2013 Through September 30, 2014
The Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP), Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (eFMAP), and disaster-recovery FMAP adjustments for Fiscal Year 2014 have been calculated pursuant to the Social Security Act (the Act). These percentages will be effective from October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014. This notice announces the calculated FMAP and eFMAP rates that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will use in determining the amount of federal matching for state medical assistance (Medicaid) and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expenditures, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Contingency Funds, Child Support Enforcement collections, Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development Fund, Foster Care Title IV-E Maintenance payments, and Adoption Assistance payments. Table 1 gives figures for each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This notice also announces the disaster-recovery FMAP adjustments for qualifying states for FY 2014 that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will use in determining the amount of federal matching for state medical assistance (Medicaid) and title IV-E Foster Care, Adoption Assistance and Guardianship Assistance programs. Programs under title XIX of the Act exist in each jurisdiction. Programs under titles I, X, and XIV operate only in Guam and the Virgin Islands, while a program under title XVI (Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled) operates only in Puerto Rico. The percentages in this notice apply to state expenditures for most medical assistance and child health assistance, and assistance payments for certain social services. The Act provides separately for federal matching of administrative costs. Sections 1905(b) and 1101(a)(8)(B) of the Social Security Act (the Act) require the Secretary of HHS to publish the FMAP rates each year. The Secretary calculates the percentages, using formulas in sections 1905(b) and 1101(a)(8), and calculations by the Department of Commerce of average income per person in each state and for the Nation as a whole. The percentages must fall within the upper and lower limits given in section 1905(b) of the Act. The percentages for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands are specified in statute, and thus are not based on the statutory formula that determines the percentages for the 50 States. Section 1905(b) of the Act specifies the formula for calculating FMAPs as follows:
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Public Comment Request
In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments submitted during the first public review of this ICR will be provided to OMB. OMB will accept further comments from the public during the review and approval period. To request a copy of the clearance requests submitted to OMB for review, email paperwork@hrsa.gov or call the HRSA Reports Clearance Office at (301) 443-1984.
Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines; Notice of Meeting
The Health Resources and Services Administration published a notice in the Federal Register, FR 2012-28377 (77 FR 70169, November 23, 2012), announcing the meeting of the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines, December 6, 2012, in the Parklawn Building (and via audio conference call), Conference Rooms 10-65, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.
Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs; Provider Enrollment Application Fee Amount for Calendar Year 2013
This notice announces a $532.00 calendar year (CY) 2013 application fee for institutional providers that are initially enrolling in the Medicare or Medicaid program or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); revalidating their Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP enrollment; or adding a new Medicare practice location. This fee is required with any enrollment application submitted on or after January 1, 2013 and on or before December 31, 2013.
Proposed Collection; Comment Request: Healthy Communities Study: How Communities Shape Children's Health (HCS)
In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Proposed Collection: Title: Healthy Communities Study: How Communities Shape Children's Health (HCS). Type of Information Collection Request: RevisionOMB 0925-0649. Need and Use of Information Collection: The HCS will address the need for a cross- cutting national study of community programs and policies and their relationship to childhood obesity. The HCS is an observational study of communities that aims to (1) determine the associations between community programs/policies and Body Mass Index (BMI), diet, and physical activity in children; and (2) identify the community, family, and child factors that modify or mediate the associations between community programs/policies and BMI, diet, and physical activity in children. A total of 264 communities and over 21,000 elementary and middle school children and their parents will be part of the HCS. A HCS community is defined as a high school catchment area. The study examines quantitative and qualitative information obtained from community-based initiatives; community characteristics (e.g., school environment); measurements of children's physical activity levels and dietary practices; and children's and parents' BMIs. Results from the Healthy Communities Study may influence the future development and funding of policies and programs to reduce childhood obesity. Furthermore, HCS results will be published in scientific journals and will be used for the development of future research initiatives targeting childhood obesity. Frequency of Response: One time. Affected Public: Families or households; businesses, other for-profit, and non- profit. Type of Respondents: Parents, children, community key informants (who have knowledge about community programs/policies related to healthy nutrition, physical activity, and healthy weight of children), food service personnel, physical education instructors, school liaisons, and physicians or medical secretaries. The annual reporting burden is as follows: Estimated number of respondents: 207,029; Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1; and Estimated Total Burden Hours Requested: 35,588. The annualized cost to respondents is estimated at $458,189. There are no capital, operating, or maintenance costs to report.
Irradiation in the Production, Processing and Handling of Food
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the food additive regulations to increase the maximum dose of ionizing radiation permitted in the treatment of poultry products, to include specific language intended to clarify the poultry products covered by the regulations, and to remove the limitation that any packaging used during irradiation of poultry shall not exclude oxygen. This action is in response to a petition filed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS).
Irradiation in the Production, Processing and Handling of Food
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of a 4.5 kilogray (kGy) maximum absorbed dose of ionizing radiation to treat unrefrigerated (as well as refrigerated) uncooked meat, meat byproducts, and certain meat food products to reduce levels of foodborne pathogens and extend shelf life. This action is in response to a petition filed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS).
Announcement of Intent To Establish the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Committee Membership; Amendment
A notice was published in the Federal Register of Friday, October 26, 2012, Vol. 77, No. 208, to announce the intent to establish the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and solicit nominations of individuals who are interested in being appointed to the Committee membership. This notice is being amended to extend the solicitation period to allow additional time for nominations to be received. The new due date for all nominations to be received is no later than close of business on December 11, 2012.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Revision of the Requirements for Constituent Materials
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments regarding the requirement for the use of constituent materials in licensed biological products.
