Department of Health and Human Services May 4, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on an information collection concerning CMS' Healthy Indiana Program (HIP) 2.0 Beneficiaries Survey. We are also announcing that the proposed information collection had been submitted to OMB and was approved under control number 0938-1300 through September 30, 2016. In accordance with the implementing regulations of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) we requested emergency review under 5 CFR 1320.13(a)(2)(i) because public harm is reasonably likely to result if the regular clearance procedures were followed. More specifically, the regular PRA clearance process would jeopardize the timely completion of CMS' evaluation of the State's upcoming non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) waiver and other important waivers. Most importantly, it would potentially cause significant harm by depriving Medicaid beneficiariesespecially those affected by the NEMT waiverof appropriate medical services and needed care. Although we have already received OMB approval to test/develop the survey instruments, we are now soliciting public comment for 30-days prior to implementing the survey in order to meet the conditions of OMB's Terms of Clearance that were issued on March 21, 2016. Under the PRA, federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed information collection request (ICR). Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this ICR, including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed ICR 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.

As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is hereby giving notice that the National Preparedness and Response Science Board (NPRSB) will be holding a public teleconference.

This document corrects a notice that was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2016, Volume 81, Number 77, page 23497. This meeting is cancelled in its entirety. Contact Person for More Information: Brenda Colley Gilbert, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., Director, Extramural Research Program Operations and Services, CDC, 4770 Buford Highway NE., Mailstop F-80, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, Telephone: (770) 488-6295, BJC4@cdc.gov. The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of grant funds for the support of FDA's Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) Natural History Grants Program. The goal of the Orphan Products Natural History Grants Program is to support studies that advance rare disease medical product development through characterization of the natural history of rare diseases/conditions, identification of genotypic and phenotypic subpopulations, and development and/or validation of clinical outcome measures, biomarkers and/or companion diagnostics. The ultimate goal of these natural history studies is to support clinical development of products for use in rare diseases or conditions where no current therapy exists or where the proposed product will be superior to the existing therapy. FDA provides grants for natural history studies that will either assist or substantially contribute to market approval of these products. Applicants must include in the application's Background and Significance section documentation to support that the estimated prevalence of the orphan disease or condition in the United States is less than 200,000 (or in the case of a vaccine or diagnostic, information to support that the product will be administered to fewer than 200,000 people in the United States per year), and an explanation of how the proposed study will either help support product approval or provide essential data needed for product development.

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 Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Developing Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs for Treatment.'' The purpose of this draft guidance is to assist sponsors in all phases of development of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. This draft guidance revises the draft guidance of the same name that was issued on October 23, 2013.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) has determined that the drug products listed in this document were not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. This determination means that FDA will not begin procedures to withdraw approval of abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) that refer to these drug products, and it will allow FDA to continue to approve ANDAs that refer to the products as long as they meet relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency or we) is amending the general biological products standards relating to dating periods and also removing certain standards relating to standard preparations and limits of potency. FDA is taking this action to update outdated requirements, and accommodate new and evolving technology and testing capabilities, without diminishing public health protections. This action is part of FDA's retrospective review of its regulations in response to an Executive order. FDA is issuing these amendments directly as a final rule because the Agency believes they are noncontroversial and FDA anticipates no significant adverse comments.