U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

2004 E-Gov Annual Report

December 6, 2004

1.  Implementation of the E-Government Act and HHS e-gov initiatives.

HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) are involved in both mission-specific
and HHS Enterprise e-gov initiatives. Examples of our implementing the
E-Government Act follow; five of which have been categorized as major
investments  (HHS EA Program, ACF\'s GATES, IHS\' RPMS, and NIH\'s CRIS
and eRA) and we reference their Exhibit 300\'s for performance measures.
HHS has developed and implemented the Performance Measurement and
Evaluation (PM&E) System, part of our CPIC process. The PME tool
aggregates data entered by multiple data sources quarterly and rolls up
this data into scorecards on each of the IT performance measures,
objectives, and goals outlined in the HHS Enterprise IT Strategic Plan.
The scorecards provide performance information that serves as the basis
for managers' decision-making and action planning in response to the
performance findings. HHS continuously pursues opportunities to
transform the way we do business and to improve upon communication with
our partners and constituents and although we are very pleased with our
accomplishments to date, we are committed to doing even better.

> The HHS Enterprise Architecture (EA) Program initiative supports the
> President's Management Agenda and the Secretary's One HHS Vision, the
> HHS mission and goals, and the Enterprise IT Strategic Plan FY 2003-FY
> 2008. The HHS EA Program will integrate the OPDIVs', Enterprise-wide,
> and Federal Health Architecture e-government initiatives. Two
> contracts were awarded on September 15, 2003, for the HHS Enterprise
> Architecture Program for Program Management Support and Technical
> Support. Representatives from each of the OPDIVs have been actively
> engaged in discussions of the baseline and target architecture.
> Security, privacy, financial implications, and other key factors have
> been incorporated into the target architecture planning.
>
> The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) has established
> and tracks the following annual performance goals linked to expanding
> E-Gov.

-   Increase the Use of Electronic Commerce/Standards in Medicare.

-   Improve Effectiveness of Dissemination of Medicare Information to
    Beneficiaries.

-   Improve CMS's Information Systems Security.

CMS is currently implementing the Next Generation Desktop (NGD). The NGD
is a computer application that is used by Customer Service
Representatives and CMS to answer telephone and written inquiries. The
NGD increases operational efficiency by handling inquiries via a single
application vs. the multiple applications in use today. By leveraging
existing NGD infrastructure, beneficiaries can access enrollment and
eligibility information over the Internet. The cost of completing an
internet transaction is pennies verses dollars to answer a telephone
inquiry. The NGD supports the expansion of e-government activities; is
not a category, "Tier 1," as defined by USA Services; and does not
duplicate any PMA e-gov initiative. The function is unique and specific
to the Medicare program, in that its focus is to respond to providers'
Medicare claims-related questions.

> Unrelated to the NGD, CMS is also conducting a pilot at one of the
> Medicare claims processing contractors giving fee-for-service
> providers direct online access to eligibility, claims status, and
> customer service information over the Internet. The pilot provides
> access to 5000 end users in four states. Additional pilots are planned
> to expand provider access in the coming year. The ultimate goal is a
> CMS transaction portal being developed for the new CMS Enterprise Data
> Center scheduled for late 2005.

Another non-NGD initiative CMS is working on is to automate responses to
provider inquiries at the Provider Call Centers by expanding the
capabilities of the Interactive Voice Response units (automated phone
systems) at the Medicare contractors. By having automated systems answer
provider questions; CMS can handle an increasing volume of inquiries
within a budget that does not increase at the same rate. This, too, is
not a Tier 1 system and not duplicative of any PMA initiative.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) coordinated the
development of Electronic Handbook (EHB) components to fully automate
HRSA's interactions with the Grants.gov, and continued business process
re-engineering of grants management, independent review, and program
review processes in view of the Department's consolidation activities.
HRSA coordinated EHB activities with Grants.gov and the consolidation
efforts of HHS grant management systems, with a target consolidation of
March 2006. In addition, most grantees programs can electronically
submit performance data and/or progress reports.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Operations Network
Incident Management System (EON IMS) system supports the agency's
counter-terrorism goals, and is developed in accordance with Homeland
Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-5), "Management of Domestic
Incidents", and the establishment of a National Incident Management
System. EON IMS will provide a web-based connection for all FDA offices
as well as external stakeholders for sharing and discussing accurate
real-time information about various incidents, agency operating plans
and procedures, contact databases, and analysis tools. External
stakeholders include: the public; healthcare organizations, facilities,
and providers; the States; local or Tribal governments; FDA
organizations; U.S. federal agencies; international agencies or foreign
governments; domestic or foreign firms; industry and government
associations; special interest groups; and the media. While the FDA has
not yet figured out the best way to quantify the benefits of the system,
the Bush Administration has proposed \$6.1 million as the cost of a
human life. One incident of food borne pathogens is likely to kill
individuals coming into contact with it. Assuming an incident per year
directly or indirectly resulting in 10 deaths, the benefit of early
preparedness, planning and warning would be \$61 million.

