[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 8086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03744]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Patient Safety Organizations: Expired Listing for Quality 
Solutions

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 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. The listing for Quality 
Solutions has expired and AHRQ has delisted the PSO accordingly.

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 January 6, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Both directories can be accessed electronically at the 
following HHS website: 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 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, establish a framework by which hospitals, doctors, and 
other health care providers may voluntarily report information to 
Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs), on a privileged and confidential 
basis, for the aggregation and analysis of patient safety events.
    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.
    Quality Solutions, PSO number P0165, is a component entity of: 
Chest Medicine Associates, Coastal Women's Healthcare, Eyecare Medical 
Group, Maine Nephrology Associates, New England Cancer Specialists, 
Plastic & Hand Surgical Associates, Portland Gastroenterology, and 
Spectrum Medical Group. The PSO chose to let its listing expire by not 
seeking continued listing. Accordingly, Quality Solutions was delisted 
effective at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) on January 6, 2018.
    More information on PSOs can be obtained through AHRQ's PSO website 
at http://www.pso.ahrq.gov.

Karen J. Migdail,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2018-03744 Filed 2-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4160-90-P