### 42737 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 140 / Friday, July 20, 2012 / Notices

of Defense (DoD), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Since February 2005, AHRQ has convened the PSWG to assist AHRQ with developing and maintaining the Common Formats. The PSWG includes major health agencies within HHS— CDC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, FDA, Health Resources and Services Administration, Indian Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Office of Public Health and Science, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration—as well as the DoD and VA.

When developing Common Formats, AHRQ first reviews existing patient safety event reporting systems from a variety of health care organizations. In collaboration with the PSWG and Federal subject matter experts, AHRQ drafts and releases beta versions of the Common Formats for public review and comment. The PSWG assists AHRQ with assuring the consistency of definitions/formats with those of relevant government agencies as refinement of the Common Formats continues. To the extent practicable, the Common Formats are also aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) concepts, framework, and definitions contained in their draft International Classification for Patient Safety (ICPS).
Commenting on Common Format— Readmissions Version 0.1 Beta

To allow for greater participation by the private sector in the subsequent development of the Common Formats, AHRQ engaged the NQF, a non-profit organization focused on health care quality, to solicit comments and advice to guide the further refinement of the Common Formats. The NQF then convenes an expert panel to review the comments received and provide feedback. The NQF began this process with feedback on AHRQ’s 0.1 Beta release of the Common Formats in 2008. Based upon the expert panel’s feedback, AHRQ, in conjunction with the PSWG, revises and refines the Common Formats.

The Agency is specifically interested in obtaining feedback from both the private and public sectors on the new Common Format—Readmissions Version 0.1 Beta to guide the improvement of the formats. Information on how to comment and provide feedback on the Common Format—Readmissions Version 0.1 Beta is available at the NQF Web site for Common Formats: http:// www.Quality.forum.ORG/projects/ commonformats.aspx.

The process for updating and refining the formats will continue to be an iterative one. Future versions of the Common Formats will be developed for ambulatory settings, such as ambulatory surgery centers and physician and practitioner offices. More information on the Common Formats can be obtained through AHRQ’s PSO Web site: http://www.PSO.AHRQ.gov/index.html.

Dated: July 13, 2012. Carolyn M. Clancy,

Director.
[FR Doc. 2012–17529 Filed 7–19–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4160–90–M**

**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES** 

**Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality** 

**Patient Safety Organizations: Delisting for Cause for The Steward Group PSO** 

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

**ACTION :**  Notice of delisting.

**SUMMARY :**  AHRQ has delisted The Steward Group PSO as a Patient Safety Organization (PSO) due to its failure to correct a deficiency. The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (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 and Quality Improvement Final Rule (Patient Safety Rule) to implement the Patient Safety Act. AHRQ administers the provisions of the Patient Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule relating to the listing and operation of PSOs.

**DATES :**  The directories for both listed and delisted PSOs are ongoing and reviewed weekly by AHRQ. The delisting was effective at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) on June 19, 2012.

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

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Eileen Hogan, 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 :**  Background

The 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 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 no longer to meet the requirements of the Patient Safety Act and Patient Safety Rule. 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.

The Steward Group PSO failed to respond to a Notice of Preliminary Finding of Deficiency sent by AHRQ pursuant to 42 CFR 3.108(a)(2) and a Notice of Proposed Revocation and Delisting sent by AHRQ pursuant to 42 CFR 3.108(a)(3)(iii)(C) which found that The Steward Group PSO failed to have, within every 24-month period following the PSO’s date of initial listing, at least two bona fide contracts with different providers for the purpose of receiving and reviewing patient safety work product, and to notify AHRQ no later than 45 calendar days prior to the last day of the pertinent 24-month period that the PSO has met this requirement. The Steward Group PSO did not exercise its opportunity to be heard in writing to respond to the deficiencies specified in the notices, and has not provided any evidence of a good faith effort to correct the deficiency.

Accordingly, AHRQ has revoked the listing of The Steward Group PSO, PSO number P0088, a component entity of The Steward Group, Inc., effective at 12:00 Midnight ET (2400) on June 19,

2012.

More information on PSOs can be obtained through AHRQ’s PSO Web site

at http://www.PSO.AHRQ.gov/ index.html.

Dated: July 3, 2012. Carolyn M. Clancy,

Director.
[FR Doc. 2012–17532 Filed 7–19–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4160–90–M**