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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