> Grants Administration Tracking and Evaluation System (GATES) is the
> HHS service grants processing response to the OMB/GSA Grants
> Management Line of Business (GMLoB) Request for Information and also
> submitted a proposal to provide GATES services to other government
> agencies interested in participating in a consortium of users as the
> preferred alternative described in the OMB Exhibit 300 for the GMLoB.
> It is managed by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).
>
> The Indian Health Service (IHS) implemented the E-Government Act
> during 2004 through several innovative e-health initiatives. These
> e-health solutions are transforming agency operations for new and/or
> improved electronic clinical, administrative, and management services
> that allow the IHS to evaluate and improve automated patient care data
> capacity to monitor health care delivery and the Government
> Performance Results Act (GPRA) measures. This has resulted in more
> complete and accurate data that is site-specific, and documentation of
> a high level of success in accomplishing GPRA targets based on
> preliminary analyses. This and IHS' success on GPRA clinical
> indicators demonstrate our commitment to keeping pace with industry
> standards in health care delivery and shows that superior health care
> is being delivered with limited resources. Significant IHS-specific
> e-government initiatives are highlighted below.

The IHS continued the development and testing of the IHS Electronic
Health Record (EHR). The IHS-EHR was implemented and is actively being
used for clinical practice at eight sites, seven of which are
contributing to the testing effort. Seven additional facilities have
completed all software preparations and are awaiting final certification
of IHS-EHR before going live with the electronic record. Still more
sites are undergoing preliminary preparation for 2005 implementation.
IHS-EHR is expected to improve health care delivery through improved
access to information, computerized provider order entry, and clinical
decision support. Formalized evaluation of the impact of EHR on clinical
practice is planned.

The IHS completed deployment of a standardized medication-error
reporting system as part of a comprehensive patient safety program. The
I/T/U programs are now using standardized medication error standards
developed by the United States Pharmacopoeia for use with their MedMarx
Medications Error Reporting System. Currently, 56 IHS and Tribal sites
in eight IHS areas use the MedMarx system, which includes an on-line
database system that allows for the tracking and trending of medication
errors. All other sites report the errors manually using the same
standards and categories. The IHS is working with the Departments of
Veterans Affairs and Defense to develop a plan for the deployment of a
medication-error reporting system as part of a comprehensive patient
safety program by the end of FY 2005.

> The National Institutes of Health (NIH) plays a leading role in the
> new generation of information technology systems to improve the use of
> health information architecture, financial management, and grants
> administration. The Clinical Center's Clinical Research Information
> System (CRIS) is providing a new generation of medical informatics to
> the NIH community. In direct response to HHS initiatives of an
> electronic health care record, standardization of health information
> using Consolidated Health Informatics (CHI) and SNOMED as
> standardization models that meet HIPAA standards, the CRIS project has
> enabled the NIH to meet these requests. A significant NIH migration
> effort is the incorporation of the NIH Business System (NBS) in the
> HHS Uniform Financial Management System. Implementation of the NBS
> will create an integrated transaction processing system that promotes
> data sharing and provides information in "real time," ultimately
> providing more efficient and cost effective administrative support to
> achieve NIH's scientific mission. The electronic Research
> Administration (eRA) system is tightly integrated with the President's
> Management Agenda and the Federal Enterprise Architecture. The eRA has
> been named one of the HHS "Centers of Excellence" for grants
> administration, specifically in the area of research grants, one of
> OMB's mission critical e‑government initiatives. NIH has been able to
> transform its operations through information technology resulting in
> opportunities to improve services to citizens through business
> performance improvements. NIH maintains an ongoing dialogue with
> interested parties to find innovative ways to use IT.

