Department of Health and Human Services 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 renewal of the approved information collection assigned OMB control number 0945-0002, scheduled to expire on December 31, 2015. 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.

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the ICR.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the opportunity for externally-led patient-focused drug development meetings. The Patient-Focused Drug Development (PFDD) initiative is part of FDA's commitments under the fifth authorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA V). The PFDD initiative aims to more systematically obtain the patient perspective on specific diseases and their treatments. FDA recognizes that there are many more disease areas than can be addressed in the planned FDA meetings under PDUFA V. To help expand the benefits of FDA's PFDD initiative, FDA welcomes patient organizations to identify and organize patient-focused collaborations to generate public input on other disease areas, using the process established through Patient-Focused Drug Development as a model.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is extending the comment period for a docket to receive information and comments on the use of the term ``natural'' in the labeling of human food products, including foods that are genetically engineered or contain ingredients produced through the use of genetic engineering. A notice requesting comments on this topic appeared in the Federal Register of November 12, 2015. We initially established February 10, 2016, as the deadline for the submission of comments. We are taking this action in response to requests for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments.

In accordance with the Awarding Agency Grants Administration Manual (AAGAM) Chapter 1.03.103, the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) has been granted class deviations from the requirements for extensions contained in the AAGAM Chapter 2.04.104B-4A.I.a(5)(b) and the requirements for administrative supplements contained in AAGAM Chapter 2.04.104B-4A.4.b to provide additional grant funds during extended budget periods in excess of the allowed maximum. The deviations prevent interruptions in the provision of critical health care services for a funded service area until a new award can be made to an eligible Service Area Competition (SAC) applicant and to conduct an orderly phase-out of Health Center Program activities by the current award recipient. BPHC has also been granted a deviation that allows it to annually announce via the Federal Register the Health Center Program award recipients that received a low cost extension and/or administrative supplement under the above described deviations.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft document entitled ``Deviation Reporting for Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products Regulated Solely Under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act and 21 CFR part 1271; Draft Guidance for Industry.'' The draft guidance document provides certain establishments that manufacture non-reproductive human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps), regulated solely under the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) and under FDA regulations, with recommendations and relevant examples for complying with the requirements to report HCT/P deviations.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), located within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announces the launch of the ``My Preparedness Story: Staying Healthy and Resilient'' Video Challenge. Natural disasters and other emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time. Taking action ahead of an emergency can help individuals, families, and communities fully prepare to prevent or minimize potential health impacts. Young people can help their family, friends, and community become stronger by protecting their health during disasters and every day. For example, some can do it by volunteering in a health center or with a local Medical Reserve Corps Unit, learning first aid skills, developing an emergency plan, preparing an emergency kit, or educating their family and friends about actions they can take to be healthy. This contest invites young people between the ages of 14 and 23 to create a short video, 60 seconds or less, that answers the question, ``How are you helping family, friends, and community to protect their health during disasters and every day?''

In accordance with section 205 of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), this annual document solicits proposals and recommendations for developing new, and modifying existing, safe harbor provisions under the Federal anti- kickback statute (section 1128B(b) of the Social Security Act), as well as developing new OIG Special Fraud Alerts.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a notice entitled ``Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Bar Code Label Requirement for Human Drug and Biological Products'' that appeared in the Federal Register of December 15, 2015 (80 FR 77637). The document solicited comments on the bar code label requirements for human drug and biological products. The document was published with an incorrect docket number. This document corrects that error.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a document entitled ``Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products; Guidance for Industry.'' The guidance document provides blood establishments that collect blood or blood components, including Source Plasma, with revised donor deferral recommendations for individuals at increased risk for transmitting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The guidance document recommends corresponding revisions to donor educational materials, donor history questionnaires and accompanying materials, along with revisions to donor requalification, product management, and testing procedures. The guidance announced in this notice finalizes the draft guidance of the same title dated May 2015 and supersedes the memorandum to blood establishments entitled ``Revised Recommendations for the Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transmission by Blood and Blood Products'' dated April 23, 1992 (1992 blood memo). While this guidance represents FDA's current thinking on the subject, our recommendations may evolve over time as new scientific evidence becomes available.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is proposing to revise its regulations on prescription fixed-combination drugs to apply the regulations to both prescription and nonprescription fixed-combination and co-packaged drugs and combinations of active ingredients under consideration for inclusion in an over-the-counter (OTC) monograph. These products must meet specific evidentiary requirements for approval. The proposed revisions would harmonize the requirements for prescription and nonprescription products and make them consistent with long-standing Agency policy.