[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 64350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28436]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics: Meeting

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Department of 
Health and Human Services announces the following advisory committee 
meeting.

    Name: National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS), 
Subcommittee on Privacy and Confidentiality.
    Time and Date: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. November 19, 2003; 8:30 a.m.-12:30 
p.m. November 20, 2003.
    Place: Silver Spring Hilton Hotel, 8727 Colesville Road, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.
    Status: Open.
    Background: The National Committee on Vital and Health 
Statistics is the statutory public advisory body to the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services in the area of health data, statistics, 
and health information policy. Established by section 306(k) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242K(k)), its mandate includes 
advising the Secretary on the implementation of the Administrative 
Simplification provisions (Social Security Act, title XI, part C, 42 
U.S.C. section 1320d to 1320d-8) of the Health Insurance Portability 
and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Public Law 104-191.
    The NCVHS Subcommittee on Privacy and Confidentiality monitors 
developments in health information privacy and confidentiality on 
behalf of the full Committee and makes recommendations to the full 
Committee so that it can advise the Secretary on implementation of 
the health information privacy provisions of HIPAA.
    Purpose: This meeting of the Subcommittee on Privacy and 
Confidentiality will receive information on the implementation of 
the regulation ``Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable 
Health Information'' (45 CFR parts 160 and 164), promulgated under 
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
    The regulation and further information about it can be found on 
the Web site of the Office for Civil Rights, at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/. The regulation has been in effect since April 14, 2001. 
Most entities covered by the regulation were required to come into 
compliance by April 14, 2003.
    The first day of the meeting will be conducted as a hearing, in 
which the Subcommittee will gather information about the impact of 
the regulation on public health reporting and on health care 
providers, health plans and consumers. The Subcommittee will invite 
representatives of affected groups to provide information about how 
the regulation has affected the level of privacy and confidentiality 
for protected health information, best practices for implementation 
of the regulation, and information that might help to identify and 
resolve barriers to compliance. The format will include one or more 
invited panels and time for questions and discussion. The 
Subcommittee will ask the invited witnesses for examples of the 
effect the regulation has had on individuals and on entities subject 
to the regulation. The first day will also include a time period 
during which members of the public may deliver brief (3 minutes or 
less) oral public comment about the implementation of the 
regulation. To be included on the agenda, please contact Marietta 
Squire (301) 458-4524, by e-mail at [email protected] or postal 
address at 3311 Toledo Road, Room 2340, Hyattsville, MD 20782 by 
November 12, 2003.
    The second day of the meeting will be conducted in two parts. 
The first part will be a hearing in which the Subcommittee will 
gather information about the effects of the regulation on 
organizations involved in health research activities. The 
Subcommittee will invite representatives of affected groups to 
provide information about how the regulation has affected the level 
of privacy and confidentiality for protected health information, 
best practices for implementation of the regulation, and information 
that might help to identify and resolve barriers to compliance. The 
second part will consist of Subcommittee discussion of the testimony 
it has heard and deliberations about possible recommendations to the 
Secretary.
    Persons wishing to submit written testimony only (which should 
not exceed five double-spaced typewritten pages) should endeavor to 
submit it by that date. Unfilled slots for oral testimony will also 
be filled on the days of the meeting as time permits. Please consult 
Ms. Squire for further information about these arrangements.
    Additional information about the hearing will be provided on the 
NCVHS Web site at http://www.ncvhs.hhs.gov shortly before the 
hearing date.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information about the content of the 
hearing and matters to be considered may be obtained from Kathleen H. 
Fyffe, Lead Staff Person for the NCVHS Subcommittee on Privacy and 
Confidentiality, Office of the Assistant Secretary for planning and 
Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 440D Humphrey 
Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington DC 20201, telephone 
(202) 690-7152, e-mail [email protected] or from Marjorie S. 
Greenberg, Executive Secretary, NCVHS, NCHS, CDC, Room 2413, 
Presidential Building IV, 3311 Toledo Road, Hyattsville, Maryland 
20782, telephone (301) 458-4245.
    Information about the committee, including summaries of past 
meetings and a roster of committee members, is available on the 
Committee's Web site at http:www.ncvhc.hhs.gov.

    Dated: October 27, 2003.
James Scanlon,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science and Data Policy, OASPE.
[FR Doc. 03-28436 Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
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