-   The National Library of Medicine (NLM) supports the National Network
    of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM), encompassing over 5,000 libraries
    that provide a link to the biomedical community and the public.
    Outreach programs target underserved communities, ensuring their
    input when developing web services. Collaboration with state and
    local institutions is enabling NLM now to link federal health
    information with local health services. NLM participates in
    "listening circles" to obtain input from Native Americans regarding
    ways that IT can help to address health objectives and works with
    national Native American organizations, Tribal colleges, Tribal
    leaders, and others to develop appropriate outreach strategies. NLM
    serves as the executive secretariat for Partners in Information
    Access for the Public Health Workforce, a public-private partnership
    of several HHS agencies, professional associations representing
    public health officials and schools of public health, and related
    foundations. Through this partnership, NLM receives ongoing feedback
    and assistance in making its electronic services more useful and
    accessible to the public health community.

-   Because the CRIS uses COTS products, there is close collaboration
    with vendors to maximize the use of software. The CRIS uses the
    Eclipsys Medical Information System with an electronic Medicine
    Administration Record (MAR) within its standard software package.
    This enables clear documentation of medications administered to each
    patient, ensures validation to prevent medical errors, and provides
    a wealth of data for research purposes. The Clinical Center has held
    two round table sessions over the past three years to gather experts
    in the field of medical informatics to ensure the success of the
    CRIS implementation as well as to gather information on best
    practices, use of new technologies, and business processes.

-   NLM has launched several major consumer Web-based information
    services (MedlinePlus, ClinicalTrials.gov, ToxTown,
    NIHSeniorHealth.gov, Household Products Database, Genetics Home
    Reference) specifically designed to provide the American public with
    reliable, high quality health information. Usage statistics
    demonstrate the effectiveness of these services in fulfilling NLM's
    mission to disseminate biomedical information widely. MedlinePlus
    usage grew between FY 2003 and FY 2004 from 214 million page views
    to 499 million; and from 16 million unique visitors to nearly 52
    million. It is the highest ranked U.S. government site by the
    American Consumer Satisfaction Index.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment and NHSC
Scholarship Programs are administered by the Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA). They provide scholarships and loans in
exchange for service in underserved communities, increase access to
comprehensive primary and preventive health care, and improve the health
status of underserved and vulnerable populations. During FY 2004, HRSA
made steady progress in deployment of electronic support for the NHSC
Loan Repayment and Scholarship programs. HRSA improved both the
efficiency of electronic capture of applications and the back-end
processing of loan and scholarship application data. These were
collected in Web-based information architecture with full automation of
the records for these transactions.

The automation of Web applications for scholarship and loan programs
remains a high priority for HRSA, and the ability to apply to the
programs using the Web is vital to increase access to these programs. In
2004 the proportion of applications received electronically via the Web
has grown to such a degree that paper processing is rarely used.

Benefits from HRSA's E-Gov efforts with the NHSC programs include the
following.

-   Increased public exposure with Web access provides exposure to a
    greater pool of applicants and ensures that a full complement of
    funded positions can be filled each year.

-   Simplified application process with user-friendly Web interfaces
    results in a reduction of time and effort needed by applicants to
    apply.

-   Shortened cycle time and internal review with automated support for
    the selection and review process allows HRSA staff to handle a
    greater number of applications in a reduced time frame.

-   Improved customer relationships with increased support for online
    administrative interactions between scholars/loan repayers, health
    center grantees, and HRSA.

Continuing development of automation of the NHSC programs will include
tracking scholarship and loan repayment applicants/awardees, scholarship
benefits, designated communities, health care delivery sites, service
commitment, paying for or reimbursing expenses associated with a
clinician's education in exchange for service, and identifying eligible
sites within Health Profession Shortage Areas (HPSAs). The anticipated
improvements via electronic data collection and information integration
will allow HRSA to meet the President's Five-Year Growth Initiative
targets of broadening access to health care services for the underserved
by an additional 1,200 new and expanding sites and serving 6.1 million
more patients by 2006. The modernization efforts to the NHSC programs
will house the data necessary to respond to HRSA/Health Center OMB
Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) short- and long-term goals that
are tied to the Presidential goals (i.e., broaden access to sites,
assurance of heath access to the most vulnerable populations, and
reduction of low birth weights).

