Department of Health and Human Services July 18, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces the opening of a docket to obtain comment on the Draft Infection Control in Healthcare Personnel: Epidemiology and Control of Selected Infections Transmitted Among Healthcare Personnel and Patients: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella-Zoster Virus Sections (``Draft Guideline: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella-Zoster Virus Sections''). The Draft Guideline: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella-Zoster Virus Sections updates the Guideline for infection control in health care personnel, 1998 (``1998 Guideline''), Part E: Epidemiology and Control of Selected Infections Transmitted Among Health Care Personnel and Patients, and its corresponding recommendations in Part II of the 1998 Guideline: ``8. Measles;'' ``10. Mumps;'' ``15. Rubella;'' and ``21. Varicella.'' The updated recommendations in the Draft Guideline: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella-Zoster Virus Sections are intended for use by the leaders and staff of healthcare facilities and systems' Occupational Health Services (OHS), as further provided herein. These updated recommendations will help facilitate the provision of occupational infection prevention and control services to healthcare personnel (HCP) who have been exposed or infected and may be contagious to others in the workplace.

This notice acknowledges the receipt of an application from The Joint Commission (TJC) for continued recognition as a national accrediting organization providing home infusion therapy (HIT) services that wish to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. The statute requires that within 60 days of receipt of an organization's complete application, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) publish a notice that identifies the national accrediting body making the request, describes the nature of the request, and provides at least a 30-day public comment period.

This notice extends the comment period for a 60-day notice request for proposed information collection request associated with the notice [Document Identifier: CMS-576 and CMS-576A] entitled ``Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) Request for Designation as an OPO, Health Insurance Benefits Agreement, and Supporting Regulations'' that was published in the June 13, 2023 Federal Register. The comment period for the information collection request, which would have ended on August 14, 2023, is extended to August 28, 2023.

The Indian Health Service (IHS or Service) administers the Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF) pursuant to section 202 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA). The purpose of the CHEF is to meet the extraordinary medical costs associated with the treatment of victims of disasters or catastrophic illnesses who are within the responsibility of the Service. This notice proposes regulations governing the administration of the CHEF.