Department of Health and Human Services 2025 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or "Department") is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to solicit comment on its proposal to modify the Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information ("Security Rule") under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH Act). The proposed modifications would revise existing standards to better protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). The proposals in this NPRM would increase the cybersecurity for ePHI by revising the Security Rule to address: changes in the environment in which health care is provided; significant increases in breaches and cyberattacks; common deficiencies the Office for Civil Rights has observed in investigations into Security Rule compliance by covered entities and their business associates (collectively, "regulated entities"); other cybersecurity guidelines, best practices, methodologies, procedures, and processes; and court decisions that affect enforcement of the Security Rule.

In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, is publishing the following summary of a proposed collection for public comment.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting nominations for voting members to serve on the National Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory Committee in the Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Nominations will be accepted for current and upcoming vacancies effective February 1, 2025, with this notice. FDA seeks to include the views of women and men, members of all racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with and without disabilities on its advisory committees and, therefore, encourages nominations of appropriately qualified candidates from these groups.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notifies Federal agencies of the laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITFs) currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Mandatory Guidelines) using Urine and the laboratories currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines using Oral Fluid.

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 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 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 Food and Drug Administration's (FDA, Agency, or we) Office of Pediatric Therapeutics, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research are announcing a public meeting entitled "Interested Parties Meeting: Implementation of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act and Pediatric Research Equity Act." The purpose of the public meeting is to seek input from interested parties, including patient/parent/ caregiver groups, consumer groups, regulated industry, academia, and others. This input will enable FDA to obtain any recommendations or information relevant to the report to Congress that FDA is required to submit concerning pediatric drug and biologic development and labeling, as outlined in section 508 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA).

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that a meeting of the National Advisory Committee on the Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States (Committee) will be held on January 13, 2025. The purpose of the meeting is for the Committee to discuss its plans and responsibilities over its 24-month extension to advise on the development and implementation of successful interventions with children and youth who have been impacted by labor and sex trafficking, make recommendations for administrative and legislative changes regarding the trafficking of children and youth, and publish information on best practices regarding the labor and sex trafficking of children and youth.