[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60495-60496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25026]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Relinquishment From the 
Patient Safety Group

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Delisting.

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SUMMARY: HPI-PSO: AHRQ has accepted a notification of voluntary 
relinquishment from The Patient Safety Group of its status as a Patient 
Safety Organization (PSO). The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement 
Act of 2005 (Patient Safety Act), Public Law 109-41, 42 U.S.C. 299b-
21--b-26, provides for the formation of PSOs, which collect, aggregate, 
and analyze confidential information regarding the quality and safety 
of health care delivery. The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement 
Final Rule (Patient Safety Rule), 42 CFR Part 3, authorizes AHRQ, on 
behalf of the Secretary of HHS, to list as a PSO an entity that attests 
that it meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for listing. A 
PSO can be ``delisted'' by the Secretary if it is found to no longer 
meet the requirements of the Patient Safety Act and Patient Safety 
Rule, including when a PSO chooses to voluntarily relinquish its status 
as a PSO for any reason.

DATES: The directories for both listed and delisted PSOs are ongoing 
and reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The delisting was effective at 12 Midnight 
ET (2400) on September 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Both directories can be accessed electronically at the 
following HHS Web site: http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Cousins, RPh., Center for 
Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, 
Rockville, MD 20850; Telephone (toll free): (866) 403-3697; Telephone 
(local): (301) 427-1111; TTY (toll free): (866) 438-7231; TTY (local): 
(301) 427-1130; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Patient Safety Act authorizes the listing of PSOs, which are 
entities or component organizations whose mission and primary activity 
is to conduct activities to improve patient safety and the quality of 
health care delivery.
    HHS issued the Patient Safety Rule to implement the Patient Safety 
Act.

[[Page 60496]]

AHRQ administers the provisions of the Patient Safety Act and Patient 
Safety Rule (PDF file, 450 KB. PDF Help) relating to the listing and 
operation of PSOs. Section 3.108(d) of the Patient Safety Rule requires 
AHRQ to provide public notice when it removes an organization from the 
list of federally approved PSOs. AHRQ has accepted a notification from 
The Patient Safety Group, PSO number P0016, to voluntarily relinquish 
its status as a PSO. Accordingly, The Patient Safety Group was delisted 
effective at 12 Midnight ET (2400) on September 7, 2011.
    More information on PSOs can be obtained through AHRQ's PSO Web 
site at http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

    Dated: September 19, 2011.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-25026 Filed 9-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M