The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule aimed at increasing transparency and fairness in their civil enforcement actions. This rule ensures that individuals and companies receive clear notices about which laws and regulations apply to them and must be given a chance to respond before the agency takes any action with legal consequences. It also specifies that HHS cannot use guidance documents to impose binding requirements unless explicitly allowed by law and must rely on statutes and regulations when taking enforcement actions. The rule highlights the importance of fairness, especially avoiding "unfair surprise," and outlines how the Department should handle these processes to promote efficiency and clarity.
Simple Explanation
The Department of Health and Human Services made a new rule to be fairer and clearer when they tell people or companies if they might be in trouble for not following the rules. This means they have to explain the rules clearly and let people have their say before any big decisions are made.