[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 81824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32914]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Relinquishment from the 
Texas Patient Safety Organization, Inc.

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

ACTION: Notice of Delisting.

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

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 health 
care 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 the Texas Patient Safety 
Organization, Inc. of its status as a PSO, and has delisted the PSO 
accordingly. The Texas Patient Safety Organization, Inc. submitted this 
request for voluntary relinquishment during expedited 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 December 15, 2015.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eileen Hogan, Center for Quality 
Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 06N94B, 
Rockville, MD 20857; 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 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 the Texas Patient Safety 
Organization, Inc., PSO number P0012, to voluntarily relinquish its 
status as a PSO. Accordingly, the Texas Patient Safety Organization, 
Inc. was delisted effective at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) on December 15, 
2015. The Texas Patient Safety Organization, Inc. submitted this 
request for voluntary relinquishment during expedited revocation 
proceedings for cause.
    The Texas Patient Safety Organization, Inc. has patient safety work 
product (PSWP) in its possession. The PSO has met 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.

Sharon B. Arnold,
AHRQ Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-32914 Filed 12-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P