76836 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 182 / Thursday, September 19, 2024 / Notices 

CDC pathogen-specific programs in the 

evaluation of existing and in the design 

of innovative and novel diagnostic tests 

and assays (molecular and 

immunological); (12) provides 

laboratory triage capability at CDC for 

unknown biological and chemical 

agents; (13) produces hybridomas, 

monoclonal, and polycolonal 

antibodies, and in vitro diagnostic 

products for diagnostic research 

purposes, proficiency testing, pandemic 

preparedness, outbreak response and 

surveillance activities; (14) collaborates 

with subject matter experts in regulatory 

compliant development, production, 

packaging, storing and distribution of 

Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2)/Biosafety Level 

3 (BSL3) reagents, select agents, novel 

immuno- chemical reagents and 

reference diagnostic reagents; (15) 

provides dispensing, lyophilizing, label 

production, and device assembly 

services; (16) improves the process of 

bench-top development and in-house 

pilot scale production, providing 

immediate availability for distribution, 

preventing backorders, and streamlining 

commercialization; (17) operates the 

CDC Biorepository as a centralized 

resource to preserve CDC’s valuable 

samples and provide ongoing support to 

CDC programs; (18) manages sample 

collections, along with associated 

information and data obtained from 

CDC’s public health surveillance, 

research, and outbreak responses; (19) 

serves as the administrator that issues 

CDC’s required standardized identifiers: 

the CDC Sample Identifier and CDC 

Unique Identified; and (20) provides 

consultation in all of the above 

technical services. 

Laboratory Products and Services 

Branch (CANDE). (1) maintains 

laboratory water treatment systems to 

ensure the quality of CDC reagent grade 

laboratory water; (2) produces, 

develops, evaluates, and distributes 

custom microbiological and cell culture 

media, buffers, chemical reagents, and 

cell cultures; (3) maintains CDC’s 

Biological Reference Reagent Inventory 

and a serviceable inventory at the 

DCLSR Continuity of Operations storage 

facility; (4) packages infectious 

substances, clinical specimens, and 

other materials, ensuring compliance 

with shipping regulations; (5) manages 

all CDC exports and deemed exports 

ensuring compliance with regulations 

and serves as CDC liaison with 

Department of Commerce for exportrelated issues; (6) coordinates laboratory 

glassware and consumable stockroom 

operations; and (7) provides 

consultation in all of the above 

technical services. 

Delegations of Authority 

All delegations and redelegations of 

authority made to officials and 

employees of affected organizational 

components will continue in them or 

their successors pending further 

redelegation, provided they are 

consistent with this reorganization. 

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3101) 

Robin D. Bailey, Jr, 

Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention. 

[FR Doc. 2024–21412 Filed 9–18–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention 

Reorganization of the Office of Health 

Equity 

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC), the Department of 

Health and Human Services (HHS). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: CDC has modified its 

structure. This notice announces the 

reorganization of the Office of Health 

Equity (OHE). OHE abolished an office 

and modified mission and function 

statements. 

DATES: This reorganization of OHE was 

approved by the Director of CDC on 

September 13, 2024, and became 

effective September 13, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kem 

Williams, Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, 

MS TW–3, Atlanta, GA 30329; 

Telephone 404–639–7199; Email: 

ohepolicy@cdc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Part C 

(Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention) of the Statement of 

Organization, Functions, and 

Delegations of Authority of the 

Department of Health and Human 

Services (45 FR 67772–76, dated 

October 14, 1980, and corrected at 45 FR 

69296, October 20, 1980, as amended 

most recently at 89 FR 68442–68443, 

dated August 26, 2024) is amended to 

reflect the reorganization of Office of 

Health Equity, Immediate Office of the 

Director, Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention. Specifically, the 

changes are as follows: 

I. Under Part C, Section C–B, 

Organization and Functions, make the 

following changes: 

• Update the mission for the Office of 

Health Equity (CAG) 

• Update the mission for the Office of 

the Director (CAG1) 

• Abolish the Office of Equitable 

Population Health (CAGB) 

• Update the mission for the Office of 

Minority Health (CAGC) 

• Update the mission for the Office of 

Health Equity (CAGD) 

II. Under Part C, Section C–B, 

Organization and Functions, within the 

Office of Health Equity (CAG), delete 

the mission or function statements for 

and replace with the following: 

