ONC reorganizes for push on EHR, HITECH goals December 3, 2009

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

 
Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority; Office of 
the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of 
Authority The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology has reorganized its substructure components in order to more 
effectively meet the mission outlined by The Health Information 
Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, part of the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The 
reorganization affects all four of the original Director-level offices: 
the Office of Health Information Technology Adoption (OHITA); the 
Office of Interoperability and Standards (OIS); Office of Programs and 
Coordination (OPC); and the Office of Policy and Research (OPR). The 
new organizational structure is composed of five offices with direct 
reporting capability to the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology (National Coordinator): the Office of Economic Modeling and 
Analysis; the Office of the Chief Scientist; the Office of the Deputy 
National Coordinator for Programs & Policy; the Office of the Deputy 
National Coordinator for Operations, and the Office of the Chief 
Privacy Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marc Weisman, Office of the National 
Coordinator, Office of the Secretary, 200 Independence Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20201, 202-690-6285.
    Part A, Office of the Secretary, Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority for the Department of Health 
and Human Services, Part A, as last amended at 70 FR 48718-48720, dated 
August 19, 2005, is amended to reflect the restructuring of the Office 
of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) as 
follows:
    I. Under Part A, Chapter AR, Office of the National Coordinator for 
Health Information Technology delete, ``Section AR.10 Organization,'' 
in its entirety and replace with the following:
    Section AR.10 Organization. The Office of the National Coordinator 
for Health Information Technology (ONC) is under the direction of the 
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology who reports 
directly to the Secretary. The office consists of the following 
components:
    A. Immediate Office of the National Coordinator (ARA)
    B. Office of Economic Modeling and Analysis (ARB)
    C. Office of the Chief Scientist (ARC)
    D. Office of the Deputy National Coordinator For Programs & Policy 
(ARD)
    E. Office of the Deputy National Coordinator For Operations (ARE)
    F. Office of the Chief Privacy Officer (ARF)
    II. Under Part A, Chapter AR, Office of the National Coordinator 
for Health Information Technology, Section AR.20 Functions, Chapter B, 
delete, ``Office of the Health Information Technology Adoption (ARB),'' 
in its entirety and replace with the following:
    B. Office of Economic Modeling and Analysis (ARB): The Office of 
Economic Modeling and Analysis works with and reports directly to the 
National Coordinator. The Office: (1) Applies advanced mathematical or 
quantitative modeling to the U.S. health care system for simulating the 
microeconomic and macroeconomic effects of investing in health 
information technology and (2) provides advanced policy analysis of 
health information technology strategies and policies to the National 
Coordinator. Such modeling will be used with varying public policy 
scenarios to perform advanced health care policy analysis for 
requirements of the Recovery Act, such as reductions in health care 
costs resulting from adoption and use of health information technology. 
The results of these analyses provided to the National Coordinator will 
inform strategies to enhance the use of health information technology 
in improving the quality and efficiency of health care and improving 
public health.
    III. Under Part A, Chapter AR, Office of the National Coordinator 
for Health Information Technology, Section AR.20 Functions, Chapter C, 
delete, ``Office of Interoperability and Standards (ARC),'' in its 
entirety and replace with the following:
    C. Office of the Chief Scientist (ARC): The Office of the Chief 
Scientist is headed by the Chief Scientist. The Office of the Chief 
Scientist is responsible for: (1) Applying research methodologies to 
perform evaluation studies of health information technology grant 
programs; (2) identifying, tracking and supporting innovations in 
health information technology; (3) leading research activities mandated 
under the HITECH Act provisions of ARRA; (4) promoting applications of 
health information technology that support basic and clinical research; 
(5) collecting and communicating knowledge of health care informatics 
from and to international audiences; (6) collaborating with other 
agencies and departments on assessments of new health information 
technology programs; and (7) developing and maintaining educational 
programs for staff of the Office of the National Coordinator and 
advising the National Coordinator concerning the educational needs of 
the field of HIT. The Office of the Chief Scientist possesses and 
utilizes specialized knowledge of medical bioinformatics, which 
involves the study and application of advanced information methods and 
technologies in support of health care and population health.
    IV. Under Part A, Chapter AR, Office of the National Coordinator 
for Health Information Technology, Section AR.20 Functions, Chapter D, 
delete, ``Office of Programs and Coordination (ARE),'' in its entirety 
and replace with the following:
    D. Office of the Deputy National Coordinator for Programs & Policy 
(ARD): The Office of the Deputy National Coordinator for Programs & 
Policy is headed by the Deputy National Coordinator for Programs & 
Policy. The Office of the Deputy National Coordinator for Programs & 
Policy is responsible for: (1) Implementing and overseeing grant 
programs that advance the nation toward universal meaningful use of 
interoperable health information technology in support of health care 
and population health; (2) coordinating among HHS agencies and offices 
and among relevant executive branch agencies and the public health 
information technology programs and policies to avoid duplication of 
efforts and inconsistent activities; (3) developing the mechanisms for 
establishing and implementing standards necessary for nationwide health 
information exchange; (4)

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formulating policy for the privacy and security of health information; 
(5) developing policies as may be otherwise necessary for implementing 
its mission; and (6) maintaining a Federal Health IT Strategic Plan.
    V. Under Part A, Chapter AR, Office of the National Coordinator for 
Health Information Technology, Section AR.20 Functions, Chapter E, 
delete, ``Office of Policy and Research (ARF),'' in its entirety and 
replace with the following:
    E. Office of the Deputy National Coordinator for Operations (ARE): 
The Office of the Deputy National Coordinator for Operations is headed 
by the Deputy National Coordinator for Operations. The Office of the 
Deputy National Coordinator for Operations is responsible for 
performing the activities that support the Office of the National 
Coordinator for Health Information Technology's numerous programs. 
These include: (1) Budget formulation and execution; (2) contracts and 
grants management; (3) facilities management; (4) human resources; (5) 
stakeholder communications; and (6) financial and human capital 
strategic planning.
    VI. Under Part A, Chapter AR, Office of the National Coordinator 
for Health Information Technology, Section AR.20 Functions, immediately 
following Chapter E, insert the following:
    F. Office of the Chief Privacy Officer (ARF): The Office of the 
Chief Privacy Officer is headed by the Chief Privacy Officer, who 
advises the National Coordinator as directed by the ARRA. The Chief 
Privacy Officer may also report to other individuals, as necessary. The 
Chief Privacy Officer of the Office of the National Coordinator for 
Health Information Technology will be appointed by the Secretary. The 
Office of the Chief Privacy Officer is responsible for: (1) advising 
the National Coordinator on privacy, security, and data stewardship of 
electronic health information and (2) coordinating the Office of the 
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's efforts with 
similar privacy officers in other Federal agencies, State and regional 
agencies, and foreign countries with regard to the privacy, security, 
and data stewardship of electronic, individually identifiable health 
information.
    VII. Delegation of Authority. Pending further delegation, 
directives or orders by the Secretary or by the National Coordinator 
for Health Information Technology, all delegations and redelegations of 
authority made to officials and employees of affected organizational 
components will continue in them or their successors pending further 
redelegations, provided they are consistent with this reorganization.

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3101.

    Dated: November 20, 2009.
Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-28755 Filed 11-30-09; 8:45 am]

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