[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 2436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00663]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality


Patient Safety Organizations: Expired Listing for Emergency 
Medical Error Reduction Group PSO

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 and Quality Improvement Final Rule (Patient 
Safety Rule) authorizes AHRQ, on behalf of the Secretary of HHS, to 
list as a patient safety organization (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 and Quality Improvement Act of 
2005 (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 Emergency Medical Error 
Reduction Group PSO, PSO number P0133, has expired and AHRQ has 
delisted the PSO accordingly.

DATES: The delisting was effective at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) on 
November 27, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The directories for both listed and delisted PSOs are 
ongoing and reviewed weekly by AHRQ. Both directories can be accessed 
electronically at the following HHS website: http://www.pso.ahrq.gov/listed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathryn Bach, Center for Quality 
Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ, 5600 Fishers Lane, MS 06N100B, 
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 Act, 42 U.S.C. 299b-21 to 299b-26, and the 
related Patient Safety Rule, 42 CFR part 3, published in the Federal 
Register on November 21, 2008 (73 FR 70732-70814), establish a 
framework by which individuals and entities that meet the definition of 
provider in the Patient Safety Rule may voluntarily report information 
to PSOs listed by AHRQ, 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 PSOs.
    Section 3.104(e)(1) of the Patient Safety Rule specifies that a 
PSO's listing, unless revoked or relinquished earlier, automatically 
expires at midnight of the last day of the three-year listing period 
if, prior to this deadline, the required certifications for a new 
three-year listing are not submitted by the PSO and accepted by AHRQ. 
These conditions were not met. Accordingly, Emergency Medical Error 
Reduction Group PSO was delisted effective at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) 
on November 27, 2021.
    More information on PSOs can be obtained through AHRQ's PSO website 
at http://www.pso.ahrq.gov.

    Dated: January 10, 2022.
Marquita Cullom,
Associate Director.
[FR Doc. 2022-00663 Filed 1-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-P