Structure Product Labeling (SPL) is another FDA effort. By providing
mandatory electronic standards for product labeling the SPL initiative
seeks to improve patient safety through accessible product information,
support other initiatives to improve patient care by better management
of health care information, and meet mandates to provide standards for
drug information (labeling, terminology, code sets). It is a
collaborative effort, involving manufacturers and other agencies, among
them the National Library of Information and the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality (AHRQ). SPL will save lives by providing up-to-date
and accurate information to health care providers and the public,
thereby significantly eliminating medication errors, thus saving
countless lives and in many cases, substantial hospital costs.

2\. A summary of the implementation of the specific privacy provisions
of Section 208 of the E-Government Act.

a.  The reporting of each instance where persistent tracking technology
    is used.

> HHS has two OPDIVs that use persistent tracking technology on the
> Internet. They are NIH and CDC.
>
> [National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine (NLM),
> National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) PubMed
> database]{.underline}

-   Explain the need to use persistent tracking technology.

> PubMed is a database developed by the NCBI. The database was designed
> to provide access to citations (with abstracts) from biomedical
> journals. It includes a linking feature, LinkOut, which provides
> access to full-text journal articles at Web Sites of participating
> journal providers, as well as to other related Web resources. PubMed
> is the bibliographic component of the NCBI's Entrez retrieval system.
> Entrez is the text-based search and retrieval system used at NCBI for
> all the major databases including PubMed. PubMed's primary data
> resource is MEDLINE, the NLM's premier bibliographic database covering
> the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the
> health care system, and the preclinical sciences, such as molecular
> biology. MEDLINE contains bibliographic citations and author abstracts
> from about 4,600 biomedical journals published in the United States
> and 70 other countries. The database contains about 12 million
> citations dating back to the mid-1960s.

Each weekday, more than 200,000 individual users conduct over one
million searches of PubMed, averaging over 35 million searches of PubMed
a month and over 400 million projected this year.

> The NLM sought to offer its PubMed users an innovative tool, the
> Cubby, that would store search strategies and search preferences from
> session to session. This tool involves the use of a persistent cookie.
> The Cubby is an important capability for PubMed and the other Entrez
> databases. The Entrez Cubby feature, as its name implies, allows users
> to store search strategies, e-mail addresses, and user preferences
> such as LinkOut displays and default document delivery services. In
> addition, the Cubby will soon add the ability to automatically send
> e-mail results for user stored search strategies based on a user's
> selected update schedule. Currently users need to register and logon
> whenever they want to activate their Cubby preferences. It would be
> advantageous to allow users to logon to the Cubby, which would then
> set a persistent cookie, and their preferences would remain active
> until they logout of the Cubby. Users that always want their Cubby
> preferences in force when searching the NCBI Entrez databases would
> only need to Logon to the Cubby once since the persistent cookie would
> not be removed unless they clicked a Cubby logout button.

Thus, if users decide to register for the Cubby, a persistent cookie
would be enabled on their browser. However, a clearly visible option
would be presented that would give registrants the choice of opting out
of the persistent cookie.

> This capability will save critical time for busy medical practitioners
> and researchers. A medical practitioner such as a physician or nurse
> needs to find information quickly in diagnosing and treating a
> patient. They can save valuable time if their previous search
> strategies and preferences are still available without them having to
> reenter them each time or relying on the default settings. Use of the
> cookie setting will lead to faster, more precise, and more
> comprehensive searches, that in medical settings can translate to
> improved patient care.

Given the overall usage of PubMed, any improvement in search capability
translates into thousands of hours saved for many medical practitioners
and researchers. (To estimate an aggregate time savings, we assume that
the average search session is 10 minutes long, multiplied by 300,000
daily users which totals 50,000 session hours per day. A mere 10%
improvement in search time would result in saving 5,000 person-hours per
day.)

> Information accessed on PubMed is critical for patient care and for
> locating the most current research in biomedicine for medical
> practitioners and researchers around the world. By making the Cubby
> settings automatic through the use of a persistent cookie, each search
> with the optimized settings will be more precise and comprehensive
> than searches performed with just the default settings. Better
> searches means better information and better information can only
> improve health care and research.

-   Identify the safeguards to protect any information collected from
    persistent tracking technology.

