[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 136 (Monday, July 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40521-40522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6257]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology; American Health Information Community Consumer Empowerment 
Workgroup Meeting

ACTION: Announcement of meeting

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the seventh meeting of the American 
Health Information Community (``Community'') Consumer Empowerment 
Workgroup in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. 
L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C., App.).

DATES: July 27, 2006 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Place: Hubert H. Humphrey building (200 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20201), Conference Room 800 (you will need a photo ID to 
enter a Federal building).
    Status: Open.
    Purpose: at this meeting, the Community Consumer Empowerment 
Workgroup will receive information on personal health records and 
related matters.
    The meeting will be conducted in hearing format, in which the 
Workgroup will gather information about personal health records' (PHRs) 
functions, features, current usage, interoperability capabilities, and 
importance to health care. The Workgroup will invite representatives 
who can provide information about these matters. The format for the 
meeting will include multiple invited panels and time for questions and 
discussion. The meeting will include a time period during which members 
of the public may deliver brief (3 minutes or less) oral public 
comment. To be included on the public comment portion of the agenda, 
please contact Vernette Roberts at (202) 205-8550, by e-mail at 
[email protected] or postal address at the Office of the National 
Coordinator (ONC), 330 C Street, SW., Suite 4090, Washington, DC 20201.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public input, in the form of written 
testimony, is sought on the following issues:
     What is needed to increase consumer awareness and 
engagement in Personal Health Records (PHRs)?
     What are the most valuable features and functions of a PHR 
from the patient perspective? Please summarize the real world 
experience or evidence to support this part of the testimony.
     Would a minimum set of PHR elements ensure that consumers 
have the features and options most important to them when choosing a 
PHR?
     Who should identify the most important elements of a PHR?
     If applicable to your testimony, please comment on how 
health and HIT literacy needs should be addressed through PHRs.
     How can interoperability be achieved between PHRs and 
electronic health records (EHRs)? Please also comment on when this 
could be accomplished.
     How can interoperability be achieved between PHRs and all 
of the providers from whom the patient receives health care services? 
Please also comment on when this could be accomplished.
     Should the market be left alone for innovation or could 
vendors compete around a minimum criteria set for PHRs?
     If you think certification is necessary for privacy and 
security, interoperability or a minimum set of functionality, is the 
timing important and is there a sense of urgency given the diversity, 
complexity and mobility of today's population and the demand for 
availability of PHRs at the point of care?
    Persons wishing to submit written testimony only (which should not 
exceed five double-spaced typewritten pages) should endeavor to submit 
it by July 27, 2006. Unfilled slots for oral testimony will be filled 
on the day of the meeting as time permits. Please consult Ms. Roberts 
for further information about these arrangements.
    Further information about the Community's Consumer Empowerment 
Workgroup may be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/healthit/ahic/ce_main.html.
    If you have special needs for the meeting, please contact (202) 
690-7151.

[[Page 40522]]

    The meeting will be available via Web cast at http://www.eventcenterlive.com/cfmx/ec/login/login1.cfm?BID=67.

    Dated: July 11, 2006.
Judith Sparrow,
Director, American Health Information Community, Office of Programs and 
Coordination, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology.
[FR Doc. 06-6257 Filed 7-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-24-M