[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 9570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02458]


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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.

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

DATES: The 30-day submission period begins February 7, 2017 and will 
end on March 9, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicia Morton, Director, ONC Health IT 
Certification Program, Office of the National Coordinator for Health 
Information Technology (ONC), 202-690-7151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    In accordance with 45 CFR 170.503(f)(2), an ONC-Approved 
Accreditor's (ONC-AA's) status will expire not later than 3 years from 
the date its status was granted by the National Coordinator for Health 
Information Technology (National Coordinator). The American National 
Standards Institute's (ANSI's) status as the ONC-AA for certifying 
bodies under the ONC Health IT Certification Program will expire on 
June 6, 2017. To ensure the continuity of the accreditation process and 
the ongoing responsibilities of the ONC-AA under the ONC Health IT 
Certification Program, we are seeking requests for ONC-AA status for 
the 3-year term that would follow the term of the current ONC-AA 
(ANSI). Accordingly, this notice is issued pursuant to Sec.  
170.503(b), which requires 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-Authorized 
Certification Bodies (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 Health IT 
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. EST on the last 
day of the submission period. Additional information about requesting 
ONC-AA status and the ONC Health IT Certification Program can be found 
on the ONC Web site at: http://healthit.gov/certification.

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

Jon White,
Acting National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 2017-02458 Filed 2-6-17; 8:45 am]
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