2014-25681. Solicitation of Information and Recommendations for Revising OIG's Non-Binding Criteria for Implementing Permissive Exclusion Authority Under Section 1128(b)(7) of the Social Security Act

AGENCY:

Office of Inspector General (OIG), HHS.

ACTION:

Notice; Extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

This document announces an extension of the public comment period for the OIG Federal Register notice published on July 11, 2014 (79 FR 40114). The notice solicited input from the public on revising the criteria used by OIG in implementing its permissive exclusion authority under Section 1128(b)(7) of the Social Security Act. Due to a technical problem, the public may have been unable to submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov during the comment period. Accordingly, we are extending the comment period to ensure that the public has an opportunity to provide input.

DATES:

To ensure consideration, public comments must be delivered to the address provided below by no later than 5 p.m. on December 29, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

In commenting, please refer to file code OIG-1271-N. Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission.

You may submit comments in one of three ways (no duplicates, please):

1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific recommendations and proposals through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

2. By regular, express, or overnight mail. You may send written comments to the following address: Patrice Drew, Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: OIG-1271-N, Room 5296, Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201. Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period.

3. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver, by hand or courier, your written comments before the close of the comment period to Patrice Drew, Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201. Because access to the interior of the Cohen Building is not readily available to persons without Federal Government identification, commenters are encouraged to schedule their delivery with one of our staff members at [phone].

For information on viewing public comments, please see the Supplementary Information section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Patrice Drew, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of External Affairs, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Inspection of Public Comments: All comments received before the end of the comment period are available for viewing by the public. All comments will be posted on http://www.regulations.gov as soon as possible after the closing of the comment period. Comments received timely will also be available for public inspection as they are received at Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201, Monday through Friday of each week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment to view public comments, phone [phone].

Background: The OIG published on a notice entitled, “Solicitation of Information and Recommendations for Revising OIG's Non-Binding Criteria for Implementing Permissive Exclusion Authority Under Section 1128(b)(7) of the Social Security Act,” on July 11, 2014 (79 FR 40114). The notice solicited input from the public on the revision of the criteria used by OIG in implementing its permissive exclusion authority under Section 1128(b)(7) of the Social Security Act. Due to a technical problem, the public may have been unable to submit comments during the comment period at http://www.regulations.gov. Accordingly, we are extending the comment period to ensure that the public has an opportunity to provide input.

Dated: October 22, 2014.

Daniel R. Levinson,

Inspector General.