Draft Guidance for Industry: Preclinical Assessment of Investigational Cellular and Gene Therapy Products; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a draft document entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Preclinical Assessment of Investigational Cellular and Gene Therapy Products,'' dated November 2012. The draft guidance document provides sponsors and individuals that design and implement preclinical studies with recommendations on the substance and scope of preclinical information needed to support clinical trials for investigational products regulated by the Center for Biologics Research and Evaluation (CBER), Office of Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies (OCTGT). The product areas covered by this guidance are cellular therapy, gene therapy, therapeutic vaccination, and xenotransplantation. The guidance is intended to clarify current expectations regarding the preclinical information that supports an investigational new drug application (IND) and a biologics license application (BLA) for these product areas.
FDA Actions Related to Nicotine Replacement Therapies and Smoking-Cessation Products; Report to Congress on Innovative Products and Treatments for Tobacco Dependence; Public Hearing; Request for Comments
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a 1-day public hearing to obtain input on certain questions related to the implementation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act), as amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act). This public hearing is being held to obtain comments from the public on FDA consideration of applicable approval mechanisms and additional indications for nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), and to request input on a report to Congress examining the regulation and development of innovative products and treatments for tobacco dependence.
Uniform Compliance Date for Food Labeling Regulations
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is establishing January 1, 2016, as the uniform compliance date for food labeling regulations that are issued between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014. We periodically announce uniform compliance dates for new food labeling requirements to minimize the economic impact of label changes. On December 15, 2010, we established January 1, 2014, as the uniform compliance date for food labeling regulations issued between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012.
Guidance for Industry: Enforcement Policy Concerning Rotational Warning Plans for Smokeless Tobacco Products; Withdrawal of Guidance
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the withdrawal of a guidance entitled ``Enforcement Policy Concerning Rotational Warning Plans for Smokeless Tobacco Products,'' that was announced in the Federal Register on June 8, 2010.
Framework for Pharmacy Compounding: State and Federal Roles
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the following public meeting entitled ``Framework for Pharmacy Compounding: State and Federal Roles.'' At this public meeting, FDA and State representatives will share their perspectives. Date and Time: The public meeting will be held on December 19, 2012, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Onsite registration will be on a first- come, first-served basis beginning at 2 p.m. Location: The public meeting will be held at the FDA White Oak Campus, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Building 31 Conference Center, the Great Room (Rm. 1503), Silver Spring, MD 20993. Entrance for the public meeting participants (non-FDA employees) is through Building 1 where routine security check procedures will be performed. For parking and security information, please refer to http:/ /www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WorkingatFDA/BuildingsandFacilities/ WhiteOakCampusInformation/ucm241740.htm. If you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Steve Morin, FDA Office of Special Health Issues, 301-796-0161, email: Steve.Morin@fda.hhs.gov no later than December 14, 2012. Contact Person: Patricia Kuntze, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New H Ave., Bldg. 32, Rm. 5322, Silver Spring, MD 20993; patricia.kuntze@fda.hhs.gov. Streaming Webcast of the Meeting: This public meeting will also be Webcast. Persons interested in viewing the Webcast should use the access connection at https://collaboration.fda.gov/ pharmacycompounding/. The Webcast will begin on December 19, 2012, at 3 p.m. ET. If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before, test your connection at: https://collaboration.fda.gov/common/help/en/support/ meetingtest.htm. Get a quick overview at: https://www.adobe.com/go/ connectprooverview. Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat and Acrobat Connect are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. If for some reason the test page does not work, that is not a definite indicating factor that the actual Webcast will not work. The test link sometimes appears to be broken on some individuals' computers. (FDA has verified the Web site addresses in this document, but FDA is not responsible for any subsequent changes to the Web sites after this document publishes in the Federal Register.) This Webcast will be closed captioned. Comments: In order to obtain public comment, FDA is also soliciting either electronic or written comments on the issues discussed in section II of this document. The deadline for submitting comments is January 18, 2013. Regardless of attendance at the meeting, interested persons may submit either written comments regarding this document to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852 or electronic comments to https://www.regulations.gov. It is only necessary to send one set of comments. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. In addition, when submitting comments on issues as outlined in section II of this document, please identify the issue you are addressing. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and will be posted to the docket at https://www.regulations.gov. Transcripts: Please be advised that as soon as a transcript is available, it will be accessible at https://www.regulations.gov. It may be viewed at the Division of Dockets Management (see Comments). A transcript will also be available in either hardcopy or on CD-ROM, after submission of a Freedom of Information request. Written requests are to be sent to the Division of Freedom of Information (ELEM-1029), Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., Element Bldg., Rockville, MD 20857.
Notice of Public Meeting
The session will allow members of the public the opportunity to provide individual feedback on the recommendations included in the Report of the WHO's Consultative Expert Working Group on R&D Financing and Coordination (CEWG).