No user information is collected or maintained. The user preferences are
stored in a database on the NCBI system under the Cubby user ID. The
Cubby user ID and password are created by each user during the Cubby
registration; no other information is required.

-   Provide the contact information (name, title, phone number, and
    email) of the agency official who approved each instance of tracking
    technology use.

In accordance with HHS IRM Policy for the Usage of Persistent Cookies
(HHS-IRM-2000-0009), the persistent cookie was approved by Secretary
Tommy G. Thompson.

-   Provide the actual privacy policy notification of such use.

> Cubby users may set a persistent cookie when logging into the Cubby
> website. The cookie is stored on the user's machine and allows the
> user's web browser to 'remember' various user-specifiable preferences,
> such as LinkOut displays and default document delivery services. The
> cockle contains only the information provided by the individual user
> in specifying his/her preferences; it does not contain any information
> pertaining to the user's searches or navigation through the site. Use
> of the cookie is completely optional and. is not required to access or
> utilize the Cubby function. If users do not choose the persistent
> cookie selection in their Cubby settings the system will not create
> one. NLM has received prior approval by the Secretary, HHS for the use
> of this persistent cookie. The NLM provides clear and conspicuous
> notice through its Privacy page
> ([www.nlm.nih.gov/privacy.html](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/privacy.html))
> about the use of cookies and other automated means of collecting and
> storing information and privacy safeguards.
>
> [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]{.underline}

-   Explain the need to use persistent tracking technology;

> 1 -- Professional training and education via the web
> ([[http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/training.htm]{.underline}](http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/training.htm))
>
> CDC provides training modules to support the Behavioral Risk Factor
> Surveillance System (BRFSS). Cookies that are placed by this site
> contain no personal information. Any cookie of this type will only be
> used to enhance the user's experience of the site. For example, a
> training module may remind a user of sections that they have
> completed. The cookie information will not be used or collected by CDC
> and will not contain any personal or sensitive information that can be
> collected by any other means.
>
> 2 -- Professional discussion forums
>
> ([[http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/wfrs/index.htm]{.underline}](http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/wfrs/index.htm))
>
> Professional collaborative forums and e-training over the web have
> become an important way of conducting professional activities to
> advance science. CDC's use of cookies in these applications is solely
> to store the user's ID as a convenience to them so they can re-enter
> the interactive website more easily and pick-up at the place they
> ended during the last session.
>
> 3 -- Public Health Surveillance from State and local health agencies
> ([https://sdn.cdc.gov](https://sdn.cdc.gov/))
>
> CDC's national electronic disease surveillance system (NEDSS)
> initiative is a critical project to integrate CDC's surveillance
> systems over the web to be highly secure, effective, and
> time-sensitive. The CDC Secure Data Network (SDN) is key to NEDSS as
> well as existing CDC surveillance systems that are being reengineered
> to be web-enabled. SDN is used only by authorized State/local public
> health staff for public health surveillance purposes. The users are
> required to possess CDC-issued digital certificates for authentication
> and the communications are fully encrypted.
>
> 4 -- Publications ordering
> (<https://www2.cdc.gov/nchstp_od/PIWeb/Tborderform.asp>)
>
> Persistent cookies are used to allow the user to store their shipping
> information in their cookies for repeat ordering. Clear notice (see
> below) is given to the user about storing this information and the
> election to store the shipping information is totally optional as a
> convenience to the user. The communications with this site are
> encrypted.

-   Identify the safeguards to protect any information collected from
    persistent tracking technology;

> CDC employs a comprehensive defense in depth strategy for information
> security which includes many elements such as: certification and
> accreditation of systems, risk assessments, vulnerability assessments,
> perimeter protections such as firewalls, intrusion detection
> monitoring, virus prevention, database security controls, application
> security controls, application authorization and authentication
> requirements, least privilege access policy, etc.

-   Provide the contact information (name, title, phone number, and
    email) of the agency official who approved each instance of tracking
    technology use; and

> Donna Shalala, then Secretary, DHHS (signed January 18, 2001)

-   Provide the actual privacy policy notification of such use.