Office of Health Equity (CAG). The 

Office of Health Equity (OHE) is located 

in the CDC Immediate Office of the 

Director and serves as principal advisor 

to the CDC Director on all health equity 

matters domestic and global. In carrying 

out its mission, OHE: (1) leads an 

agency-wide health equity strategy that 

includes crosscutting multi-year 

initiatives that advance comprehensive, 

well-defined, and measurable health 

outcomes; (2) coordinates health equity 

science including advancing the 

surveillance of health equity indicators 

and the science of achieving health 

equity by consistently applying data 

collection and analysis standards in 

collaboration with the Office of Public 

Health Data, Surveillance, and 

Technology, as well as the Office of 

Science; (3) coordinates programs, 

practices, policies, and budget decisions 

across the agency with a health equity 

lens that includes a comprehensive 

view of disparities (including race, 

ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, 

rurality, disability) and health inequities 

(e.g., social determinants of health); (4) 

works in collaboration with CDC’s 

Office of Communications to develop 

and lead agency-wide communication 

efforts aimed at increasing awareness, 

transparency, language access, and 

cultural responsiveness; disseminate 

scientific and programmatic findings to 

the public; and foster synergy amongst 

CDC health equity initiatives; (5) shares 

best practices, coordinates, collaborates, 

and collectively advances health equity 

standards and principles in science, 

programs, and in communications with 

the public and our partners; (6) leads 

and supports a health equity approach 

for emergency responses across the 

agency that includes working with 

partners to reach communities that are 

underserved and subject to largely 

preventable health disparities and 

health-related needs; and (7) applies an 

intersectionality lens to addressing 

health disparities by working across 

units within OHE and CIOs to increase 

program efficacy closing gaps that 

perpetuate disparities and inequities. 

Office of the Director (CAG1). The 

Office of the Director provides 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 182 / Thursday, September 19, 2024 / Notices 76837 

leadership, oversight, fiscal 

management, and coordination to all 

units within the Office of Health Equity, 

including leading and coordinating the 

planning and implementation of an 

agency-wide strategy to address largely 

preventable health disparities and 

health inequities among persons with 

disabilities, people who identify as 

LGBTQ+, and people who live in rural 

and frontier communities. The Office of 

the Director ensures collaboration 

through a matrix management approach 

across all units within OHE to achieve 

an intersectional approach to reducing 

health disparities in populations that 

have experienced persistent patterns of 

poor health outcomes. Further, the 

Office of the Director: (1) drives 

Executive accountability and responsive 

decision-making relevant to health 

equity at all levels; (2) ensures agencywide health equity approaches through 

the development of key deliverables and 

indicators (e.g., standardized 

documents, processes, policies, and 

practices that advance health equity); (3) 

incorporates health equity into existing 

and future agency policies and programs 

building on current efforts that have 

been effective in achieving equity; (4) 

leads the advancement of intersectional 

health equity practices and principles 

across the agency; (5) leads efforts to 

build agency-wide competency in 

health equity and social determinants of 

health (SDOH) that effectively support 

cross-cutting equity considerations for 

both ongoing activities and during 

emergency response-related efforts; (6) 

leads and contributes technical 

expertise to the development of training 

materials which will support a cadre of 

professionals who will assist in 

emergency response work and who have 

expertise related to disproportionately 

affected communities (e.g., racial and 

ethnic minority populations, people 

with disabilities, and non-U.S. born 

persons), prioritizing individuals who 

can assist in a culturally responsive and 

linguistically appropriate manner and 

who would easily be able to engage with 

appropriate community leaders in the 

response; (7) serves as the primary point 

of contact for efforts across the CDC’s 

ecosystem to develop and share best 

practices, coordinate, collaborate, and 

collectively advance health equity 

standards and principles in science, 

programs, and in communications with 

the public; and (8) proactively fosters 

community engagement with existing 

partners, STLT health departments, 

engagement with people with lived 

experience from disproportionately 

affected communities and strengthen 

relationships with national and 

community-based organizations (CBOs). 

Office of Minority Health (CAGC). 

Office of Minority Health (OMH) (1) 

promotes public health research, 

evidence-based programs, policies, and 

strategies to improve the health and 

well-being of racial and ethnic minority 

populations; (2) focuses on the 

collective goal of the success, 

sustainability and dissemination of 

health equity promoting policies, 

programs, and practices; (3) provides 

subject matter expertise to the Office of 

Health Equity in areas that are related to 

racial and ethnic minority health; (4) 

works in a coordinated manner with the 

Office of Women’s Health (OWH) to 

ensure an intersectionality lens is 

applied to the work to improve the 

health and well-being of people who 

identify with a racial and/or ethnic 

population as well as other identity 

groups such as people with disabilities; 

