[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 160 (Friday, August 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48718-48720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16446]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology; Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority

    Part A, Office of the Secretary, Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority for the Department of Health 
and Human Services, Part A, as last amended at 69 FR 51679-51680, dated 
August 20, 2004, and Chapter AA, Office of the Secretary, as last 
amended at 69 FR 51679-51680, dated August 20, 2004, are being amended 
to establish a new Chapter AR, the Office of the National Coordinator 
for Health Information Technology (ONC) within the Office of the 
Secretary. The changes are as follows:
    I. Under Part A, Chapter AA, Section AA.10 Organization, insert the 
following: ``Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology (AR)''
    II. Under Part A, establish a new Chapter AR, ``Office of the 
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)'' to read 
as follows:

Section AR.00 Mission
Section AR.10 Organization
Section AR.20 Functions

    Section AR.00 Mission: The Office of the National Coordinator for 
Health Information Technology provides leadership for the development 
and nationwide implementation of an interoperable health information 
technology infrastructure to improve the quality and efficiency of 
health care and the ability of consumers to manage their care and 
safety. The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology 
serves as the Secretary's principal advisor on the development, 
application, and use of health information technology; coordinates the 
Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) health information 
technology programs; ensures that HHS health information technology 
policy and programs are coordinated with those of other relevant 
executive branch agencies; and to the extent permitted by law, 
develops, maintains, and directs the implementation of a strategic plan 
to guide the nationwide implementation of interoperable health 
information technology in both the public and private health care 
sectors that will reduce medical errors, improve quality, and produce 
greater value for health care expenditures, and coordinates outreach 
and consultation by the

[[Page 48719]]

relevant executive branch agencies with the public and private sectors. 
The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology provides 
comments and advice at the request of OMB regarding specific Federal 
health information technology programs.
    Section AR.10 Organization: The Office of the National Coordinator 
for Health Information Technology (ONC) is under the direction of the 
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology who reports 
directly to the Secretary. The office consists of the following 
components.

A. Immediate Office of the National Coordinator (ARA)
B. Office of Health Information Technology Adoption (ARB)
C. Office of Interoperability and Standards (ARC)
D. Office of Programs and Coordination (ARE)
E. Office of Policy and Research (ARF)

