Department of Health and Human Services June 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces a forthcoming public advisory committee meeting of the Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee. The general function of the committee is to provide advice and recommendations to the Agency on FDA's regulatory issues. At least one portion of the meeting will be closed to the public.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), announces a single-source award in the amount of $750,000 to HFSA in San Angelo, TX for the purpose of continued participation in the federal impact evaluation. The award allows sufficient time to complete evaluation related activities of the Steps to Success program. Steps to Success is a comprehensive, culturally appropriate intervention that seeks to postpone subsequent pregnancies and increase safe sex behaviors for high-risk pregnant and parenting teens.

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 requirements relating to the reporting of biological product deviations in manufacturing and human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue- based product (HCT/P) deviations, and Forms FDA 3486 and 3486A.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing efforts to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) system. CDC is requesting a 3-year approval for revision to the previously approved project to continue collecting standardized HIV-related behavioral data from persons at risk for HIV systematically selected from 25 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) throughout the United States.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), federal agencies are require; to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (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.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is extending the comment period for the notice entitled ``Labeling for Biosimilar Products; Draft Guidance for Industry; Availability'' that appeared in the Federal Register of April 4, 2016. The Agency is taking this action to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a notice that appeared in the Federal Register of October 13, 2015 (80 FR 61426). The document announced the withdrawal of approval of 67 new drug applications (NDAs) and 128 abbreviated new drug applications from multiple applicants, effective November 12, 2015. The document indicated that FDA was withdrawing approval of the following two NDAs after receiving a request from the NDA holder, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (Merck), 1 Merck Dr., P.O. Box 100, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889: NDA 016096, MINTEZOL (thiabendazole) Tablets, and NDA 016097, MINTEZOL (thiabendazole) Oral Suspension. Before withdrawal of these NDAs became effective, Merck informed FDA that it did not want approval of the NDAs withdrawn. Because Merck timely requested that approval of these NDAs not be withdrawn, the approval of NDAs 016096 and 016097 is still in effect.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance entitled ``E18 Genomic Sampling and Management of Genomic Data.'' The draft guidance was prepared under the auspices of the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH), formerly the International Conference on Harmonisation. The draft guidance pertains to genomic sampling and to the management of genomic data in clinical studies. The focus of this draft guidance is on the general principles of collecting, processing, transporting, storing, and disposing of genomic samples or data. The technical aspects of genomic sampling and research are also discussed when appropriate, recognizing the rapidly evolving technological advances in these areas. The draft guidance is intended to provide harmonized principles of genomic sampling and of managing genomic data in clinical studies.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a guidance for industry entitled ``Charging for Investigational Drugs Under an INDQuestions and Answers.'' The guidance provides information for industry, researchers, physicians, institutional review boards (IRBs), and patients about the implementation of FDA's regulation on charging for investigational drugs under an investigational new drug application (IND) for the purpose of either clinical trials or expanded access for treatment use. FDA received a number of questions concerning its implementation of the charging regulation. FDA is providing guidance in a question and answer format to address the most frequently asked questions about charging for investigational drugs under an IND. This guidance finalizes the draft guidance issued in May 2013.

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 of Dental Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), 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: Dr. Sophia Jeon, Health Science Policy Analyst, Office of Science Policy and Planning, OSPP, NINDS, NIH, 31 Center Drive, Building 31, Room 8A03, Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free number (301) 435-7571, or Email your request, including your address to: sophia.jeon@nih.gov. Formal requests for additional plans and instruments must be requested in writing. Comment Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60 days of the date of this publication. Proposed Collection: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), 0925-0678, Expiration Date 08/31/2016EXTENSION, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Need and Use of Information Collection: The information collection activity will garner qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the Administration's commitment to improving service delivery. By qualitative feedback we mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions, but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study. This feedback will provide insights into customer or stakeholder perceptions, experiences and expectations, provide an early warning of issues with service, or focus attention on areas where communication, training or changes in operations might improve delivery of products or services. These collections will allow for ongoing, collaborative and actionable communications between the Agency and its customers and stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the improvement of program management. Feedback collected under this generic clearance will provide useful information, but it will not yield data that can be generalized to the overall population. This type of generic clearance for qualitative information will not be used for quantitative information collections that are designed to yield reliably actionable results, such as monitoring trends over time or documenting program performance. Such data uses require more rigorous designs that address: the target population to which generalizations will be made, the sampling frame, the sample design (including stratification and clustering), the precision requirements or power calculations that justify the proposed sample size, the expected response rate, methods for assessing potential non-response bias, the protocols for data collection, and any testing procedures that were or will be undertaken prior fielding the study. Depending on the degree of influence the results are likely to have, such collections may still be eligible for submission for other generic mechanisms that are designed to yield quantitative results. OMB approval extension is requested for 3 years. There are no costs to respondents other than their time. The total estimated annualized burden hours are 5750.

The Department of Health and Human Services is issuing a final regulation that adopts, without change, the interim final rule (IFR) entitled ``State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).'' This final rule implements a provision enacted by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 and reflects the transfer of the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in HHS. Prior to the interim final rule, prior regulations were issued by CMS under the authority granted by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA), Section 4360.

The invention listed below is owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and is available for licensing and/or co-development in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR part 404 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 and/or co-development.