Meeting of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition
As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hereby giving notice that the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition (PCFSN) will hold a meeting (Webinar format only). The meeting will be open to the public. Registration is required.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Announcement of Office of Management and Budget Approval; Registration and Product Listing for Owners and Operators of Domestic Tobacco Product Establishments and Listing of Ingredients in Tobacco Products
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a collection of information entitled ``Registration and Product Listing for Owners and Operators of Domestic Tobacco Product Establishments and Listing of Ingredients in Tobacco Products'' has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Sodium Nitrite Injection and Sodium Thiosulfate Injection Drug Products Labeled for the Treatment of Cyanide Poisoning; Enforcement Action Dates
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing its intention to take enforcement action against unapproved injectable drug products containing sodium nitrite labeled for the treatment of cyanide poisoning and unapproved injectable drug products containing sodium thiosulfate labeled for the treatment of cyanide poisoning, and persons who manufacture or cause the manufacture or distribution of such products in interstate commerce. Cyanide antidotes carry serious risks and some unapproved drug products may lack Boxed Warnings and other warnings required in the labeling of approved cyanide antidotes. These unapproved drug products compete with approved products, and thus pose a direct challenge to the drug approval system. Injectable drug products containing sodium nitrite or sodium thiosulfate that are labeled for the treatment of cyanide poisoning are new drugs that require approved new drug applications (NDAs) or abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) in order to be legally marketed.
Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Approval of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) Application for Continuing CMS Approval of Its Ambulatory Surgical Center Accreditation Program
This final notice announces our decision to approve the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) that wish to participate in the Medicare and/or Medicaid programs.
Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs; Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE), December 18, 2012
This notice announces a meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE) (the Panel) in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Panel advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of consumer education strategies concerning Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This meeting is open to the public.
Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.
Request for Information Regarding Health Care Quality for Exchanges
This notice is a request for information to seek public comments regarding health plan quality management in Affordable Insurance Exchanges.
Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Approval of the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) for Continuing CMS Approval of Its Ambulatory Surgical Center Accreditation Program
This notice announces our decision to approve the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
Medicare Program; Semi-Annual Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (HOP Panel)-March 11 and 12, 2013
This notice announces the first semi-annual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (HOP, the Panel), (the Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Panel) for 2013. The purpose of the Panel is to advise the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (the Secretary) and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) (the Administrator) on the clinical integrity of the APC groups and their associated weights, and hospital outpatient therapeutic supervision issues.
Report of the Evidence-Based Methodology Workshop on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Request for Comments
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will place in the docket for public review and comment a report resulting from the NIH Evidence-Based Methodology Workshop on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, to be held December 3-5, 2012. The purpose of the report is to summarize the workshop and identify future research priorities. The report will be available online beginning December 7, 2012, at https://prevention.nih.gov/ workshops/2012/pcos/default.aspx.
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; Health Information Technology; HIT Policy Committee: Request for Comment Regarding the Stage 3 Definition of Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
This notice announces the HIT Policy Committee's request for comments on its draft recommendations for meaningful use Stage 3.
Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Methodological Studies for the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study
In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Proposed Collection: Title: Methodological Studies for Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. Type of Information Collection Request: New. Need and Use of Information Collection: The PATH study will establish a population-based framework for monitoring and evaluating the behavioral and health impacts of regulatory provisions implemented as part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). NIDA is requesting generic approval from OMB for methodological studies to improve the PATH study instrumentation and data collection procedures. These methodological studies will support ongoing assessment and refinement of the PATH study's design, and highlight ways to improve study implementation and techniques for retention and followup. Data collection methods to be used in these methodological studies include: in-person and telephone surveys; web and smartphone/ mobile phone surveys; and focus group and individual in-depth qualitative interviews. Biospecimens may also be collected from adults. Frequency of Response: Annual [As needed on an on-going and concurrent basis]. Affected Public: Individuals. Type of Respondents: Youth (ages 12-17) and Adults (ages 18+). Annual Reporting Burden: See Table 1. The annualized cost to respondents is estimated at: $227,562. There are no capital, operating or maintenance costs.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Public Comment Request
In compliance with section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, has submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR is for renewal of the approved information collection assigned OMB control number 0990-0302, scheduled to expire on November 31, 2012. Comments submitted during the first public review of this ICR will be provided to OMB. OMB will accept further comments from the public on this ICR during the review and approval period.
Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act; Notice to Public of Web Site Location of Fiscal Year 2013 Proposed Guidance Development
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the Web site location where the Agency will post two lists of guidance documents that the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is intending to publish in Fiscal Year (FY) 2013. In addition, FDA has established a docket where stakeholders may provide comments and/or propose draft language for those topics, suggest new or different guidance documents, and comment on the priority of topics for guidance.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Health Insurance Market Rules; Rate Review
This proposed rule would implement the Affordable Care Act's policies related to fair health insurance premiums, guaranteed availability, guaranteed renewability, risk pools, and catastrophic plans. The proposed rule would clarify the approach used to enforce the applicable requirements of the Affordable Care Act with respect to health insurance issuers and group health plans that are non-federal governmental plans. This proposed rule would also amend the standards for health insurance issuers and states regarding reporting, utilization, and collection of data under section 2794 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act). It also revises the timeline for states to propose state-specific thresholds for review and approval by CMS.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Standards Related to Essential Health Benefits, Actuarial Value, and Accreditation
This proposed rule details standards for health insurance issuers consistent with title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, referred to collectively as the Affordable Care Act. Specifically, this proposed rule outlines Exchange and issuer standards related to coverage of essential health benefits and actuarial value. This proposed rule also proposes a timeline for qualified health plans to be accredited in Federally-facilitated Exchanges and an amendment which provides an application process for the recognition of additional accrediting entities for purposes of certification of qualified health plans.
Incentives for Nondiscriminatory Wellness Programs in Group Health Plans
This document proposes amendments to regulations, consistent with the Affordable Care Act, regarding nondiscriminatory wellness programs in group health coverage. Specifically, these proposed regulations would increase the maximum permissible reward under a health-contingent wellness program offered in connection with a group health plan (and any related health insurance coverage) from 20 percent to 30 percent of the cost of coverage. The proposed regulations would further increase the maximum permissible reward to 50 percent for wellness programs designed to prevent or reduce tobacco use. These regulations also include other proposed clarifications regarding the reasonable design of health-contingent wellness programs and the reasonable alternatives they must offer in order to avoid prohibited discrimination.
Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on FY 2014 Applications for New Medical Services and Technology Add-On Payments
This notice announces a Town Hall meeting in accordance with section 1886(d)(5)(K)(viii) of the Social Security Act (the Act) to discuss fiscal year (FY) 2014 applications for add-on payments for new medical services and technologies under the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS). Interested parties are invited to this meeting to present their comments, recommendations, and data regarding whether the FY 2014 new medical services and technologies applications meet the substantial clinical improvement criterion.
Recognition of Entities for the Accreditation of Qualified Health Plans
This notice announces the recognition of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and URAC as recognized accrediting entities for the purposes of fulfilling the accreditation requirement as part of qualified health plan certification.
Provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act Related to Medical Gases; Establishment of a Public Docket
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is establishing a public docket for information pertaining to FDA's implementation of the provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) related to medical gases. This action is intended to ensure that information submitted to FDA on the implementation of the medical gas provisions of FDASIA is available to all interested persons in a timely fashion.
Draft Guidance for Industry on Vaginal Microbicides: Development for the Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Vaginal Microbicides: Development for the Prevention of HIV Infection.'' The purpose of this guidance is to assist sponsors in all phases of development of vaginal microbicides for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The guidance outlines the types of nonclinical studies and clinical trials recommended throughout the drug development process to support approval of vaginal microbicides.
Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff; The Content of Investigational Device Exemption and Premarket Approval Applications for Artificial Pancreas Device Systems; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of the guidance entitled ``The Content of Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) and Premarket Approval (PMA) Applications for Artificial Pancreas Device Systems.'' FDA is issuing this guidance to inform industry and Agency staff of its recommendations for analytical and clinical performance studies to support premarket submissions for artificial pancreas systems.
Antiseptic Patient Preoperative Skin Preparation Products; Public Hearing; Request for Comments
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is announcing a public hearing to obtain input on how to address microbial contamination of patient preoperative skin preparation drug products. Currently, patient preoperative skin preparations are not required to be sterile. Bacteria can contaminate these products at the time of manufacture or during product use. Contaminated patient preoperative skin preparations have been associated with clinical infections and adverse outcomes. At this public hearing, FDA is interested in obtaining public comment about certain scientific and product use issues related to patient preoperative skin preparations. Date and Time:The public hearing will be held on December 12 and 13, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The meeting may be extended or may end early, depending on the level of public participation. Location: The public hearing will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington, DC/Silver Spring, The Ballrooms, 8727 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Contact Person: Lee Lemley, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20903, 301-796-3441, FAX: 301- 847-8753, email: AntisepticPreOpPublicMeeting@fda.hhs.gov. Registration: The public hearing is free, and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees who do not wish to make an oral presentation do not need to register. If you need special accommodations due to disability, please contact Lee Lemley (see Contact Person) at least 7 days in advance. Requests for Oral Presentations: If you wish to make an oral presentation during the hearing, you must register by submitting a written or electronic request by close of business on November 27, 2012, to Lee Lemley (see Contact Person). Provide your name, title, business affiliation (if applicable), address, telephone and fax numbers, email address, and type of organization you represent (e.g., pharmaceutical company or consumer organization). You also should submit a brief summary of the presentation, including the discussion topic(s) that will be addressed and the approximate time requested for your presentation. We encourage individuals and organizations with common interests to consolidate or coordinate their presentations to allow adequate time for each request for presentation. Persons registered to make an oral presentation should check in before the hearing. Participants should submit a copy of each presentation to Lee Lemley (see Contact Person) no later than December 7, 2012. We will file the hearing schedule, indicating the order of presentation and the time allotted to each person, with the Division of Dockets Management (see Comments). We will mail, email, or telephone the schedule to each participant before the hearing. In anticipation of the hearing presentations moving ahead of schedule, participants are encouraged to arrive early to ensure their designated order of presentation. Participants who are not present when called risk forfeiting their scheduled time. Comments: Interested persons may submit either written comments regarding this document to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA- 305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852 or electronic comments to https:// www.regulations.gov. Comments will be accepted after the hearing until February 12, 2013. Persons who wish to provide additional materials for consideration should file these materials with the Division of Dockets Management. You should annotate and organize your comments to identify the specific questions identified by the topic to which they refer. It is only necessary to send one set of comments. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and will be posted to the docket at https:// www.regulations.gov. Transcripts: Please be advised that as soon as a transcript is available, it will be accessible at https://www.regulations.gov. It may be viewed at the Division of Dockets Management (see Comments). A transcript will also be available in either hard copy or on CD-ROM, after submission of a Freedom of Information request. Written requests are to be sent to the Division of Freedom of Information (ELEM-1029), Food and Drug Administration, 12420 Parklawn Dr., Element Bldg., Rockville, MD 20857.
Final Effect of Designation of a Class of Employees for Addition to the Special Exposure Cohort
HHS gives notice concerning the final effect of the HHS decision to designate a class of employees from the Ventron Corporation facility, in Beverly, Massachusetts, as an addition to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000. On October 12, 2012, as provided for under 42 U.S.C. 7384q(b), the Secretary of HHS designated the following class of employees as an addition to the SEC:
Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.
