[Federal Register: November 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 219)]
[Notices]
[Page 64350]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13no03-56]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics: Meeting
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Department of
Health and Human Services announces the following advisory committee
meeting.
Name: National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS),
Subcommittee on Privacy and Confidentiality.
Time and Date: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. November 19, 2003; 8:30 a.m.-12:30
p.m. November 20, 2003.
Place: Silver Spring Hilton Hotel, 8727 Colesville Road, Silver
Spring, MD 20910.
Status: Open.
Background: The National Committee on Vital and Health
Statistics is the statutory public advisory body to the Secretary of
Health and Human Services in the area of health data, statistics,
and health information policy. Established by section 306(k) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242K(k)), its mandate includes
advising the Secretary on the implementation of the Administrative
Simplification provisions (Social Security Act, title XI, part C, 42
U.S.C. section 1320d to 1320d-8) of the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Public Law 104-191.
The NCVHS Subcommittee on Privacy and Confidentiality monitors
developments in health information privacy and confidentiality on
behalf of the full Committee and makes recommendations to the full
Committee so that it can advise the Secretary on implementation of
the health information privacy provisions of HIPAA.
Purpose: This meeting of the Subcommittee on Privacy and
Confidentiality will receive information on the implementation of
the regulation ``Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable
Health Information'' (45 CFR parts 160 and 164), promulgated under
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
The regulation and further information about it can be found on
the Web site of the Office for Civil Rights, at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/.
The regulation has been in effect since April 14, 2001.
Most entities covered by the regulation were required to come into
compliance by April 14, 2003.
The first day of the meeting will be conducted as a hearing, in
which the Subcommittee will gather information about the impact of
the regulation on public health reporting and on health care
providers, health plans and consumers. The Subcommittee will invite
representatives of affected groups to provide information about how
the regulation has affected the level of privacy and confidentiality
for protected health information, best practices for implementation
of the regulation, and information that might help to identify and
resolve barriers to compliance. The format will include one or more
invited panels and time for questions and discussion. The
Subcommittee will ask the invited witnesses for examples of the
effect the regulation has had on individuals and on entities subject
to the regulation. The first day will also include a time period
during which members of the public may deliver brief (3 minutes or
less) oral public comment about the implementation of the
regulation. To be included on the agenda, please contact Marietta Squire (301) 458-4524, by e-mail at mrawlinson@cdc.gov or postal
address at 3311 Toledo Road, Room 2340, Hyattsville, MD 20782 by
November 12, 2003.
The second day of the meeting will be conducted in two parts.
The first part will be a hearing in which the Subcommittee will
gather information about the effects of the regulation on
organizations involved in health research activities. The
Subcommittee will invite representatives of affected groups to
provide information about how the regulation has affected the level
of privacy and confidentiality for protected health information,
best practices for implementation of the regulation, and information
that might help to identify and resolve barriers to compliance. The
second part will consist of Subcommittee discussion of the testimony
it has heard and deliberations about possible recommendations to the
Secretary.
Persons wishing to submit written testimony only (which should
not exceed five double-spaced typewritten pages) should endeavor to
submit it by that date. Unfilled slots for oral testimony will also
be filled on the days of the meeting as time permits. Please consult
Ms. Squire for further information about these arrangements.
Additional information about the hearing will be provided on the
NCVHS Web site at http://www.ncvhs.hhs.gov shortly before the
hearing date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information about the content of the
hearing and matters to be considered may be obtained from Kathleen H.
Fyffe, Lead Staff Person for the NCVHS Subcommittee on Privacy and
Confidentiality, Office of the Assistant Secretary for planning and
Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 440D Humphrey
Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington DC 20201, telephone (202) 690-7152, e-mail Kathleen.Fyfee@hhs.gov or from Marjorie S.
Greenberg, Executive Secretary, NCVHS, NCHS, CDC, Room 2413,
Presidential Building IV, 3311 Toledo Road, Hyattsville, Maryland
20782, telephone (301) 458-4245.
Information about the committee, including summaries of past
meetings and a roster of committee members, is available on the
Committee's Web site at http:http://www.ncvhc.hhs.gov.
Dated: October 27, 2003.
James Scanlon,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science and Data Policy, OASPE.
[FR Doc. 03-28436 Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
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