[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30004-30005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12172]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Statement of 
Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority

    Part A, Office of the Secretary, statement of Organization, 
Function, and Delegation of Authority for the U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services is being amended at Chapter AC, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), as last amended at 69 FR 660-
661, dated January 6, 2004; 72 FR 58095-6, dated October 12, 2007; and 
most recently at 75 FR 53304-05, dated August 31, 2010. The amendment 
reflects the consolidation and realignment of personnel oversight, 
administration and management functions and responsibilities for the 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health's Immediate Office. The 
changes are as follows:
    I. Under Chapter AC, Section AC.20 Functions, delete Paragraph A, 
``The Immediate Office (ACA),'' in its entirety and replace with the 
following:

    A. The Immediate Office (ACA) 75 FR 53304-05, Aug. 31, 2010
    (1) Provides direction to program offices within OASH; (2) 
Provides oversight and direction to the Regional Health 
Administrators (I-X) and their associated staff; (3) Provides advice 
to assure that the Department conducts broad based public health 
assessments designed to better define public health challenges and 
to design solutions to those problems; assists other components 
within the Department in anticipating future public health issues 
and problems, and provides assistance to ensure that the Department 
designs and implements appropriate approaches, interventions, and 
evaluations, to maintain, sustain, and improve the health of the 
Nation; (4) At the direction of the Secretary, provides assistance 
in leading and managing the implementation and coordination of 
Secretarial decisions for Public Health Service (PHS) Operating 
Divisions (OPDIVs), and for that purpose, draws on Staff Divisions 
(STAFFDIVs) and other organizational units for assistance in regard 
to legislation, budget, communications, and policy analysis; (5) 
Provides advice to the Secretary and senior Department officials on 
budget and legislative issues of the PHS OPDIVs; (6) Works in 
conjunction with the Assistant Secretary for Planning and

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Evaluation on matters of health science policy analysis and 
development; (7) Provides a focus for leadership on matters 
including recommendations for policy on population-based public 
health, science and public health infrastructure; and the 
Secretary's direction leads and/or coordinates initiatives that cut 
across agencies and OPDIVs; (8) Works in conjunction with the 
Department's PHS OPDIVs, and others, in building and promoting 
relationships among and between State and local health departments, 
academic institutions, professional and constituency organizations 
(9) Communicates and interacts with national and international 
professional and constituency organizations on matters of public 
health and science; (10) Manages the vaccine and immunization 
related activities for the Secretary; (11) Provides leadership and 
coordinates public health activities that addresses health 
disparities related to sexual orientation; (12) Responsible for 
management and oversight of human research subjects protections 
functions and related activities where research involves human 
subjects; (13) Proposes findings of research misconduct and 
administrative actions in response to allegations of research 
misconduct involving research conducted or supported by the PHS 
OPDIVs, including reversal of an institution's no misconduct finding 
or opening of a new investigation; (14) Provides administrative and 
management support on bioethical issues; (15) Provides support for 
the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) in the exercise of statutory 
requirements and assigned activities as the Department's liaison for 
military and veterans issues and works with veterans associations 
and organizations to bring focus on the health needs of veterans and 
military families; (16) Through the OSG directs and manages the PHS 
Commissioned Corps, which includes a cadre of health professionals, 
and the associated personnel systems in support of the missions of 
the Department and public health activities of non-HHS agencies in 
which officers are assigned or detailed to, and provides oversight 
and direction for officer assignments and professional development; 
and (17) Provides policy, related administrative management, 
oversight, and routinely measure the effectiveness of the 
Commissioned Corps.

    II. Delegations of Authority. Pending further re-delegation, 
Directives or orders made by the Secretary, or the Assistant Secretary 
for Health, all delegations and re-delegations of authority made to 
officials and employees of the affected organizational component will 
continue in effect pending further re-delegations, provided they are 
consistent with this reorganization.

    Dated: December 27, 2011.
Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-12172 Filed 5-18-12; 8:45 am]
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