[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25866-25867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10279]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Relinquishment From 
Medical Peer Review Resource, LLC

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of Delisting.

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SUMMARY: The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, 42 
U.S.C. 299b-21 to b-26, (Patient Safety Act) and the related Patient 
Safety and Quality Improvement Final Rule, 42 CFR part 3 (Patient 
Safety Rule), published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2008, 
73 FR 70732-70814, provide for the formation of Patient Safety 
Organizations (PSOs), which collect, aggregate, and analyze 
confidential information regarding the quality and safety of healthcare 
delivery. The Patient Safety Rule 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, when a 
PSO chooses to voluntarily relinquish its status as a PSO for any 
reason, or when a PSO's listing expires. AHRQ has accepted a 
notification of voluntary relinquishment from Medical Peer Review 
Resource, LLC of its status as a PSO, and has delisted the PSO 
accordingly. Medical Peer Review Resource, LLC submitted this request 
for voluntary relinquishment during revocation proceedings for cause.

DATES: The directories for both listed and delisted PSOs are ongoing 
and reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The delisting was effective at 12:00 
Midnight ET (2400) on April 2, 2014.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eileen Hogan, 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; 
Email: [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 
are 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. AHRQ administers the provisions of the Patient Safety Act and 
Patient Safety Rule relating to the listing and operation of PSOs. The 
Patient Safety Rule authorizes AHRQ to list as a PSO an

[[Page 25867]]

entity that attests that it meets the statutory and regulatory 
requirements for listing. A PSO can be ``delisted'' if it is found to 
no longer meet the requirements of the Patient Safety Act and Patient 
Safety Rule, when a PSO chooses to voluntarily relinquish its status as 
a PSO for any reason, or when a PSO's listing expires. 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 Medical Peer Review Resource, 
LLC, PSO number P0026, to voluntarily relinquish its status as a PSO. 
Accordingly, Medical Peer Review Resource, LLC was delisted effective 
at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) on April 2, 2014. Medical Peer Review 
Resource, LLC, submitted this request for voluntary relinquishment 
during revocation proceedings for cause.
    Medical Peer Review Resource, LLC has patient safety work product 
(PSWP) in its possession. The PSO will meet the requirements of section 
3.108(c)(2)(i) of the Patient Safety Rule regarding notification to 
providers that have reported to the PSO. In addition, according to 
sections 3.108(c)(2)(ii) and 3.108(b)(3) of the Patient Safety Rule 
regarding disposition of PSWP, the PSO has 90 days from the effective 
date of delisting and revocation to complete the disposition of PSWP 
that is currently in the PSO's possession.
    More information on PSOs can be obtained through AHRQ's PSO Web 
site at http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

    Dated: April 25, 2014.
Richard Kronick,
AHRQ Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-10279 Filed 5-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P