[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71819-71820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34350]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
Office of Inspector General
45 CFR Part 61
RIN 0991-AA98
Health Care Fraud and Abuse Data Collection Program: Reporting of
Final Adverse Actions--Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Office of Inspector General (OIG), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: On October 30, 1998, we published a notice of proposed
rulemaking designed to set forth the policy and procedures for
implementing the new Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Banks
(HIPDB), in accordance with the statutory requirements of section 1128E
of the
[[Page 71820]]
Social Security Act, as added by section 221(a) of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 (63 FR 58341). We
are extending the comment period at the request of several
organizations.
DATES: To assure consideration, public comments must be delivered to
the address provided below by January 11, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Please mail or deliver your written comments to the
following address: Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau
of Health Professions, Division of Quality Assurance, Room 8-55,
Attention: OIG-46-P, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
Because of staffing and resource limitations, we cannot accept
comments by facsimile (FAX). In commenting, please refer to file code
OIG-46-P.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joel Schaer, Office of Counsel to the
Inspector General, (202) 619-1306.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed regulations are designed to
implement section 221(a) of the HIPAA, which specifically direct the
Secretary to establish a national health care fraud and abuse data
collection program for the reporting and disclosing of certain final
adverse actions taken against health care providers, suppliers or
practitioners; and maintain a data base of final adverse actions taken
against health care providers, suppliers and practitioners. We
indicated in the preamble of that document that we are allowing a 60-
day public comment period during which time interested parties could
submit their comments and recommendations regarding the implementation
of the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank. The Department
agreed to consider all comments received on or before December 29,
1998.
Since publication of the proposed rule, we have received requests
from several outside organizations and associations to extend the
existing comment period beyond the 60-day period. Because of our desire
to work with affected outside organizations and associations in
considering their recommendations in establishing viable and
operational data bank, and concerns from some parties that the holiday
season has hampered their ability to poll constituents in a timely and
effective manner to provide comprehensive comments, we have agreed to
extend the public comment period to this notice of proposed rulemaking
until January 11, 1999.
Dated: December 8, 1998.
Michael Mangano,
Principal Deputy Inspector General.
Approved: December 21, 1998.
Donna E. Shalala,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-34350 Filed 12-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-04-M