    Section AR.20 Functions:
    A. Immediate Office of the National Coordinator (ARA): The 
Immediate Office of the National Coordinator (IO/ONC) is headed by the 
National Coordinator, who provides executive direction to the office. 
The National Coordinator is responsible for carrying out ONC's mission 
and implementing the functions of the ONC. The IO/ONC: (1) Ensures that 
key health information technology initiatives are coordinated across 
HHS programs; (2) ensures that health information technology policy and 
programs of HHS are coordinated with those of relevant executive branch 
agencies (including Federal commissions and advisory committees) with a 
goal of avoiding duplication of efforts and of helping to ensure that 
each agency undertakes activities primarily within the areas of its 
greatest expertise and technical capability; (3) review Federal health 
information technology investments to ensure Federal health information 
technology programs are meeting the objectives of the strategic plan, 
required under Executive Order 13335, to create a nationwide 
interoperable health information technology infrastructure; (4) at the 
request of OMB, provides comments and advice regarding specific Federal 
health information technology programs; (5) develops, maintains, and 
reports on measurable outcome goals for health information technology 
to assess progress within HHS and other executive branch agencies; and 
in the private sector, in developing and implementing a nationwide 
interoperable health infrastructure; and (6) fulfills the 
administrative, reporting, infrastructure, and budget-preparation 
support needs of the office.
    B. Office of Health Information Technology Adoption (ARB): The 
Office of Health Information Technology Adoption (OHITA) is headed by a 
Director. OHITA works and coordinates with all other ONC offices to 
identify health information technology strategies, and works with other 
relevant HHS offices to implement these strategies and monitor outcomes 
in fulfillment of the President's goals. Specifically, in coordination 
with other HHS offices, OHITA: (1) Develops and coordinates strategies 
to incentivize adoption of health information technology, to reduce the 
risk of health information technology investment, and to promote health 
information technology diffusion; (2) coordinates the development of 
strategies and guidance to create electronic personal health management 
tools and to enhance informed consumer choice for health care; (3) 
coordinates with relevant executive branch agencies in promoting and 
transferring health information technology to public sector; (4) 
identifies and documents evidence on the benefits and costs of 
interoperable health information technology and to whom the benefits 
and costs accrue; (5) assesses the current state of health information 
technology adoption, specifies measurable goals and methods for 
evaluating strategies and determines approaches that can accelerate 
health information technology adoption in a cost-effective manner; and 
(6) coordinates with other offices within ONC to develop 
recommendations regarding health information technology compliance 
certification processes, evaluates compliance certification processes 
for health information technology and assesses its effect on health 
information technology implementation.
    C. Office of Interoperability and Standards (ARC): The Office of 
Interoperability and Standards (OIS) is headed by a Director. OIS works 
with and coordinates with other offices in ONC and HHS to provide 
leadership in the development and implementation of a nationwide 
interoperable health information technology infrastructure and advance 
the development, adoption, and implementation of interoperable health 
information technology standards. Specifically, in coordination with 
relevant HHS offices, OIS: (1) Fosters mechanisms that support the 
secure and seamless exchange of health information, including the use 
of standards, certified technology, and requirements for a nationwide 
architecture; (2) manages the federal health architecture program 
efforts and works with Federal agencies to ensure that Federal health 
information systems are coordinated and interoperable with any 
nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure; 
(3) advances the development, adoption, and implementation of health 
information technology standards nationally through collaboration among 
public and private interests that are consistent with current efforts 
of the Federal Government; (4) works with relevant HHS offices to 
evaluate mechanisms for harmonizing security and privacy practices in 
an interoperable health information technology architecture; and (5) 
promotes the development of performance measures related to the 
adoption of interoperable health information technology standards.
    D. Office of Programs and Coordination (ARE): The Office of 
Programs and Coordination (OPC) is headed by a Director. OPC ensures 
complete integration of all efforts across ONC and supports the 
dissemination and adoption of the Administration's policy on health 
information technology. Specifically, in coordination with relevant HHS 
offices, OPC: (1) Provides infrastructure and management support for 
Secretary initiatives related to health information technology 
including FACA and other advisory committees; (2) provides the 
infrastructure support for health information technology programs to 
coordinate interrelating activities including workgroups and 
subcommittees; (3) monitors and measures all outcomes in support of 
health information technology initiatives; and (4) develops and 
coordinates with relevant HHS offices, including the Assistant 
Secretary for Public Affairs, outreach campaigns to educate the public 
about health information technology and its use of Web site materials, 
and other documents regarding ONC activities.
    E. Office of Policy and Research (ARF): The Office of Policy and 
Research (OPR) is headed by a Director. The OPR coordinates with other 
ONC offices and conducts studies in support of ongoing health 
information technology and supports and coordinates efforts that inform 
policy decisions related to health IT. Specifically, in coordination 
with relevant HHS offices, OPR: (1) Ensures the smooth and efficient 
implementation of policies under the direction of the National 
Coordinator; (2) supports efforts to determine to what extent health 
information technology affects public and private business practices; 
(3) identifies privacy and

[[Page 48720]]

security issues related to a nationwide health information technology 
infrastructure and strategies to ensure that patients' individually 
identifiable health information is secure and protected; (4) leads 
health information technology research efforts for ONC to help inform 
policy decisions and conducts key technical, scientific, economic, 
statistical and other studies related to health information technology; 
(5) develops procedures and pilot efforts for how medical knowledge can 
be collected, validated and available at the point of care; (6) 
facilitates discussions within HHS on the policy implications of key 
health information technology activities, and supports the National 
Coordinator in considering the policy implications of key health 
information technology activities; and (7) provides specialized 
technology and statistical expertise in support of policy proposal 
analysis.

    Dated: August 11, 2005.
Michael O. Leavitt,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-16446 Filed 8-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-24-M