Department of Health and Human Services April 8, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 Cancer Institute (NCI), 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. Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. To Submit Comments and for Further Information: To obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, submit comments in writing, or request more information on the proposed project, contact: Joanne Demchok, Program Director, Cancer Diagnosis Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Md. 20892 or call non-toll-free number 240-276-5959 or Email your request, including your address to: peterjo@mail.nih.gov. Formal requests for additional plans and instruments must be requested in writing.

Notice is given that the Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), under the authority of sections 321(a) and 322(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 248 and 249(b)), Public Law 83-568 (42 U.S.C. 2001(a)), and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), has approved the following rates for inpatient and outpatient medical care provided by IHS facilities for Calendar Year 2014 for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and beneficiaries of other Federal programs, and for recoveries under the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651-2653). The Medicare Part A inpatient rates are excluded from the table below as they are paid based on the prospective payment system. Since the inpatient rates set forth below do not include all physician services and practitioner services, additional payment shall be available to the extent that those services are provided.

On January 29, 2014 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a notice in the Federal Register requesting public comment on the Draft Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) (draft Guideline) (79 FR 4724). Written comments were to be received on or before February 28, 2014. Some commenters requested additional time to review the guideline and provide comments. In consideration of these requests, HHS/CDC is reopening the comment period for 30 days.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing that we have filed a petition, submitted by Eastman Chemical Company, proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to remove the upper bound of the melting point range in the regulation for the antioxidant TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone) and add a purity acceptance criterion.

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, CMS is establishing a new SOR titled, ``Hospice Item Set (HIS) System,'' System No. 09-70-0548. The new system will support the collection of data required for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) pursuant to Section 3004(c) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) (Pub. L. 111-148), which amended the Social Security Act (the Act) (42 U.S.C. 1814(i)). HIS is a standardized, patient-level data collection vehicle consisting of data elements confirming that the appropriate assessments were made and inquiries or concerns were addressed for each patient at the time of admission for the following domains of care: (1) Pain; (2) Respiratory Status; (3) Medications; (4) Patient Preferences; and (5) Beliefs & Values.