> CDC's Privacy Policy notice is located at:
>
> <http://www.cdc.gov/doc.do?id=0900f3ec80093c90>

[HHS Plans to Enforce Prohibitions Against Using Unapproved Persistent
Tracking Technology]{.underline}

> In addition, in response to the requirements of the E-Gov Act
> regarding persistent tracking technology and an HHS Office of the
> Inspector General report recommending "monitoring web sites to ensure
> that all sites are in compliance with...applicable laws", the HHS
> ITIRB approved in August 2004 the acquisition and implementation of an
> enterprise Web management tool. The Department has acquired an
> enterprise license for Watchfire WebXM, software that is capable of
> scanning the approximately 10 million Web pages at HHS to determine if
> persistent tracking technology is in use. As this monitoring is put in
> place, any OPDIV found using unapproved persistent tracking technology
> will be requested to stop such use and submit the appropriate request
> to receive Secretarial approval in accordance with HHS IRM Policy for
> the Usage of Persistent Cookies (HHS-IRM-2000-0009).

b.  A readable agency privacy policy machine or an explanation of why it
    is not readable.

> In the HHS 2003 E-Gov Annual Report, we reported to OMB that
> machine-readable privacy policies will be implemented on public
> websites by September 30, 2005. HHS wants to be regarded as a
> government leader in privacy compliance to increase transparency in
> the information collection and use process, thus increasing the level
> of public trust in the agency. HHS has an estimated 10 million web
> pages situated on decentralized web servers and we require a
> methodology that is scaleable and customizable to unique OPDIV
> requirements. In addition, HHS needs a methodology that will
> strategically position HHS for future privacy policy changes and
> requirements. At this time, HHS has limited options in its P3P
> implementation strategy. To accommodate HHS requirements, a
> three-phased P3P implementation approach was devised: Phase I: Policy
> Development; Phase II: Technical Implementation; and Phase III:
> Governance and Continuous Assessment. This approach is compliant with
> Section 208 and positions HHS to move towards customized P3P policies
> in the future.
>
> c\. The HHS principal contact(s) for information technology/web
> matters and the individual primarily responsible for privacy are as
> follows.

# General IT Matters: 

# Charles Havekost, HHS CIO, 202-690-6162, [**Charles.Havekost@hhs.gov**](mailto:Charles.Havekost@hhs.gov)

# IT Privacy and Security

> Fred Cole, HHS CSO, 202-690-8685, <Fred.Cole@hhs.gov>

# Privacy 

> Ross Cirrincione, HHS Privacy Officer, 202-690-7254,
> <Rosario.Cirrincione@hhs.gov>

# Web Content and Management 

Co-Managers HHS Web Management Team:

> Alice Bettencourt, <Alice.Bettencourt@hhs.gov>
>
> Bill Hall, Co-Manager HHS Web Management Team, <Bill.Hall@hhs.gov>

3\. A summary of HHS' progress to implement information technology human
resource strategy as described in Section 209 of the Act.

> HHS plans to use the OPM "Report on the Establishment of a
> Government-Wide Information Technology Training Program" as a
> framework to validate its efforts in analyzing the training
> requirements necessary to perform well in accomplishing our mission.
> This validation has lead to some focus on areas of training
> insufficiency, such as project management and earned value management,
> which will provide a more effective and efficient IT workforce. A
> broad Department-wide offering in the area of project management
> training has improved the HHS capability and awareness in the rigors
> of this discipline. As other areas of need are exposed in the course
> of this ongoing analysis there will be other training offered. HHS is
> committed to finalizing this validation timely to meet our previously
> stated goal to complete the implementation of our IT workforce
> development action plan by December 2005. HHS has also begun to
> explore the potential of having any new training made available
> through the HHS University, a participant in the E-Learning E-Gov
> initiative, as part of the ongoing program of workforce development.
> This will allow for a consistent base level of training to be made
> available from multiple sources across the Department.
>
> In acknowledgement of the diverse workforce and agency missions found
> within HHS, flexibility has been provided to the agencies to target
> the areas of greatest need within their organizational scope. While
> some of the smaller agencies have chosen to align themselves closely
> with the HHS Departmental IT workforce development planning, others,
> especially the larger agencies, have begun the development of plans
> that are more specialized to their needs and workforce. A sample of
> some of these activities follows.
>
> Administration for Children and Families (ACF) IT management and staff
> are responsible for the generation and execution of individual
> Learning Actions Plans (LAPs). These plans allow staff to indicate
> 2210 competency areas that are pertinent to their specific IT job
> description in addition to competencies that fall under the
> responsibility of the ACF IT program. Staff members suggest and ACF IT
> management approves training opportunities that fulfill skill
> acquisition. ACF IT staff undertake training at suitable times during
> the year and report training results by annotating the LAP and
> presenting results to management. Training opportunities include, but
> are not limited to: HHS Distance Learning Portal, product specific
> vendor training, and competency specific external site training. In
> addition, new EPMS elements include a specific element for Employee
> Development. The LAP is integral to this performance review element.
> One ACF staff member has completed the CIO Certificate Program,
> sponsored by the DoD CIO.  ACF will be using the OPM Training Report
> to prepare the individual Learning Action Plans described above.
>
> The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Information
> Systems, has successfully managed IT Workforce Planning and
> Restructuring using a phased approach that included a skills
> assessment, a workforce analysis, and workforce planning activity that
> resulted in a workforce and staffing plan that continues to address
> the following.