(5) applies an intersectionality lens, 

contributes subject matter expertise to 

the development of guidance documents 

and standards related to improving 

minority health; (6) applies an 

intersectionality lens, partners with 

CIOs to implement and refine how 

health equity approaches related to 

minority health are operationalized and 

institutionalized; (7) contributes 

technical expertise to the development 

of quantitative and qualitative 

indicators and metrics needed to assess 

minority health and associated health 

inequities; (8) partners with CIOs to use 

standardized tools and metrics relevant 

to minority health to monitor progress, 

measure effectiveness, and make 

changes to improve health outcomes; (9) 

contributes technical expertise to the 

development of minority health and 

equity-related technical communication 

products (e.g., white papers, technical 

briefs, success stories); (10) provides 

thought leadership and technical 

consultation in the science and practice 

of minority health, health equity, and 

the elimination of health disparities; 

(11) applies an intersectionality lens, 

contributes technical expertise in 

minority health to agency-wide 

communication efforts aimed to 

increase awareness of CDC’s equity 

approaches and infuse those approaches 

into CDC’s public health work; (12) 

supports the Chief Health Equity Officer 

(CHEO) unit during emergency 

responses; and (13) assists the 

Immediate Office of the Director, as 

needed, to identify and develop 

partnerships with STLTS health 

departments, minority health-focused 

national and CBOs. 

Office of Women’s Health (CAGD). (1) 

promotes public health research, 

evidence-based programs, policies, and 

strategies to improve the health and 

well-being of women and girls; (2) 

serves as a central point for women’s 

health and raises visibility of risk factors 

and other conditions that impact 

women’s and girls’ health; (3) provides 

subject matter expertise to support 

gender and women’s health and 

collaborates with OMH to develop a 

whole of public health approach while 

contributing to and supporting the work 

of OHE/OD; (4) applies an 

intersectionality lens, contributes 

subject matter expertise to the 

development of guidance documents 

and standards related to women’s 

health; (5) applies an intersectionality 

lens when partnering with CIOs to 

implement and refine how health equity 

approaches related to women’s health 

are operationalized and 

institutionalized; (6) contributes 

technical expertise to the development 

of quantitative and qualitative 

indicators and metrics needed to assess 

women’s health; (7) partners with CIOs 

to use standardized tools and metrics 

relevant to women’s health to monitor 

progress, measure effectiveness, and 

make changes to improve health equity 

outcomes; (8) contributes technical 

expertise to the development of 

women’s health and equity-related 

technical communication products (e.g., 

white papers, technical briefs, success 

stories); (9) contributes technical 

expertise in women’s health to agencywide activities that include (a) 

developing and disseminating key 

guidance documents, where needed, 

that address social and structural 

determinants of health; (b) advancing 

the surveillance of health equity 

indicators and the science of achieving 

gender health equity; and (c) 

consistently applying data collection 

and analysis standards in collaboration 

with the Office of Public Health Data, 

Surveillance, and Technology and the 

Office of Science; (10) applies an 

intersectionality lens, contributes 

technical expertise in women’s health to 

agency-wide communication efforts 

aimed to increase awareness of CDC’s 

gender equity approaches and infuse 

those approaches into CDC’s public 

health work; (11) applies an 

intersectionality lens to technical 

expertise in the design of training 

programs and technical assistance 

efforts implemented with CIOs, 

programs, partner organizations, and 

communities; and (12) assists the OHE 

Office of the Director, as needed, on 

partnership development and 

community engagement efforts, 


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76838 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 182 / Thursday, September 19, 2024 / Notices 

including for emergency response 

events. 

III. Under part C, Section C–B, 

Organization and Functions, delete the 

respective mission or functional 

statements for and replace with the 

following: 

Meningitis, Pertussis, and Diphtheria 

Epidemiology Branch (CJEC). (1) 

provides epidemiologic subject matter 

expertise and technical assistance for 

surveillance, prevention, and control of 

bacterial illness, including 

meningococcal disease, Haemophilus 

influenzae disease, diphtheria, 

pertussis, tetanus, and bacterial 

meningitis syndrome; (2) develops, 

implements, and evaluates prevention 

strategies for these bacterial diseases, 

including vaccine and non-vaccine 

strategies; (3) supports development of 

vaccine policy through the ACIP 

process; (4) conducts surveillance and 

epidemiological research for 

meningococcal disease, H. influenzae 

disease, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, 

and bacterial meningitis syndrome; (5) 

provides consultation and support to 

domestic and international partners on 

the use of vaccines and other prevention 

measures for bacterial respiratory 

diseases; and (6) collaborates with other 

CDC groups, other federal agencies, 

state, tribal, local, and territorial groups, 

ministries of health, World Health 

Organization, private industry, 

academia, and other governmental and 

non-governmental organizations 

involved in public health. 

