[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19289-19292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09361]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority; Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology

    Part A, Office of the Secretary, Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority for the Department of Health 
and Human Services, Chapter AR, Office of the National Coordinator for 
Health Information Technology (ONC), as last amended at 79 FR 31941 
(June 3, 2014), 77 FR 29349-50 (May 17, 2012), 76 FR 65196 (Oct. 20, 
2011), 76 FR 6795 (Feb. 8, 2011), 75 FR 49494 (Aug. 13, 2010), 74 FR 
62785-86 (Dec. 1, 2009), 70 FR 48718-20 (Aug. 19, 2005) is amended as 
follows:
    I. Under AR.10, Organization, delete all of components and replace 
with the following:

A. Immediate Office of the National Coordinator (ARA)
B. Office of Policy (ARI)
C. Office of Technology (ARC)
D. Office of the Chief Operating Officer (ARE)

    II. Delete AR.20, Functions, in its entirety and replace with the 
following:

    Section AR.20, Functions.
    A. Immediate Office of the National Coordinator: The Immediate 
Office of the National Coordinator (IO/ONC) is headed by the National 
Coordinator, who provides leadership and executive and strategic 
direction for the ONC organization. The National Coordinator is 
responsible for carrying out ONC's mission and implementing the 
functions of ONC. The IO/ONC (1) ensures the interoperability of health 
information, as central and foundational to the core mission of HHS to 
enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans; (2) 
ensures that health information technology initiatives are coordinated 
across HHS programs; (3) ensures that health information technology 
policy and programs of HHS are coordinated with those of relevant 
executive branch agencies (including Federal commissions and advisory 
committees) with a goal of avoiding duplication of effort and of 
helping to ensure that each agency undertakes activities primarily 
within the areas of its greatest expertise and technical capability; 
(4) reviews Federal health information technology investments to ensure 
Federal health information programs are meeting the objectives of the 
strategic plan required under Executive Order 13335, to create a 
national interoperable health information technology infrastructure; 
(4) provides comments and advice regarding specific Federal health 
information technology programs; and (5) develops, maintains, and 
reports on measurable outcome goals for health information technology 
to assess progress within HHS and other executive branch agencies.
    The Deputy National Coordinator, a part of the IO/ONC, works with 
and reports directly to the National Coordinator, and is responsible 
for supporting the National Coordinator in day-to-day operations and 
strategy for ONC, and for management of such ONC staff that report to 
the Deputy or as requested by the National Coordinator. The Deputy, in 
conjunction with the National Coordinator, provides executive oversight 
for the activities of ONC offices.
    The Deputy National Coordinator for Operations works with, and 
reports directly to, the National Coordinator and is responsible for 
day-to-day operations and strategy for ONC agency-wide support 
functions as well as providing executive oversight in conjunction with 
the National Coordinator.
    The Chief Privacy Officer, a part of the IO/ONC, advises the 
National Coordinator on privacy, security, and data stewardship of 
electronic health information and coordinates with other Federal 
agencies, with State and regional efforts, and with foreign countries 
with regard to the privacy, security, and data stewardship of 
electronic individually identifiable health information.
    B. Office of Policy: The Office of Policy is headed by an Executive 
Director. This office is responsible for: (1) Policy and rulemaking 
activities, including implementation of provisions included in the 
Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) 
Act, the 21st Century Cures Act, and Executive Order 13335: Incentives 
for the Use of Health Information Technology and Establishing the 
Position of the National Health Information Technology Coordinator; (2) 
ONC's domestic policy initiatives; (3) coordination with executive 
branch agencies, Federal commissions, advisory committees, and

[[Page 19290]]

external partners; (4) advanced analysis and evaluation of health 
information technology policies for ONC and the Department, including 
in the areas of interoperability, information blocking, care 
transformation, privacy and security, and quality improvement; and (5) 
operation of the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee 
established in the 21st Century Cures Act.
    C. Office of Technology: The Office of Technology is headed by an 
Executive Director. This office is responsible for (1) executing 
provisions of law including those in Title XXX of the Public Health 
Service Act as well as those mandated under the HITECH Act and the 21st 
Century Cures Act; (2) providing technical leadership and coordination 
within the health IT community to identify, evaluate, and influence the 
development of standards, implementation guidance, and best practices 
for representing and exchanging electronic health information; (3) 
coordinating with Federal agencies and other public and private 
partners to implement and advance interoperability nationwide; (4) 
leading the development of electronic testing tools, resources, and 
data to achieve interoperability, enhanced usability, and aid in the 
optimization of health IT; (5) administering the ONC Health IT 
Certification Program, including the Certified Health IT Product List 
(CHPL); and (6) leading ONC's technical interoperability interests and 
investments to advance the development of innovative solutions for 
interoperability.
    D. Office of the Chief Operating Officer: The Office of the Chief 
Operating Officer is headed by the Deputy National Coordinator for 
Operations/Chief Operating Officer and fulfills the administrative 
(i.e., executive secretariat) reporting, infrastructure, and budget 
support needs of the office. The Office of the Chief Operating Officer 
is responsible for:
    (1) Managing enterprise risk and formulating solutions to ensure 
ONC has the resources to achieve its mission and goals; (2) ensuring 
fiscal integrity and adherence to Federal laws and regulations; (3) 
providing centralized, agency-wide strategy and services including: 
Budget and financial management; full lifecycle grants management; 
procurement management; human capital; information technology; 
facilities management; ethics; and records management.
    III. Delegation of Authority.
    Pending further delegation, directives or orders by the Secretary 
or by the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, all 
delegations and redelegations of authority made to officials and 
employees of affected organizational components will continue in them 
or their successors pending further redelegations, provided they are 
consistent with this reorganization.

Alex M. Azar II,
Secretary of Health and Human Services.
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[FR Doc. 2018-09361 Filed 4-30-18; 4:15 pm]
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