Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Department of Health and Human Services.
Notice.
This notice announces the 30-day period for submission of requests for ONC-Approved Accreditor (ONC–AA) status.
42 U.S.C. 300jj–11.
The 30-day submission period begins upon publication of this notice in the
Carol Bean, Director, Certification Division, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, 202–690–7151.
The Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule establishing a permanent certification program for the purpose of certifying health information technology (HIT). Establishment of the Permanent Certification Program for Health Information Technology, 76 FR 1262 (Jan. 7, 2011) (the “Permanent Certification Program final rule”). The Permanent Certification Program final rule became effective on February 7, 2011 and added a new “Subpart E—Permanent Certification Program for HIT” to part 170 of title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This notice is issued pursuant to § 170.503(b), which provides that the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (the National Coordinator) will publish a notice in the
(1) A detailed description of the accreditation organization's conformance to ISO/IEC17011:2004 (incorporated by reference in § 170.599) and experience evaluating the conformance of certification bodies to ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996 (incorporated by reference in § 170.599);
(2) A detailed description of the accreditation organization's accreditation requirements[,] as well as how those requirements would complement the Principles of Proper Conduct for ONC–ACBs and ensure the surveillance approaches used by ONC–ACBs include the use of consistent, objective, valid, and reliable methods;
(3) Detailed information on the accreditation organization's procedures that would be used to monitor ONC–ACBs;
(4) Detailed information, including education and experience, about the key personnel who review organizations for accreditation; and
(5) Procedures for responding to, and investigating, complaints against ONC–ACBs.
Requests for ONC–AA status may be submitted by e-mail to