[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 78975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31119]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Notice of Publication of a Draft of the Revised Guidebook for the 
National Practitioner Data Bank

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Publication of a Draft of the Revised Guidebook for 
the National Practitioner Data Bank.

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SUMMARY: The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) announces the 
release of a draft of the revised user Guidebook. The public is able to 
request a copy of the draft of the revised Guidebook and submit 
comments to the NPDB by the deadline below. The revised Guidebook 
includes expanded and improved reporting and querying examples; useful 
tables explaining Data Bank policies; and live links to statutes, 
regulations, and the Web site.
    The NPDB is a confidential information clearinghouse created by 
Congress intended to facilitate a comprehensive review of the 
professional credentials of health care practitioners, health care 
entities, providers, and suppliers. The Guidebook is a policy manual 
that serves as an essential reference for Data Bank users to clarify 
legislative and regulatory requirements through the use of reporting 
and querying examples, explanations, definitions, and frequently asked 
questions (FAQs). The new Guidebook incorporates legislative and 
regulatory changes adopted since its last edition, including the merger 
of the NPDB with the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank. 
Once the comments have been reviewed, a final version of the revised 
Guidebook will be made available and will replace previous Guidebooks. 
For information on how to request a PDF copy of the draft Guidebook and 
instructions on how to submit comments, visit the NPDB Web site at: 
http://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/news/news.jsp.

DATES: Comments may be submitted through January 10, 2014. The comment 
period may be extended if needed. Information on any extensions of the 
review period will be posted on the Web site here: http://www.npdb.hrsa.gov/news/news.jsp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ernia P. Hughes, MBA, Acting Director 
of the Division of Practitioner Data Banks at: [email protected] or 
301-443-2300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting remarks, the NPDB requests 
that commenters:
     Reference the page number(s) each comment addresses; and
     Ensure comments are specific and relate to the clarity of 
the NPDB Guidebook's content, as regulatory or statutory concerns are 
beyond the scope of this comment process. Comments should be limited to 
content-based feedback that seeks to improve the examples and FAQs, 
clarify definitions, and eliminate ambiguity in the text. Comments that 
are not specific to content clarity and found beyond the scope of this 
review will not be addressed in this process.

    Dated: December 19, 2013.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-31119 Filed 12-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P