-   Categorization of functions to include IT Operations, MMA, IT
    Revitalization, and Rx Card.

-   Performance of rigorous staff and manager resource analysis for all
    categories.

-   Gap analysis against baseline workforce data.

-   Identification of optimal redeployment, hiring, and outsourcing
    numbers.

-   Requests for staffing authority in each category.

-   Integration of IT Training planning with Workforce Planning
    activities.

> FDA has established policies, such as the Career Training Agreement
> Policy, and programs, such as the Leadership Development Program, that
> provide opportunities for training and career improvement across the
> broad spectrum of skills employed by the FDA. Moreover, FDA Web sites
> provide easy access to, and enrollment in, e-training alternatives
> such as GoLearn and HHS University. Nonetheless, while IT training is
> a part of these training programs, the FDA has been absent a truly
> focused IT training strategy to ensure that its needs in information
> technology are addressed, both from the perspective of skills required
> and the development of future leaders. To this end the Office of the
> CIO initiated the following steps in FY 2004.

-   Consolidated IT organizations, which had the key by-product of
    providing an organization structure better able to offer IT training
    that truly meets the needs of the Agency.

-   Initiated a project management training program to address the
    skill/competency gap identified in last year's Annual E-Gov report.
    This resulted in a graduation class in November 2004 with 48
    individuals receiving masters certificates and 15 individuals
    receiving associates certificates. These students now have body of
    knowledge needed to take the test for PMI certification.

-   Identified potential leadership candidates who completed the Federal
    Executive Institute course.

-   Chartered an IT HR Council to provide a forum to discuss and make
    decisions concerning Agency level HR policy direction regarding the
    developing, supporting and recognizing of information technology
    personnel. The Council conducted its first meeting in December.

> In FY 2005, efforts in the HR arena will focus on developing a roadmap
> to meet gaps as identified by FDA and those in OPM\'s Training Report,
> among which will continue to be project management. This will be
> accomplished within the framework of the IT HR Council. PM training
> will continue, including the fostering of formal PMI certification.
> FDA is also involved with an HHS-wide effort to expand project
> management training by developing an HHS Project Management Training
> and Certification Program that will be built on core project
> management skills and will be in alignment with HHS strategic goals.

4\. A brief description of the process HHS has established for
determining which information will be made available on the Internet as
described in Section 207 of the Act.

> The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is developing
> an inventory of Web site content as required by Section 207(f)(2) of
> the E-Government Act of 2002, and will submit the final inventory, or
> a link thereto, to the Office on Management and Budget on or before
> December 17, 2004. HHS is on schedule to comply with the deadline
> specified in the Act. The inventory is intended to be comprehensive,
> and to represent Web site content from all agencies and staff offices
> of HHS.
>
> In developing a draft inventory for public comment, HHS has reviewed
> information collected as part of the redesign process for HHS.Gov,
> including citizen comments via e-mail, a customer survey, focus
> groups, and usability tests; current Web site statistics indicating
> usage of existing content; and related information developed through
> the Information Quality Guidelines process (per Section 515 of Public
> Law 106-554, known as the Data Quality Act).
>
> The inventory is posted on
> [www.hhs.gov/webinventory/](http://www.hhs.gov/webinventory/) for
> public comment. Public comments will be accepted through December 12,
> 2004. The final inventory will be posted on the Web site on December
> 17, 2004, and subsequently transmitted to OMB.