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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 231 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74788-74789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30798]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Patient Safety Organizations: Voluntary Relinquishment From 
HealthWatch, Inc.

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of delisting.

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SUMMARY: AHRQ has accepted a notification of voluntary relinquishment 
from HealthWatch, Inc. of its status as a Patient Safety Organization 
(PSO). The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (Patient 
Safety Act), Public Law 109-41, 42 U.S.C. 299b-21--b-26, provides for 
the formation of PSOs, which collect, aggregate, and analyze 
confidential information regarding the quality and safety of health 
care delivery. The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Final Rule 
(Patient Safety Rule), 42 CFR part 3, authorizes AHRQ, on behalf of the 
Secretary of HHS, to list as a PSO an entity that attests that it meets 
the statutory and regulatory requirements for listing. A PSO can be 
``delisted'' by the Secretary if it is found to no longer meet the 
requirements of the Patient Safety Act and patient Safety Rule, 
including when a PSO chooses to voluntarily relinquish its status as a 
PSO for any reason.

DATES: The directories for both listed and delisted PSOs are ongoing 
and reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The delisting was effective at 12 Midnight 
ET (2400) on November 1, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Both directories can be accessed electronically at the 
following HHS Web site: http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Grinder, Center for Quality 
Improvement and Patient Safety, AHRQ, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 
20850; Telephone (toll free): (866) 403-3697; Telephone (local): (301) 
427-1111; TTY (toll free): (866) 438-7231; TTY (local): (301) 427-1130; 
Email: pso@AHRQ.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 74789]]

Background

    The Patient Safety Act authorizes the listing of PSOs, which are 
entities or component organizations whose mission and primary activity 
is to conduct activities to improve patient safety and the quality of 
health care delivery. HHS issued the Patient Safety Rule to implement 
the Patient Safety Act. AHRQ administers the provisions of the Patient 
Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule (PDF file, 450 KB. PDF Help) 
relating to the listing and operation of PSOs. Section 3.108(d) of the 
Patient Safety Rule requires AHRQ to provide public notice when it 
removes an organization from the list of federally approved PSOs. AHRQ 
has accepted a notification from HealthWatch, Inc., PSO number P0010, 
which is a component entity of Quality Health Strategies, Inc., to 
voluntarily relinquish its status as a PSO. Accordingly, HealthWatch, 
Inc. was delisted effective at 12 Midnight ET (2400) on November 1, 
2011.
    More information on PSOs can be obtained through AHRQ's PSO Web 
site at http://www.pso.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

    Dated: November 16, 2011.
Carolyn M. Clancy,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-30798 Filed 11-30-11; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M
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