[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47173-47174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17117]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


National Practitioner Data Bank: Change in User Fees

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration, Department 
of Health and Human Services, is announcing a decrease in user fees 
charged to individuals and entities authorized to request information 
from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). The new fee will be 
$2.00 for both continuous and one-time queries and $4.00 for self-
queries. The reduction in NPDB user fees is intended to encourage new 
users while ensuring sufficient funds to the full cost of NPDB 
operations and retain appropriate cash reserves. The goals of the cash 
reserves are to mitigate risks, cover operational costs should revenue 
decrease, and cover the cost of reasonable enhancement and maintenance 
of the NPDB management system.
    HRSA has the standard operating procedure of reviewing NPDB user 
fees every 2 years. The biennial review of NPDB user fees offers HRSA 
the opportunity to evaluate its reserves as well as revenue relative to 
costs. Further, the review provides essential information on whether 
the fee rates and authorized activities are aligned with actual program 
costs and activities,

[[Page 47174]]

and can help promote greater understanding of the fee by NPDB users.

DATES: This change will be effective October 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Division of Practitioner 
Data Bank, Bureau of Health Workforce, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11N37, Rockville, MD 20857; 
telephone number: (301) 443-2300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current fee structure ($3.00/continuous 
query enrollment, $3.00/one-time query, and $5.00/self-query) was 
announced in the Federal Register on April 18, 2014 (79 FR 75), and 
became effective on October 1, 2014. One-time queries, continuous query 
enrollments, and self-queries are submitted and query responses are 
received through the NPDB's secure Web site. Fees are paid via 
electronic funds transfer, debit card, or credit card.
    The NPDB is authorized by the Health Care Quality Improvement Act 
of 1986 (the Act), Title IV of Public Law 99-660, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
11101 et seq.). Further, two additional statutes expanded the scope of 
the NPDB--Section 1921 of the Social Security Act, as amended (42 
U.S.C. 1396r-2) and Section 1128E of the Social Security Act, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7e). Information collected under the Section 
1128E authority was consolidated within the NPDB pursuant to Section 
6403 of the Affordable Care Act, Public Law 111-148; this consolidation 
became effective on May 6, 2013.
    42 U.S.C. 11137(b)(4), 42 U.S.C. 1396r-2(e), and 42 U.S.C. 1320a-
7e(d) authorize the establishment of fees for the costs of processing 
requests for disclosure of such information. Final regulations at 45 
CFR part 60 set forth the criteria and procedures for information to be 
reported to and disclosed by the NPDB. In determining any changes in 
the amount of user fees, the Department uses the criteria set forth in 
section 60.19(b) of the regulations. Section 60.19(b) states:

    ``The amount of each fee will be determined based on the 
following criteria:
    (1) Direct and indirect personnel costs, including salaries and 
fringe benefits such as medical insurance and retirement,
    (2) Physical overhead, consulting, and other indirect costs 
(including materials and supplies, utilities, insurance, travel, and 
rent and depreciation on land, buildings, and equipment),
    (3) Agency management and supervisory costs,
    (4) Costs of enforcement, research, and establishment of 
regulations and guidance,
    (5) Use of electronic data processing equipment to collect and 
maintain information--the actual cost of the service, including 
computer search time, runs and printouts, and
    (6) Any other direct or indirect costs related to the provision 
of services.''

    The Department will continue to review the user fees periodically 
as required by Office of Management and Budget Circular Number A-25 and 
will revise fees as necessary. Any future changes in user fees and 
their effective dates will be announced in the Federal Register.

    Dated: July 14, 2016.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-17117 Filed 7-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P