[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 39656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16319]



[[Page 39656]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD

36 CFR Part 1195

[Docket No. ATBCB-2012-0003]
RIN 3014-AA40


Medical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Standards Advisory 
Committee

AGENCY: Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.

ACTION: Notice of establishment; appointment of members.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 
(Access Board) has decided to establish an advisory committee to assist 
on matters associated with comments received and responses to questions 
included in a previously published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on 
Medical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Standards.

DATES: The first meeting of the committee will be held at a date and 
time in September 2012. A notice of the actual date and times will be 
published in the Federal Register prior to the meeting. Decisions with 
respect to future meetings will be made at the first meeting and from 
time to time thereafter.

ADDRESSES: The first meeting of the committee will be held at the 
Access Board's offices, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 800, Washington, DC 
20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rex Pace, Office of Technical and 
Information Services, Architectural and Transportation Barriers 
Compliance Board, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-
1111. Telephone number (202) 272-0023 (Voice); (202) 272-0052 (TTY). 
Electronic mail address: board.gov">pace@access-board.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In March 2012, the Access Board published a 
notice of intent to establish an advisory committee to make 
recommendations to the Board on matters associated with comments 
received and responses to questions included in a previously published 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Medical Diagnostic Equipment 
Accessibility Standards. See 77 FR 14706 (March 13, 2012).
    Section 510 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794f) requires the 
Access Board to issue accessibility standards for medical diagnostic 
equipment, in consultation with the Food and Drug Administration. In 
February 2012, the Access Board published an NPRM proposing the 
accessibility standards. See 77 FR 6916 (February 9, 2012). The 
proposed standards contain minimum technical criteria to ensure that 
medical diagnostic equipment, including examination tables, examination 
chairs, weight scales, mammography equipment, and other imaging 
equipment used by health care providers for diagnostic purposes are 
accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. The proposed 
standards are intended to ensure, to the maximum extent possible, 
independent entry to, use of, and exit from such equipment by 
individuals with disabilities. The proposed standards do not impose any 
mandatory requirements on health care providers or medical device 
manufacturers. However, other agencies may issue regulations or adopt 
policies that require health care providers subject to the agency's 
jurisdiction to acquire accessible medical diagnostic equipment that 
conforms to the standards. The NPRM and information related to the 
proposed standards are available on the Access Board's Web site at: 
http://www.access-board.gov/medical-equipment.htm.
    For the reasons stated in the notice of intent, the Access Board 
has determined that establishing a Medical Diagnostic Equipment 
Accessibility Standards Advisory Committee (Committee) is necessary and 
in the public interest. The Access Board has appointed the following 
organizations as members to the Committee:

The ADA National Network
Boston Center for Independent Living
Brewer Company
Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc.
Duke University and Medical Center
Equal Rights Center
Evan Terry Associates, P.C.
GE Healthcare
Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy at Western 
University of Health Sciences
Hausmann Industries, Inc.
Hill-Rom Company, Inc.
Hologic, Inc.
Medical Positioning, Inc.
Medical Technology Industries, Inc.
Midmark Corporation
National Council on Independent Living
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Philips Healthcare
Scale-Tronix, Inc.
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
Stryker Medical
Sutter Health
United Spinal Association
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Department of 
Occupational Therapy

    The Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services 
(Food and Drug Administration), and the Department of Veterans Affairs 
will serve as ex officio members.
    The Access Board regrets its inability to accommodate all requests 
for membership on the Committee. It was necessary to limit membership 
to maintain balance among members representing different interests such 
as medical device manufacturers, health care providers, and disability 
organizations. The Committee membership identified above provides 
representation for interests affected by the issues to be discussed.
    The comment period on the NPRM ended on June 8, 2012. Fifty-three 
comments were received by the end of the comment period. Access Board 
staff is conducting a preliminary analysis of the public comments to 
assist the Committee in its deliberations.
    The Committee's first meeting will be held at a date and time in 
September 2012. A notice of the actual date and times will be published 
in the Federal Register prior to the meeting. Decisions with respect to 
future meetings will be made at the first meeting and from time to time 
thereafter. Meetings will be held at the Access Board's offices, 1331 F 
Street NW., suite 800, Washington, DC 20004. The Committee is expected 
to hold no more than four meetings and present a report with its 
recommendations to the Access Board within two months of the 
Committee's first meeting.
    Committee meetings will be open to the public, and interested 
persons can attend the meetings and communicate their views. Members of 
the public will have opportunities to address the Committee on issues 
of interest to them and the Committee. Members of groups or individuals 
who are not members of the Committee may also have the opportunity to 
participate if subcommittees of the Committee are formed.

Susan Brita,
Chair.
[FR Doc. 2012-16319 Filed 7-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8150-01-P