Department of Health and Human Services 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Intergovernmental Reference Guide (IRG) is a centralized and automated repository of state and tribal profiles that contains high-level descriptions of each state and tribal child support enforcement (CSE) program. These profiles provide state, tribal, and foreign country CSE agencies with an effective and efficient method for updating and accessing information needed to process intergovernmental child support cases.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an order under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) debarring James R. Casey for a period of 5 years from importing articles of food or offering such articles for importation into the United States. FDA bases this order on a finding that Mr. Casey was convicted, as defined in the FD&C Act, of a felony count under Federal law for conduct relating to the importation into the United States of an article of food. Mr. Casey was given notice of the proposed permanent debarment and an opportunity to request a hearing within the timeframe prescribed by regulation. As of June 30, 2019 (thirty days after receipt of the notice), Mr. Casey had not responded. Mr. Casey's failure to respond and request a hearing constitutes a waiver of his right to a hearing concerning this matter.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) has determined the regulatory review period for CRYSVITA and is publishing this notice of that determination as required by law. FDA has made the determination because of the submission of applications to the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Department of Commerce, for the extension of patents which claim that human biological product.

These proposed rules set forth proposed requirements for group health plans and health insurance issuers in the individual and group markets to disclose cost-sharing information upon request, to a participant, beneficiary, or enrollee (or his or her authorized representative), including an estimate of such individual's cost- sharing liability for covered items or services furnished by a particular provider. Under these proposed rules, plans and issuers would be required to make such information available on an internet website and, if requested, through non-internet means, thereby allowing a participant, beneficiary, or enrollee (or his or her authorized representative) to obtain an estimate and understanding of the individual's out-of-pocket expenses and effectively shop for items and services. These proposed rules also include proposals to require plans and issuers to disclose in-network provider negotiated rates, and historical out-of-network allowed amounts through two machine-readable files posted on an internet website, thereby allowing the public to have access to health insurance coverage information that can be used to understand health care pricing and potentially dampen the rise in health care spending. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also proposes amendments to its medical loss ratio program rules to allow issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to receive credit in their medical loss ratio calculations for savings they share with enrollees that result from the enrollee's shopping for, and receiving care from, lower-cost, higher-value providers.

The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of individuals to serve as non-federal public members on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC).

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA or Agency or we) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH or Center) is announcing its Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Master File Pilot Program (``EtO Pilot Program''). The EtO Pilot Program is voluntary and intends to allow companies (``sterilization providers'') that sterilize single- use medical devices using fixed chamber ethylene oxide (EtO) to submit a Master File when making certain changes between sterilization sites or when making certain changes to sterilization processes that utilize reduced EtO concentrations. Under this voluntary program, manufacturers (``PreMarket Application (PMA) holders'') of Class III devices subject to premarket approval that are affected by such changes may, upon FDA's permission, reference the Master File submitted by their sterilization provider in a postapproval report in lieu of submission of a premarket approval application (PMA) supplement. The EtO Pilot Program seeks to help ensure patient access to safe medical devices while encouraging new, innovative ways to sterilize medical devices that reduce the potential impact of EtO on the environment and on the public health while providing a regulatory approach that would address potential device shortages.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is announcing the availability of a final guidance for industry entitled ``Compliance Policy for Limited Modifications to Certain Marketed Tobacco Products.'' This guidance describes FDA's compliance policy for premarket review requirements for two types of limited modifications to new tobacco products that were on the market as of August 8, 2016, specifically, modifications to battery-operated tobacco products solely to comply with UL 8139 and modifications to liquid nicotine products solely to comply with the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015 (CNPPA) flow restrictor requirements for liquid nicotine containers. This guidance will enable tobacco manufacturers to upgrade their battery-operated tobacco products to UL 8139. It will also enable manufacturers to comply with the CNPPA requirements for flow restrictors for liquid nicotine containers. FDA is issuing this guidance to address battery safety concerns and youth exposure to liquid nicotine toxicity.

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 (PRA), federal agencies are required 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 a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

The HHS Office of the Secretary is hosting the National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB) Public Meeting in Washington, DC, December 3, 2019. The purpose of the meeting is to gather information to develop expert advice provided by NBSB and guidance to the Secretary on scientific, technical, and other matters of special interest to HHS regarding current and future chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological agents, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate. Retiring NBSB board members will also be presented with certificates and a signed letter of appreciation.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the CDC announces the following meeting for the Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for Health Statistics BSC, NCHS. This meeting is open to the public; however, visitors must be processed in accordance with established federal policies and procedures. For foreign nationals or non-U.S. citizens, pre-approval is required (please contact Gwen Mustaf, 301-458-4500, glm4@cdc.gov or Sayeedha Uddin, 301-458-4303, isx9@cdc.gov at least 4 weeks in advance for requirements). All visitors are required to present a valid form of picture identification issued by a state, federal in international government. As required by the Federal Property Management Regulations, Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart 101-20.301, all persons entering in or on Federal controlled property and their packages, briefcases, and other containers in their immediate possession are subject to being x-rayed and inspected. Federal law prohibits the knowing possession or the causing to be present of firearms, explosives and other dangerous weapons and illegal substances. The meeting room accommodates approximately 78 people.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting to renew approval of the ACF-196 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Financial Reporting Form. The ACF-196 is the form used by states to estimate funding needs and request grant awards under the TANF program. In addition, the form is used to report data in substantiation of state claims and to certify the availability of the legislatively mandated state match. ACF will use the financial data provided by states to estimate quarterly funding needs, calculate award amounts, and assess compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements relating to administrative costs and state matching requirements. No changes are proposed to the form.

This final notice announces our decision to approve the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization for hospices that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. A hospice that participates in Medicaid must also meet the Medicare conditions for participation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposes to amend two provisions within its foreign quarantine regulations to provide additional clarity and safeguards to address the risk to public health from the importation of human remains into the United States.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) 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.