[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27982-27983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12908]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration


National Practitioner Data Bank; Change in Methods of Fee Payment

    The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Public 
Health Service (PHS), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 
is announcing a change in the method for payment of fees that are 
charged entities authorized to request information from the National 
Practitioner Data Bank (Data Bank).
    The Data Bank is authorized by the Health Care Quality Improvement 
Act of 1986 (the Act), title IV of Public Law 99-660, as amended (42 
U.S.C. 11101 et seq.). Regulations at 45 CFR Part 60 implementing the 
Data Bank authorize the reporting and release of information 
concerning: (1) Payments made for the benefit of physicians, dentists, 
and other [[Page 27983]] health care practitioners as a result of 
medical malpractice actions or claims; and (2) certain adverse actions 
taken regarding the licenses and clinical privileges of physicians and 
dentists. Section 60.3 of these regulations should be consulted for the 
definition of terms used in this announcement.
    Section 427(b)(4) of the Act authorizes the establishment of fees 
for the costs of processing requests for disclosure and of providing 
such information. A final rule published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register amends the existing Data Bank regulations (45 CFR part 
60) to remove regulatory restrictions on allowable methods of payment 
to permit the Secretary to announce alternate payment methods through 
periodic notice in the Federal Register. Section 60.12(c)(3) of the 
regulations states that the Secretary shall announce the method of 
payment of fees payable to the Data Bank through periodic announcement 
in the Federal Register. In determining the method, the Secretary shall 
consider efficiency, effectiveness, and convenience for the Data Bank 
users and the Department.
    An assessment of the full operating costs related to processing 
requests for disclosure of Data Bank information as required by the 
DHHS Appropriations Act of 1994 (title II of Pub. L. 103-112, dated 
October 21, 1993), as well as the comparative costs of the various 
methods for filing and paying for queries has resulted in a decision to 
expand the options for methods of payment of Data Bank fees available 
to users.
    Effective upon publication, the following methods of fee payment 
will all be accepted by the Data Bank: credit card, electronic funds 
transfer, check or money order.
    Allowable methods of fee payment will be reviewed periodically and 
revised as necessary, based upon experience. Any changes in the methods 
of fee payment accepted, and the effective date of the change, will be 
announced in the Federal Register.

    Dated: March 14, 1995.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-12908 Filed 5-25-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P