[Federal Register: October 4, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 191)]
[Notices]
[Page 57877-57878]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04oc05-69]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Recommendations for Regulatory Reform
AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
ACTION: Notice of request for comments.
SUMMARY: The House Appropriations Committee Report 108-636 includes a
provision for the Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for
Planning and Evaluation (HHS/ASPE) and the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) to establish an interagency committee, to be coordinated
by HHS. The committee's role is to examine major federal regulations
governing the health care industry and to make suggestions regarding
how health care regulation could be coordinated and simplified to
reduce costs and burdens and improve translation of biomedical research
into medical practice, while continuing to protect patients. This
committee will examine the economic impact of the major federal
regulations governing the health care industry, and will explore both
immediate steps and longer-term proposals for reducing regulatory
burden, while maintaining the highest quality health care and other
patient protections.
In accord with the House Appropriations Committee's intent, ASPE
and OMB are undertaking several complementary activities. First, we are
establishing an interagency committee to undertake a comprehensive
review of federal health care regulations, guidance, and paperwork
requirements in order to identify areas for reform. Second, we are
planning to hold a series of public meetings in order to hear directly
from health care administrators, institutional providers, physicians,
practitioners, patients, and others about the impact of regulations,
and to identify other potential areas for reform. The public meetings
will be held in several cities across the country to provide an
opportunity for input. Individuals may also submit written comments,
regardless of their ability to attend the public meetings, for
consideration by the interagency committee. Information about the
schedule of public meetings and registration procedures will be
available on the Web site http://aspe.hhs.gov/arrb.
In order to assist the committee in studying regulatory impact and
reform, in this notice ASPE is also requesting public nominations of
federal health care regulations that could be coordinated and
simplified to reduce costs and burdens and improve the translation of
biomedical research into medical practice. In particular, commenters
are requested to suggest specific reforms to regulations, guidance
documents, or paperwork requirements that would improve the delivery of
health care by increasing efficiency, reducing unnecessary costs,
removing uncertainty, and increasing flexibility, while maintaining or
improving patient
[[Page 57878]]
safety and quality of care and other patient protections. The emphasis
is on major regulations issued within the last ten (10) years.
ASPE requests that commenters, in the selection of which reform
ideas to submit, consider the extent to which (1) Benefits
(quantitative and/or qualitative) are likely to exceed costs for the
reform, (2) benefits (quantitative and/or qualitative) can be increased
without exceeding costs, (3) the suggested change would improve
patients' health and quality of care, (4) the agency or multiple
agencies have statutory authority to make the suggested change, and (5)
the rule or program is a major contributor to the regulatory burden
imposed on the health care sector. While both legislative and
administrative reforms are welcome, administrative reforms such as
those that require discretionary rulemaking are more likely to be
initiated in a timely manner. The reforms may include modifying,
extending, or rescinding regulatory programs, guidance documents or
paperwork requirements.
Once we receive the nominations from the public, HHS, in
cooperation with OMB, will assemble and evaluate the reform nominations
and discuss each of them with the relevant HHS Operating Divisions,
taking into account statutory, economic, public health, and budgetary
considerations.
ADDRESSES: ASPE requests that nominations (including explanations of
the suggested reforms) be submitted in writing electronically to ASPE
at ReducingRegulatoryBurden@hhs.gov within 30 calendar days from the
date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marty McGeein, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 200 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20201. Telephone: (202) 690-6443.
Dated: September 20, 2005.
Michael J. O'Grady,
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), HHS.
John D. Graham,
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), OMB.
[FR Doc. 05-19788 Filed 10-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-05-P
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