[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38491-38492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15514]


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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 (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HRSA, a sub-agency of the Department of Health and Human 
Services, is announcing a change in user fees charged to individuals 
and entities authorized to request information from the National 
Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). The new fee will be $2.50 for both 
continuous and one-time queries and $3.00 for self-queries. In 
addition, as self-query results are now digitally certified, the NPDB 
will no longer automatically provide a mailed paper copy of self-query 
results. If self-queriers would like paper copies mailed to them, there 
will be an additional $3.00 charge per copy. The change in NPDB user 
fees is intended to encourage electronic processing while both ensuring 
sufficient funding to the full cost of NPDB operations and retaining 
appropriate cash reserves. The cash reserves are used to mitigate 
risks, cover operational costs should revenue decrease, and cover the 
cost of reasonable enhancement and maintenance of the NPDB management 
system. HRSA operational standards require review of 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, and can help promote greater understanding of the 
fee by NPDB users.

DATES: This change will be effective October 1, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Loewenstein, Director, Division 
of Practitioner Data Bank, Bureau of Health Workforce, HRSA, (301) 443-
2300, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current fee structure ($2.00/continuous 
query enrollment, $2.00/one-time query, and $4.00/self-query) was 
announced in the Federal Register on July 20, 2016 (81 FR 47173), and 
became effective on October 1, 2016. One-time queries, continuous query 
enrollments, and self-queries are submitted and query responses are 
received through the NPDB's secure website. 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),

[[Page 38492]]

    (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.

Diana Espinosa,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-15514 Filed 7-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P