Medicare Program; Medicare Part B Monthly Actuarial Rates, Premium Rate, and Annual Deductible Beginning January 1, 2013
This notice announces the monthly actuarial rates for aged (age 65 and over) and disabled (under age 65) beneficiaries enrolled in Part B of the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) program beginning January 1, 2013. In addition, this notice announces the monthly premium for aged and disabled beneficiaries as well as the income-related monthly adjustment amounts to be paid by beneficiaries with modified adjusted gross income above certain threshold amounts. The monthly actuarial rates for 2013 are $209.80 for aged enrollees and $235.50 for disabled enrollees. The standard monthly Part B premium rate for all enrollees for 2013 is $104.90, which is equal to 50 percent of the monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees or approximately 25 percent of the expected average total cost of Part B coverage for aged enrollees. (The 2012 standard premium rate was $99.90.) The Part B deductible for 2013 is $147.00 for all Part B beneficiaries. If a beneficiary has to pay an income-related monthly adjustment, they may have to pay a total monthly premium of about 35, 50, 65, or 80 percent of the total cost of Part B coverage.
Medicare Program; Part A Premiums for CY 2013 for the Uninsured Aged and for Certain Disabled Individuals Who Have Exhausted Other Entitlement
This annual notice announces Medicare's Hospital Insurance (Part A) premium for uninsured enrollees in calendar year (CY) 2013. This premium is paid by enrollees age 65 and over who are not otherwise eligible for benefits under Medicare Part A (hereafter known as the ``uninsured aged'') and by certain disabled individuals who have exhausted other entitlement. The monthly Part A premium for the 12 months beginning January 1, 2013, for these individuals will be $441. The reduced premium for certain other individuals as described in this notice will be $243.
Medicare Program; Inpatient Hospital Deductible and Hospital and Extended Care Services Coinsurance Amounts for CY 2013
This notice announces the inpatient hospital deductible and the hospital and extended care services coinsurance amounts for services furnished in calendar year (CY) 2013 under Medicare's Hospital Insurance Program (Medicare Part A). The Medicare statute specifies the formulae used to determine these amounts. For CY 2013, the inpatient hospital deductible will be $1,184. The daily coinsurance amounts for CY 2013 will be: $296 for the 61st through 90th day of hospitalization in a benefit period; $592 for lifetime reserve days; and $148 for the 21st through 100th day of extended care services in a skilled nursing facility in a benefit period.
60-Day Proposed Information Collection; Request for Public Comment: Indian Health Service Contract Health Services Report
In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which requires 60 days for public comment on proposed information collection projects, Indian Health Service (IHS) is publishing for comment a summary of a proposed information collection to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Proposed Collection: Title: 0917-0002, ``IHS Contract Health Service Report.'' Type ofInformation Collection Request: Extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection, 0917- 0002, ``IHS Contract Health Service Report.'' Form Number: IHS 843-1A. The form can be found on the Public Use Forms Web page(s) at the IHS Web site (https://www.ihs.gov/cio/puf/) and the Department of Health and Human Services' Web site (https://www.hhs.gov/forms/publicuse.html). Need and Use of Information Collection: The IHS Contract Health Service (CHS) Program, located in the Office of Resource Access and Partnerships, needs this information to certify that the health care services requested and authorized by the IHS have been performed by the CHS provider(s) to have providers validate services provided; to process payments for health care services performed by such providers; and to serve as a legal document for health and medical care authorized by IHS and rendered by health care providers under contract with the IHS. Affected Public: Patients, health and medical care providers or Tribal Governments. Type of Respondents: Health and medical care providers. Burden Hours: The table below provides: Types of data collection instruments, Estimated number of respondents, Number of responses per respondent, Average burden hour per response, and Total annual burden hours.
Findings of Research Misconduct
Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has taken final action in the following case: Eric J. Smart, Ph.D., University of Kentucky: Based on the report of an investigation conducted by the University of Kentucky (UK) and additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, ORI found that Dr. Eric J. Smart, former Professor of Pediatrics and Physiology, Department of Pediatrics and Physiology, UK, engaged in research misconduct in research supported by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grants R01 HL062844, R01 HL058475, R01 HL064056, R01 HL068059, and R01 HL073693, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, grant R56 DK063025, and National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), NIH, grant P20 RR105592. ORI found that the Respondent engaged in research misconduct by falsifying and/or fabricating data that were included in ten (10) published papers, one (1) submitted manuscript, seven (7) grant applications, and three (3) progress reports over a period of ten (10) years. Respondent reported experimental data for knockout mice that did not exist in five (5) grant applications and three (3) progress reports and also falsified and/or fabricated images in 45 figures included in the following:
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; New Animal Drug Applications and Supporting Regulations, and Form FDA 356V
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on paperwork associated with applications for new animal drugs.
Draft Guidance for Industry on Electronic Source Data in Clinical Investigations; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Electronic Source Data in Clinical Investigations.'' This document revises and updates the draft guidance entitled ``Electronic Source Documentation in Clinical Investigations.'' This revised draft document provides guidance to sponsors, contract research organizations (CROs), data management centers, clinical investigators, and others involved in capturing, reviewing, and archiving electronic source data in FDA- regulated clinical investigations. The revised draft guidance promotes capturing source data in electronic form, and it is intended to assist in ensuring the reliability, quality, integrity, and traceability of electronic source data.
Development of Prioritized Therapeutic Area Data Standards; Request for Comments
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the intent to prioritize and develop therapeutic area data standards to facilitate the conduct of clinical research and the regulatory review of medical products. Therapeutic area disease and domain specific data standards should enable and enhance the ability to integrate, analyze, report, and share regulatory information. FDA has developed a roadmap that provides its current thinking on therapeutic area priorities and has posted it on the FDA Web site. FDA is actively participating with regulated industry, the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC), the Critical Path Institute, Health Level 7's (HL7) Clinical Interoperability Council, and other stakeholders to support the development of these therapeutic area standards. The therapeutic area standards will be developed collaboratively based on open, consensus- based data standards development methodology.
