[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60757-60758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24678]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Office for Civil Rights; Statement of Organization, Functions, 
and Delegations of Authority

    The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has reorganized to better meet 
its mission by consolidating its administrative and programmatic 
operations into three focal areas of responsibility: planning and 
administrative operations, programs and policy, and regional 
operations.
    Part A, Office of the Secretary, Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority for the Department of Health 
and Human Services, Chapter AT, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), as last 
amended at 69 FR 48243-46, dated August 9, 2004, is amended to reflect 
the restructuring of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) as follows:
    I. Under Chapter AT, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), delete 
``Section AT.10 Organization'' in its entirety and replace with the 
following:
    Section AT.10 Organization. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is 
under the direction of the Director of the Office for Civil Rights 
(Director) who reports to the Secretary. OCR consists of the following 
components:
    A. Immediate Office (AT)
    B. Office of the Deputy Director for Planning and Business 
Administration Management (ATA)
    C. Office of the Deputy Director for Programs and Policy (ATB)
    D. Office of the Deputy Director for Enforcement and Regional 
Operations (ATC)
    II. Under Chapter AT, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), delete 
``Section AT.20 Functions'' in its entirety and replace with the 
following:

AT.20 Functions

    A. Immediate Office (AT). As the Department's chief officer and 
adviser to the Secretary for the enforcement of civil rights and 
privacy and security rules, including the HIPAA Privacy and Security 
Rules and the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA) 
patient safety protections, the Director provides leadership, 
priorities, guidance and supervision to and is responsible for overall 
policy, programs, and operations of OCR. The Director also is 
responsible for representing the Secretary and the Department, in 
coordination and consultation with the Assistant Secretary for 
Legislation, before Congress and the Executive Office of the President 
on matters

[[Page 60758]]

relating to civil rights and the privacy and security rules and for 
liaising with other Federal departments and agencies charged with civil 
rights and privacy and security rules enforcement and compliance 
responsibilities.
    B. Office of the Deputy Director for Planning and Business 
Administration Management (ATA). The Office of the Deputy Director for 
Planning and Business Administration Management is headed by the Deputy 
Director for Planning and Business Administration Management, who 
reports to the Director. The Office of the Deputy Director for Planning 
and Business Administration Management is responsible for performing 
the activities that support OCR's numerous offices and programs. These 
include: (1) Strategic planning and accountability; (2) management 
operations and policy; (3) budget planning, formulation and execution; 
(4) performance analysis and results management; (5) human resources 
activities, including position management, workforce planning, employee 
training and development, employee performance management and awards, 
etc.; (6) resource planning; (7) executive secretariat and 
administrative support; (8) Information Technologies and Systems; and 
(9) collaboration with the Deputy Director for Programs and Policy and 
the Deputy Director for Enforcement and Regional Operations on OCR's 
policy and program development. The Deputy Director for Planning and 
Business Administration Management also serves as the principal advisor 
to the Director on all matters pertaining to management and 
accountability operations of OCR in order to accomplish the 
Department's and OCR's goals and program objectives.
    C. Office of the Deputy Director for Programs and Policy (ATB). The 
Office of the Deputy Director for Programs and Policy is headed by the 
Deputy Director for Programs & Policy, who reports to the Director. 
Responsibilities of the Deputy Director for Programs and Policy 
include: (1) Advising the Secretary and the Director on all matters 
pertaining to civil rights and privacy and security rules issues to 
accomplish the Department's and OCR's goals and program objectives; (2) 
developing and formulating policy and programs for the privacy and 
security of health information, such as under the HIPAA Privacy and 
Security Rules and PSQIA's patient safety protections, and for civil 
rights authorities compliance and enforcement, in collaboration with 
the Deputy Director for Planning and Business Administration Management 
and the Deputy Director for Enforcement and Regional Operations; (3) 
assisting implementation of civil rights and privacy and security rules 
compliance and enforcement programs; and (4) providing program support 
to OCR's programs and policy components, including development and 
implementation of training curricula and programs for staff and 
formulation of negotiation, enforcement and litigation strategies for 
both civil rights and privacy and security rules issues.
    D. Office of the Deputy Director for Enforcement and Regional 
Operations (ATC). The Office of the Deputy Director for Enforcement and 
Regional Operations is headed by the Deputy Director for Enforcement 
and Regional Operations, who reports to the Director. OCR's Regional 
Managers report to the Deputy Director for Enforcement and Regional 
Operations. Responsibilities of the Deputy Director for Enforcement and 
Regional Operations include: (1) Providing leadership, oversight, 
supervision and coordination to a highly experienced team of Health 
Information Privacy and Security specialists to handle special 
assignments and compliance and enforcement actions that are unusually 
complex, sensitive, or of critical interest to HHS' senior management; 
(2) leading regional management operations; (3) disseminating and 
overseeing implementation of policies and programs in OCR's ten 
Regional Offices to ensure consistent application and to ensure 
achievement of program results and program efficiency objectives; and 
(4) participating in OCR's policy and program development in 
collaboration with the Deputy Director for Programs and Policy and the 
Deputy Director for Planning and Business Administration Management. 
The Deputy Director for Enforcement and Regional Operations also serves 
as the principal advisor to the Director on all matters pertaining to 
management and accountability operations of OCR's Regional Offices in 
order to accomplish the Department's and OCR's goals and program 
objectives.
    VII. Delegation of Authority. Pending further delegation, 
directives or orders by the Secretary or by the Director of the Office 
for Civil Rights, all delegations and redelegations of authority made 
to officials and employees of affected organizational components will 
continue in them or their successors pending further redelegations, 
provided they are consistent with this reorganization.

    Dated: September 23, 2010.
Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-24678 Filed 9-30-10; 8:45 am]
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