[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 47 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 10743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5391]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology; HIT Standards Committee and HIT Policy Committee Nomination 
Letters

ACTION: Notice on letters of nomination.

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SUMMARY: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Act), 
Public Law 111-5 amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to add new 
sections 3002 and 3003. The new section 3003 of the PHSA establishes 
the HIT Standards Committee to make recommendations to the National 
Coordinator for Health Information Technology on standards, 
implementation specifications, and certification criteria for the 
electronic exchange and use of health information for purposes of 
health information technology adoption. The HIT Standards Committee 
members are to be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of 
Health and Human Services with the National Coordinator taking a 
leading role. Membership of the HIT Standards Committee should at least 
reflect the following categories of stakeholders and will include other 
individuals: providers, ancillary healthcare workers, consumers, 
purchasers, health plans, technology vendors, researchers, relevant 
Federal agencies, and individuals with technical expertise on health 
care quality, privacy and security, and on the electronic exchange and 
use of health information.
    In addition, we also seek nominations to the HIT Policy Committee 
(established by the new section 3002 of the PHSA), which makes 
recommendations to the National Coordinator on the implementation of a 
nationwide health information technology infrastructure. The HIT Policy 
Committee will consist of at least 20 members. Three of these members 
will be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and 
Human Services. Of the three members, one must be a representative of 
the Department of Health and Human Services and one must be a public 
health official. If, 45 days after the enactment of the Act, an 
official authorized under the Act to make appointments to the HIT 
Policy Committee has failed to make an appointment(s), the Act 
authorizes the Secretary of HHS to make such appointments. The 
Department of Health and Human Services is consequently accepting 
nominations for the HIT Policy Committee.
    New section 3008 of the PHSA allows the Secretary to recognize the 
NeHC (if modified to be consistent with the requirements of section 
3002 and 3003 of the Act and other federal laws) as either the HIT 
Policy Committee or the HIT Standards Committee. At this time, the 
Department of Health and Human Services is evaluating options regarding 
the National eHealth Collaborative and its role in relation to those 
Committees.
    For appointments to either the HIT Standards Committee or the HIT 
Policy Committee, I am announcing the following: Letters of nomination 
and resumes should be submitted by March 16, 2009 to ensure adequate 
opportunity for review and consideration of nominees prior to 
appointment of members.

ADDRESSES: Office of the National Coordinator, Department of Health and 
Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20201, 
Attention: Judith Sparrow, Room 729D. E-mail address: [email protected]. Please indicate in your letter or e-mail to which 
Committee your nomination belongs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ONC/HHS, Judith Sparrow, (202) 205-
4528.

    Authority: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
(Pub. L. 111-5), section 13101.

    Dated: March 9, 2009.
Robert M. Kolodner,
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Office of the 
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
 [FR Doc. E9-5391 Filed 3-9-09; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4150-45-P