Current List of Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Which Meet Minimum Standards To Engage in Urine Drug Testing for Federal Agencies
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notifies Federal agencies of the Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITF) currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Mandatory Guidelines). The Mandatory Guidelines were first published in the Federal Register on April 11, 1988 (53 FR 11970), and subsequently revised in the Federal Register on June 9, 1994 (59 FR 29908); September 30, 1997 (62 FR 51118); April 13, 2004 (69 FR 19644); November 25, 2008 (73 FR 71858); December 10, 2008 (73 FR 75122); and on April 30, 2010 (75 FR 22809). A notice listing all currently certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITF) is published in the Federal Register during the first week of each month. If any Laboratory/IITF's certification is suspended or revoked, the Laboratory/IITF will be omitted from subsequent lists until such time as it is restored to full certification under the Mandatory Guidelines. If any Laboratory/IITF has withdrawn from the HHS National Laboratory Certification Program (NLCP) during the past month, it will be listed at the end and will be omitted from the monthly listing thereafter. This notice is also available on the Internet at https:// www.workplace.samhsa.gov and https://www.drugfreeworkplace.gov.
Guidance for Industry on Evaluating the Effectiveness of Anticoccidial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of guidance for industry 217 entitled ``Evaluating the Effectiveness of Anticoccidial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals.'' The guidance provides guidance to industry for designing and conducting clinical effectiveness studies and describes criteria that the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) thinks are the most appropriate for the evaluation of the effectiveness of anticoccidial drugs intended for use in poultry and other food-producing animals. The guidance suggests times during the evaluation of effectiveness when sponsors may wish to consult with CVM.
Draft Guidance for IRBs, Clinical Investigators, and Sponsors: IRB Responsibilities for Reviewing the Qualifications of Investigators, Adequacy of Research Sites, and the Determination of Whether an IND/IDE Is Needed; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance entitled ``Guidance for IRBs, Clinical Investigators, and Sponsors: IRB Responsibilities for Reviewing the Qualifications of Investigators, Adequacy of Research Sites, and the Determination of Whether an IND/IDE Is Needed.'' The draft guidance announced in this notice is intended to assist institutional review boards (IRBs), clinical investigators, and sponsors involved in clinical investigations of FDA-regulated products in fulfilling responsibilities related to reviewing the qualifications of investigators, adequacy of research sites, and the determination of whether an investigational new drug (IND) application or investigational device exemption (IDE) is needed in order to assure the protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects in clinical investigations.
International Conference on Harmonisation; Guidance on Q11 Development and Manufacture of Drug Substances; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a guidance entitled ``Q11 Development and Manufacture of Drug Substances.'' The guidance was prepared under the auspices of the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). The guidance describes approaches to developing and understanding the manufacturing process of a drug substance and provides guidance on what information should be provided in certain sections of the Common Technical Document (CTD). The guidance is intended to harmonize the scientific and technical principles relating to the description and justification of the development and manufacturing process of drug substances (both chemical entities and biotechnological/biological entities) to enable a consistent approach for providing and evaluating this information across the three regions. The discussion of principles in the guidance is intended to apply only to the manufacture of drug substance, not the manufacture of finished drug products.
Notice of Allotment Percentages to States for Child Welfare Services State Grants
As required by section 423(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 623(c)), the Department is publishing the allotment percentage for each State under the Title IV-B Subpart 1, Child Welfare Services State Grants Program. Under section 423(a), the allotment percentages are one of the factors used in the computation of the Federal grants awarded under the Program.
Medical Devices; Custom Devices; Request for Comments
The Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA), which was signed into law on July 9, 2012, amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in the process of developing an implementation strategy and policy for the custom device exemption criteria in the FD&C Act amended by FDASIA. FDA is seeking information on appropriate uses of the custom device exemption.
Unique Device Identification System
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its July 10, 2012, proposed rule (77 FR 40736) to establish a unique device identification system as required by recent amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act). On July 9, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) was signed into law; section 614 of FDASIA amends the FD&C Act in ways that require modification of the timeframe for implementation of the proposed rule's requirements as they apply to devices that are implantable, life-saving (life-supporting), or life-sustaining.
Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Minority Health
As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hereby giving notice that the Advisory Committee on Minority Health (ACMH) will hold a meeting. This meeting will be open to the public. Preregistration is required for both public attendance and comment. Any individual who wishes to attend the meeting and/or participate in the public comment session should email acmh@osophs.dhhs.gov.
Establishing a List of Qualifying Pathogens That Have the Potential To Pose a Serious Threat to Public Health; Public Hearing; Request for Comments
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a public hearing to obtain input on establishing a list of qualifying pathogens (i.e., those that have the potential to pose a serious threat to public health), as required under the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA). This public hearing is being held to obtain comments from the public to determine the methodology that should be used in developing the list of qualifying pathogens, and to elicit suggestions for adding specific pathogens to the list.
