[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19561-19562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9839]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology

ACTION: Notification of the Establishment of the HIT Policy Committee.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the establishment of the HIT Policy 
Committee. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 
111-5), section 13101, directs the establishment of the HIT Policy 
Committee. The HIT Policy Committee (also referred to as the 
``Committee'') is charged with recommending to the National Coordinator 
a policy framework for the development and adoption of a nationwide 
health information technology infrastructure that permits the 
electronic exchange and use of health information as is consistent with 
the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan and that includes recommendations 
on the areas in which standards, implementation specifications, and 
certification criteria are needed. The HIT Policy Committee is also 
charged with recommending to the National Coordinator an order of 
priority for the development, harmonization, and recognition of such 
standards, specifications, and certification criteria.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith Sparrow, Office of the National 
Coordinator for Health Information Technology, e-mail 
[email protected] or 202-205-4528.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Committee and its staff are governed by the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub. L. 92-463), as amended (5 
U.S.C. App.), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of 
federal advisory committees.
    The Committee shall determine a schedule of meetings following an 
election of a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from among its 
members.

II. Criteria for Members

    The Committee shall be comprised of the following, including a 
Chair and Vice Chair, and represent a balance among various sectors of 
the health care system so that no single sector unduly influences the 
recommendations of the Committee. Committee members shall be appointed 
in the following manner:
     3 members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services, 1 of whom shall be appointed to represent the 
Department of Health and Human Services and 1 of whom shall be a public 
health official;
     1 member shall be appointed by the majority leader of the 
Senate;
     1 member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
Senate;
     1 member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives;
     1 member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
House of Representatives;
     Such other members as shall be appointed by the President 
as representatives of other relevant Federal agencies;
     13 members shall be appointed by the Comptroller General 
of the United States of whom-
    [cir] 3 members shall be advocates for patients or consumers;
    [cir] 2 members shall represent health care providers, one of which 
shall be a physician;

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    [cir] 1 member shall be from a labor organization representing 
health care workers;
    [cir] 1 member shall have expertise in health information privacy 
and security;
    [cir] 1 member shall have expertise in improving the health of 
vulnerable populations;
    [cir] 1 member shall be from the research community;
    [cir] 1 member shall represent health plans or other third-party 
payers;
    [cir] 1 member shall represent information technology vendors;
    [cir] 1 member shall represent purchasers or employers; and
    [cir] 1 member shall have expertise in health care quality 
measurement and reporting.
    Non-federal members of the Committee shall be Special Government 
Employees, unless classified as representatives.

III. Copies of the Charter

    To obtain a copy of the Committee's charter, submit a written 
request to the above contact.

    Dated: April 23, 2009.
David Blumenthal,
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Office of the 
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
[FR Doc. E9-9839 Filed 4-24-09; 4:15 pm]
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