Delegations of Authority 

All delegations and redelegations of 

authority made to officials and 

employees of affected organizational 

components will continue in them or 

their successors pending further 

redelegation, provided they are 

consistent with this reorganization. 

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3101) 

Robin D. Bailey, 

Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention. 

[FR Doc. 2024–21411 Filed 9–18–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

[CMS–1823–N] 

Medicare Program; Public Meeting for 

New Revisions to the Healthcare 

Common Procedure Coding System 

(HCPCS) Coding—November 6–8, 2024 

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services (CMS), Department 

of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

dates and times of the virtual Healthcare 

Common Procedure Coding System 

(HCPCS) public meeting to be held from 

November 6, 2024, through November 8, 

2024, to discuss CMS’ preliminary 

coding, Medicare benefit category, and 

payment determinations, if applicable, 

for new revisions to the HCPCS Level II 

code set for non-drug and non-biological 

items and services, as well as how to 

register for those meetings. 

DATES: Virtual Meeting Dates: 

Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 9 a.m. 

to 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET); Thursday, 

November 7, 2024, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET; 

and Friday, November 8, 2024, 9 a.m. to 

5 p.m. ET. 

ADDRESSES: Virtual Meeting Location: 

The HCPCS public meetings will be 

held virtually via Zoom only. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sundus Ashar, (410) 786–0750, 

Sundus.ashar1@cms.hhs.gov, or 

HCPCS@cms.hhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

On December 21, 2000, Congress 

enacted the Medicare, Medicaid, and 

the Children’s Health Insurance 

Program (CHIP) Benefits Improvement 

and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA) (Pub. 

L. 106–554). Section 531(b) of BIPA 

mandated that the Secretary establish 

procedures that permit public 

consultation for coding and payment 

determinations for new durable medical 

equipment (DME) under Medicare Part 

B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act 

(the Act). In the November 23, 2001, 

Federal Register (66 FR 58743), we 

published a notice providing 

information regarding the establishment 

of the annual public meeting process for 

DME. 

In 2020, we implemented changes to 

our HCPCS Level II coding procedures, 

including the establishment of quarterly 

coding cycles for drugs and biological 

products and biannual coding cycles for 

non-drug and non-biological items and 

services. 

In the December 28, 2021, Federal 

Register (86 FR 73860), we published a 

final rule that established procedures for 

making Medicare benefit category and 

payment determinations for new items 

and services that are DME, prosthetic 

devices, orthotics and prosthetics, 

therapeutic shoes and inserts, surgical 

dressings, or splints, casts, and other 

devices used for reductions of fractures 

and dislocations under Medicare Part B. 

II. Public Meeting Agendas 

Prior to registering to attend a virtual 

public meeting, all potential 

participants and other attendees are 

advised to review the public meeting 

agendas at https://www.cms.gov/ 

Medicare/Coding/MedHCPCSGenInfo/ 

HCPCSPublicMeetings, which identify 

CMS’ preliminary coding, Medicare 

benefit category, and payment 

determinations, if applicable, and the 

date each item will be discussed. In 

establishing the public meeting agendas, 

CMS may group multiple, related code 

applications under the same agenda 

item. 

III. Virtual Meeting Registration 

The November 6, 2024 through 

November 8, 2024, HCPCS public 

meetings will be virtual and available 

for remote audio attendance and 

participation only via Zoom. The Zoom 

link and registration instructions will be 

posted in the Guidelines for 

Participation in HCPCS Public Meetings 

document on the CMS website at 

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ 

MedHCPCSGenInfo/HCPCSPublic

Meetings and in an announcement on 

the HCPCS General Information page at 

https://www.cms.gov/medicare/codingbilling/healthcare-common-proceduresystem. The same website also contains 

detailed information on how attendees 

can join the virtual public meetings 

using Zoom, including dial-in 

information. All individuals who plan 

to speak (15 or 5 minutes) at the virtual 

public meetings must register by 5 p.m. 

ET on October 25, 2024. All participants 

and other attendees can access the 

virtual public meeting through the 

Zoom link, which will be posted on the 

HCPCS Level II website. Attendees can 

attend more than 1 day of the public 

meeting. 

A. Required Information for Registration 

The following information must be 

provided when registering to be a 

speaker: 

• Name; 

• Company name (if applicable); 


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