Standard Test Procedures Approval Process for Respirators To Be Used in Wildland Fire-Fighting Operations; Standard Test Procedures for Composite Multi-Gas and Particulate Protection and Approval Process for Respirators To Be Used in Wildland Fire-Fighting Operations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) intends to employ existing provisions in 42 CFR Part 84 to test and approve air-purifying respirators (APRs) and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) that provide composite multi-gas and particulate protection for inhalation hazards associated with wildland fire-fighting. NIOSH will evaluate candidate respirators for inhalation protections tailored against exposures identified in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1984 standard on respirators for wildland fire-fighting (WFF) operations. Under 42 CFR Part 84 requirements, NIOSH approval is necessary for the complete evaluation of WFF respirators pursuant to NFPA 1984 (2011).
Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: Veterinary Vaccines for Rift Valley Fever Virus
This is a notice in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(e) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i) that the Technology Transfer Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is thinking of giving a co-exclusive license in Africa, and an exclusive license in all territories other than Africa, in the field of use of veterinary vaccines, to practice the inventions listed in the patent applications referred to below to Merial Limited, having a place of business in Duluth, Georgia. The patent rights in these inventions have been assigned to the government of the United States of America. The patent application(s) to be licensed are:
Prospective Grant of Co-Exclusive License: Veterinary Vaccines for Rift Valley Fever Virus
This is a notice in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(e) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i) that the Technology Transfer Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is thinking about giving a co-exclusive license in Africa, in the field of use of veterinary vaccines, to practice the inventions listed in the patent applications referred to below to Deltamune Ltd., having a place of business in Centurion, South Africa. The patent rights in these inventions have been assigned to the government of the United States of America. The patent applications(s) to be licensed are:
Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: Multiple-Valent Opsonophagocytic Assay Selection Panel Arrays
This is a notice in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(e) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i) that the Technology Transfer Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is thinking about giving a worldwide, exclusive license to practice the inventions listed in the patent referred to below to Flow Applications, Inc., having a place of business in Okawville, Illinois. The patent rights in these inventions have been assigned to the government of the United States of America. The patent to be licensed is:
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Draft Guidance for Industry on Safety Labeling Changes; Implementation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a proposed collection of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA).
Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule, DME Face-to-Face Encounters, Elimination of the Requirement for Termination of Non-Random Prepayment Complex Medical Review and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2013
This major final rule with comment period addresses changes to the physician fee schedule, payments for Part B drugs, and other Medicare Part B payment policies to ensure that our payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services. It also implements provisions of the Affordable Care Act by establishing a face-to-face encounter as a condition of payment for certain durable medical equipment (DME) items. In addition, it implements statutory changes regarding the termination of non-random prepayment review. This final rule with comment period also includes a discussion in the Supplementary Information regarding various programs . (See the Table of Contents for a listing of the specific issues addressed in this final rule with comment period.)
Guidance for Industry: Use of Nucleic Acid Tests on Pooled and Individual Samples From Donors of Whole Blood and Blood Components, Including Source Plasma, To Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a document entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Use of Nucleic Acid Tests on Pooled and Individual Samples from Donors of Whole Blood and Blood Components, including Source Plasma, to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus,'' dated October 2012. The guidance document provides recommendations on the use of FDA- licensed nucleic acid tests (NAT) to screen blood donors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and recommendations for product testing and disposition, donor management, methods for donor requalification, and product labeling. In addition, the guidance provides notification that FDA considers the use of an FDA-licensed HBV NAT to be necessary to reduce adequately and appropriately the risk of transmission of HBV. The guidance is intended for blood establishments that collect Whole Blood and blood components for transfusion or for further manufacture, including recovered plasma, Source Plasma and Source Leukocytes. The guidance announced in this notice finalizes the draft guidance of the same title, dated November 2011. The guidance also supplements previous memoranda and guidance from FDA concerning the testing of donations for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and the management of donors and donations mentioned in those documents.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Public Comment Request
In compliance with section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, has submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR is for a new collection. Comments submitted during the first public review of this ICR will be provided to OMB. OMB will accept further comments from the public on this ICR during the review and approval period.
Compliance Guidance for Small Business Entities on Labeling for Bronchodilators: Cold, Cough, Allergy, Bronchodilator, and Antiasthmatic Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a compliance guidance for small business entities entitled ``Labeling for Bronchodilators: Cold, Cough, Allergy, Bronchodilator, and Antiasthmatic Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use; Small Entity Compliance Guide.'' This guidance is intended to help small businesses understand and comply with the requirements of the final rule that provides new labeling applicable to all over-the- counter (OTC) bronchodilator drug products marketed without an approved application. The guidance describes the bronchodilator labeling requirements in plain language and provides answers to common questions on how to comply with the rule. This guidance was prepared in accordance with the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Act.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Establishing and Maintaining a List of U.S. Dairy Product Manufacturers/Processors With Interest in Exporting to Chile
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection provisions of the guidance document entitled ``Establishing and Maintaining a List of U.S. Dairy Product Manufacturers/Processors With Interest in Exporting to Chile.''
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Comment Request; Interstate Shellfish Dealer's Certificate
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection provisions of the Interstate Shellfish Dealer's Certificate.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Voluntary Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Manuals for Operators and Regulators of Retail and Food Service Establishments
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection associated with FDA's technical assistance reference manuals provided to State, local, territorial, and tribal jurisdictions, and other Federal Agencies to interpret and promote the application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles to reduce the risk of foodborne illness in the operation of retail and food service establishments.
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records Notice
In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, the Office of Minority Health, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS/ OS/OASH/OMH) is establishing a new system of records, ``Think Cultural Health,'' to support its Think Cultural Health Web site Program. The system will provide educational information, training, best practices, and tools to health professionals as one initiative to help them accomplish cultural competency in accordance with national Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards. The CLAS standards were originally promulgated by OMH in 2001 and are being revised and enhanced in order to guide health and health care organizations in the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services that will improve the health care of all Americans. The system will maintain registration and training records containing personally identifiable information (PII) about individual health professionals who are registrants/users of the Think Cultural Health Web site. The program and the system of records are more thoroughly described in the Supplementary Information section and System of Records Notice (SORN) below.
