[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2853-2854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00797]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


30-Day Submission Period for Requests for ONC-Approved Accreditor 
(ONC-AA) Status

AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 30-day period for submission of 
requests for ONC-Approved Accreditor (ONC-AA) status.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 300jj-11.

DATES: The 30-day submission period begins January 16, 2014 and will 
end on February 18, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judy Murphy, Deputy National 
Coordinator for Programs and Policy, Office of the National Coordinator 
for Health Information Technology, 202-690-7151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 6, 2011, ONC approved the American 
National Standards Institute (ANSI) as the ONC-AA. In accordance with 
45 CFR Sec.  170.503(f)(2), an ONC-AA's status will expire not later 
than 3 years from the date its status was granted by the National 
Coordinator. To ensure the continuity of the accreditation process and 
the ongoing responsibilities of the ONC-AA under the ONC HIT 
Certification Program, we are seeking requests for ONC-AA status for 
the 3-year term that would follow the term of

[[Page 2854]]

the current ONC-AA (ANSI). Accordingly, this notice is issued pursuant 
to Sec.  170.503(b), which requires the National Coordinator for Health 
Information Technology (the National Coordinator) to publish a notice 
in the Federal Register to announce the 30-day period during which 
requests for ONC-AA status may be submitted. In order to be considered 
for ONC-AA status, an accreditation organization must submit a written 
request to the National Coordinator that includes the information 
required by Sec.  170.503(b) within the 30-day period specified in this 
notice. Section 170.503(b) requires an accreditation organization to 
submit the following information to demonstrate its ability to serve as 
an ONC-AA:
    (1) A detailed description of the accreditation organization's 
conformance to ISO/IEC17011:2004 (incorporated by reference in Sec.  
170.599) and experience evaluating the conformance of certification 
bodies to ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996 (incorporated by reference in Sec.  
170.599);
    (2) A detailed description of the accreditation organization's 
accreditation requirements[,] as well as how those requirements would 
complement the Principles of Proper Conduct for ONC-ACBs and ensure the 
surveillance approaches used by ONC-ACBs include the use of consistent, 
objective, valid, and reliable methods;
    (3) Detailed information on the accreditation organization's 
procedures that would be used to monitor ONC-ACBs;
    (4) Detailed information, including education and experience, about 
the key personnel who review organizations for accreditation; and
    (5) Procedures for responding to, and investigating, complaints 
against ONC-ACBs.
    Requests for ONC-AA status may be submitted by email to [email protected] and should include ``Request for ONC-AA Status'' in the 
subject line. Alternatively, requests for ONC-AA status may be 
submitted by regular or express mail to: Office of the National 
Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Attention: ONC HIT 
Certification Program--Request for ONC-AA Status, 330 C Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20201. In accordance with Sec.  170.505, the official 
date of receipt of an email submission will be the date on which it was 
sent, and the official date of a submission by regular or express mail 
will be the date of the delivery confirmation. To clarify, email 
submissions may be sent up to and through 11:59 p.m. on the last day of 
the submission period. Additional information about requesting ONC-AA 
status and the ONC HIT Certification Program can be found on the ONC 
Web site at: http://healthit.hhs.gov/certification.

    Dated: January 10, 2014.
Jacob Reider,
Acting National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2014-00797 Filed 1-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-45-P