[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 39656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16319]
[[Page 39656]]
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ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD
36 CFR Part 1195
[Docket No. ATBCB-2012-0003]
RIN 3014-AA40
Medical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Standards Advisory
Committee
AGENCY: Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.
ACTION: Notice of establishment; appointment of members.
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SUMMARY: The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
(Access Board) has decided to establish an advisory committee to assist
on matters associated with comments received and responses to questions
included in a previously published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on
Medical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Standards.
DATES: The first meeting of the committee will be held at a date and
time in September 2012. A notice of the actual date and times will be
published in the Federal Register prior to the meeting. Decisions with
respect to future meetings will be made at the first meeting and from
time to time thereafter.
ADDRESSES: The first meeting of the committee will be held at the
Access Board's offices, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 800, Washington, DC
20004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rex Pace, Office of Technical and
Information Services, Architectural and Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-
1111. Telephone number (202) 272-0023 (Voice); (202) 272-0052 (TTY).
Electronic mail address: board.gov">pace@access-board.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In March 2012, the Access Board published a
notice of intent to establish an advisory committee to make
recommendations to the Board on matters associated with comments
received and responses to questions included in a previously published
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Medical Diagnostic Equipment
Accessibility Standards. See 77 FR 14706 (March 13, 2012).
Section 510 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794f) requires the
Access Board to issue accessibility standards for medical diagnostic
equipment, in consultation with the Food and Drug Administration. In
February 2012, the Access Board published an NPRM proposing the
accessibility standards. See 77 FR 6916 (February 9, 2012). The
proposed standards contain minimum technical criteria to ensure that
medical diagnostic equipment, including examination tables, examination
chairs, weight scales, mammography equipment, and other imaging
equipment used by health care providers for diagnostic purposes are
accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. The proposed
standards are intended to ensure, to the maximum extent possible,
independent entry to, use of, and exit from such equipment by
individuals with disabilities. The proposed standards do not impose any
mandatory requirements on health care providers or medical device
manufacturers. However, other agencies may issue regulations or adopt
policies that require health care providers subject to the agency's
jurisdiction to acquire accessible medical diagnostic equipment that
conforms to the standards. The NPRM and information related to the
proposed standards are available on the Access Board's Web site at:
http://www.access-board.gov/medical-equipment.htm.
For the reasons stated in the notice of intent, the Access Board
has determined that establishing a Medical Diagnostic Equipment
Accessibility Standards Advisory Committee (Committee) is necessary and
in the public interest. The Access Board has appointed the following
organizations as members to the Committee:
The ADA National Network
Boston Center for Independent Living
Brewer Company
Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc.
Duke University and Medical Center
Equal Rights Center
Evan Terry Associates, P.C.
GE Healthcare
Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy at Western
University of Health Sciences
Hausmann Industries, Inc.
Hill-Rom Company, Inc.
Hologic, Inc.
Medical Positioning, Inc.
Medical Technology Industries, Inc.
Midmark Corporation
National Council on Independent Living
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Philips Healthcare
Scale-Tronix, Inc.
Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
Stryker Medical
Sutter Health
United Spinal Association
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Department of
Occupational Therapy
The Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services
(Food and Drug Administration), and the Department of Veterans Affairs
will serve as ex officio members.
The Access Board regrets its inability to accommodate all requests
for membership on the Committee. It was necessary to limit membership
to maintain balance among members representing different interests such
as medical device manufacturers, health care providers, and disability
organizations. The Committee membership identified above provides
representation for interests affected by the issues to be discussed.
The comment period on the NPRM ended on June 8, 2012. Fifty-three
comments were received by the end of the comment period. Access Board
staff is conducting a preliminary analysis of the public comments to
assist the Committee in its deliberations.
The Committee's first meeting will be held at a date and time in
September 2012. A notice of the actual date and times will be published
in the Federal Register prior to the meeting. Decisions with respect to
future meetings will be made at the first meeting and from time to time
thereafter. Meetings will be held at the Access Board's offices, 1331 F
Street NW., suite 800, Washington, DC 20004. The Committee is expected
to hold no more than four meetings and present a report with its
recommendations to the Access Board within two months of the
Committee's first meeting.
Committee meetings will be open to the public, and interested
persons can attend the meetings and communicate their views. Members of
the public will have opportunities to address the Committee on issues
of interest to them and the Committee. Members of groups or individuals
who are not members of the Committee may also have the opportunity to
participate if subcommittees of the Committee are formed.
Susan Brita,
Chair.
[FR Doc. 2012-16319 Filed 7-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8150-01-P