PUBLIC COMMENTS:

In order to assist HHS and OMB in examining regulatory burden and areas for regulatory reform, HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) is requesting public comments about quantifying the economic impact of federal health care regulations. In particular, commenters are requested to provide an estimate of the economic impact of health care regulations, guidance documents, or paperwork requirements, and also to describe the methods used to calculate the economic impact of the regulations.

Comments on the economic impact of regulations will be considered in addition to the public nominations we receive concerning 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 safety and quality of care and other patient protections. The emphasis is on major regulations issued within the last ten (10) years.

HHS, in cooperation with OMB, will assemble and evaluate the estimates of economic impact of health care regulations and the regulatory reform nominations and discuss the information with the relevant HHS Operating Divisions, taking into account statutory, economic, public health, and budgetary considerations.

We are particularly interested in receiving comments that estimate the economic burden of regulations. To view an example of a responsive hypothetical submission, please click on the link below.

Example Comments (hypothetical)

For Further Information Contact:
Marty McGeein, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 424E, Washington, DC 20201. Telephone: (202) 690-6443.

Submission of Public Comments: For those unable to attend the town hall meetings, ASPE requests that estimates of economic impact of health care regulations (including explanations of suggested regulatory reforms) be submitted in writing electronically to ASPE at: TownHallMeetingsComments@hhs.gov. For those attending the meetings who wish to submit documentation to support their comments: TownHallMeetingsDocuments@hhs.gov.

Further instructions for those wishing to make comments at a particular Town Hall Meeting will be available on the registration page for that meeting.