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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology; HIT Standards Committee and HIT Policy Committee Nomination Letters

ACTION: Notice on letters of nomination.
SUMMARY: In addition, we also seek nominations to the HIT Policy Committee (established by the new section 3002 of the PHSA), which makes recommendations to the National Coordinator on the implementation of a nationwide health information technology infrastructure. The HIT Policy Committee will consist of at least 20 members. Three of these members will be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Of the three members, one must be a representative of the Department of Health and Human Services and one must be a public health official. If, 45 days after the enactment of the Act, an official authorized under the Act to make appointments to the HIT Policy Committee has failed to make an appointment(s), the Act authorizes the Secretary of HHS to make such appointments. The Department of Health and Human Services is consequently accepting nominations for the HIT Policy Committee.

New section 3008 of the PHSA allows the Secretary to recognize the NeHC (if modified to be consistent with the requirements of section 3002 and 3003 of the Act and other federal laws) as either the HIT Policy Committee or the HIT Standards Committee. At this time, the Department of Health and Human Services is evaluating options regarding the National eHealth Collaborative and its role in relation to those Committees.

For appointments to either the HIT Standards Committee or the HIT Policy Committee, I am announcing the following: Letters of nomination and resumes should be submitted by March 16, 2009 to ensure adequate opportunity for review and consideration of nominees prior to appointment of members.

ADDRESSES: Office of the National Coordinator, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20201, Attention: Judith Sparrow, Room 729D. E-mail address:HIT_FACA_nominations@hhs.gov. Please indicate in your letter or e-mail to which Committee your nomination belongs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ONC/HHS, Judith Sparrow, (202) 205-4528.
Authority:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5), section 13101.

 Dated: March 9, 2009. Robert M. Kolodner, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.