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request (30-day): National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) Summer Genetics Institute Alumni Survey
Under the provisions of Section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review and approval of the information collection listed below. This information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on June 29, 2012, page 38840 and allowed 60-days for public comment. No public comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment. The National Institutes of Health may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and associated response time, should be directed to the: Office of Management and Budget, Office of Regulatory Affairs, OIRA_ submission@omb.eop.gov or by fax to 202-395-6974, Attention: Desk Officer for NIH. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, contact: Dr. Amanda Greene, Office of Science Policy and Public Liaison, NINR, NIH, Democracy One, 6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 700, Bethesda, MD 20892 or call non-toll-free number (301) 496-9601 or Email your request, including your address to: amanda.greene@nih.gov. Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30-days of the date of this publication.
Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs; Electronic Reporting Pilot; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Quality Reporting Program; Revision to Quality Improvement Organization Regulations
This final rule with comment period revises the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and the Medicare ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system for CY 2013 to implement applicable statutory requirements and changes arising from our continuing experience with these systems. In this final rule with comment period, we describe the changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment system. In addition, this final rule with comment period updates and refines the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, the ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program, and the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Quality Reporting Program. We are continuing the electronic reporting pilot for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, and revising the various regulations governing Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), including the secure transmittal of electronic medical information, beneficiary complaint resolution and notification processes, and technical changes. The technical changes to the QIO regulations reflect CMS' commitment to the general principles of the President's Executive Order on Regulatory Reform, Executive Order 13563 (January 18, 2011).
Privacy Act of 1974; Report of a New System of Records; Food and Drug Administration User Fee System
In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulations for the protection of privacy, FDA is publishing notice of a Privacy Act system of records entitled, ``FDA User Fee System, HHS/FDA,'' System Number 09-10-0021. FDA utilizes the User Fee System (UFS) to collect fees pursuant to Federal law and FDA's implementing regulations. The records kept in this system relate to fees assessed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act, the Animal Drug User Fee Act, the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act, the Mammography Quality Standards Act, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the Food Safety Modernization Act, the Biosimilar User Fee Act, the Generic Drug User Fee Act, and other fees assessed by FDA under its Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act authority such as color additive certification fees and export certificate fees. For purposes of this notice, these fees are collectively referred to as user fees.
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request: NEXT Generation Health Study; Correction Notice
Under the provisions of Section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review and approval of the information collection listed below. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on February 23, 2012 (Volume 77, Number 36) and allowed 60-days for public comment. No comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment, to correct the omission of the peers survey in the previous notice, and to correct the errant data that appeared in Table 1 and Table 2 of the notice. The data in Table 1 and Table 2 of this notice are correct. The National Institutes of Health may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request
In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, email paperwork@hrsa.gov or call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer at (301) 443-1984. HRSA especially requests comments on: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.
Request for Public Comment: 30-Day Proposed Information Collection: Indian Health Service (IHS) Sharing What Works-Best Practice, Promising Practice, and Local Effort (BPPPLE) Form
In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which requires 30 days for public comment on proposed information collection projects, the Indian Health Service (IHS) is publishing for comment a summary of a proposed information collection to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This proposed information collection project was previously published in the Federal Register (77 FR 52748) on August 30, 2012, and allowed 60 days for public comment. No public comment was received in response to the notice. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for public comment to be submitted directly to OMB. Proposed Collection: Title: 0917- 0034, ``Indian Health Service (IHS) Sharing What WorksBest Practice, Promising Practice, and Local Effort (BPPPLE) Form.'' Type of Information Collection Request: Extension without revision of the currently approved information collection, 0917-0034, ``IHS Sharing What WorksBest Practice, Promising Practice, and Local Effort (BPPPLE) Form,'' which was previously approved under the title ``Director's 3 Initiative Best Practice, Promising Practice, and Local Efforts Form.'' Although the name of the form has changed, the contents of the form remain the same. Forms: 0917-0034, ``IHS Sharing What WorksBest Practice, Promising Practice, and Local Effort (BPPPLE) Form.'' Need and Use of Information Collection: The IHS goal is to raise the health status of the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/ AN) people to the highest possible level by providing comprehensive health care and preventive health services. To support the IHS mission and to provide the product/service to IHS, Tribal, and Urban (I/T/U) programs, the Office of Preventive and Clinical Services' program divisions (i.e., Behavioral Health, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Nursing, and Dental) have developed a centralized program database of best practices, promising Practices and local efforts and resources. This database was previously referred as OSCAR, but the name will be changed to BPPPLE to reflect the revised name of the form. The purpose of this collection is to develop a database of BPPPLE and resources to be published on the IHS.gov Web site which will be a resource for program evaluation and for modeling examples of various health care projects occurring in AI/AN communities. All information submitted is on a voluntary basis; no legal requirement exists for collection of this information. The information collected will enable the Indian Health systems to: (a) Identify evidence based approaches to prevention programs among the I/T/Us when no system is currently in place, and (b) Allow the program managers to review BPPPLE occurring among the I/T/Us when considering program planning for their communities. Affected Public: Individuals. Type of Respondents: I/T/U programs' staff. The table below provides: Types of data collection instruments, Number of respondents, Responses per respondent, Average burden hour per response, and Total annual burden hour(s).
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