Department of Health and Human Services April 25, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On January 25, 2016, the Administrator of the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program received a petition (Petition 011) to add ``autoimmune disease, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis'' to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions (List). Upon reviewing the information provided by the petitioner, the Administrator has determined that Petition 011 is not substantially different from Petitions 007, 008, and 009, which also requested the addition of autoimmune diseases. The Administrator recently published responses to Petitions 007, 008, and 009 in the Federal Register and has determined that Petition 011 does not provide additional evidence of a causal relationship between 9/11 exposures and autoimmune diseases. Accordingly, the Administrator finds that insufficient evidence exists to request a recommendation of the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), to publish a proposed rule, or to publish a determination not to publish a proposed rule.

This notice announces the next meeting of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC). The BSC, a federally chartered, external advisory group composed of scientists from the public and private sectors, will review and provide advice on programmatic activities. The meeting is open to the public and registration is requested for both attendance and oral comment and required to access the webcast. Information about the meeting and registration are available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/165.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) has determined that THALITONE (chlorthalidone USP) tablets, 15 milligrams (mg), were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. This determination will allow FDA to approve abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) for chlorthalidone USP tablets, 15 mg, if all other legal and regulatory requirements are met.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is extending the comment period for the document entitled ``Refurbishing, Reconditioning, Rebuilding, Remarketing, Remanufacturing, and Servicing of Medical Devices Performed by Third-Party Entities and Original Equipment Manufacturers'' that appeared in the Federal Register of March 4, 2016. In the document, FDA requested comments about the quality, safety, and continued effectiveness of medical devices that have been subject to one or more of these activities that are performed by both original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and third parties, including health care establishments. The Agency is taking this action due to the unanticipated high-level of interest from interested persons.

This proposed rule would update the payment rates used under the prospective payment system (PPS) for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for fiscal year (FY) 2017. In addition, it includes a proposal to specify a potentially preventable readmission measure for the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing Program (SNF VBP), and other proposals for that program aimed at implementing value-based purchasing for SNFs. Additionally, this proposed rule proposes additional polices and measures in the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP). This proposed rule also includes an update on the SNF Payment Models Research (PMR) project.