Search Results for agency_names:"Health and Human Services Department"

The Department of Health and Human Services has updated the name of the child support program from the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) to the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS). This change aligns the program with its commitment to support entire families rather than just enforce child support. Additionally, the rule removes outdated terms and updates sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to reflect the new name and facilitate modern Tribal processes and reporting for child support programs. These updates aim to enhance family self-sufficiency and clarity in regulations without imposing any financial impact.

The Health and Human Services Department is delaying the start date of a rule about affordable medications. This rule, initially set to start on January 22, 2021, will now take effect on March 22, 2021. The delay aligns with a presidential memo that asks for extra time to review recent rules. This rule requires health centers to provide insulin and epinephrine at reduced prices to low-income patients.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a draft guidance document titled "Evaluation of Sex-Specific and Gender-Specific Data in Medical Device Clinical Studies." This document aims to promote the inclusion and analysis of sex- and gender-specific data in medical device studies to ensure safety and effectiveness. Historically, females and nonbinary individuals have been underrepresented in clinical trials, leading to inadequate information about medical devices for these groups. The guidance encourages sponsors to incorporate diverse data in clinical studies and reporting, but it is currently not final and the public is invited to submit comments until April 7, 2025.

The National Institute on Aging will hold a closed meeting on February 26, 2021, to review and evaluate grant applications. This meeting, which will take place via video conference, involves sensitive discussions about confidential trade secrets and personal information, necessitating confidentiality under federal law. The meeting is organized by Dr. Dario Dieguez, Jr., who is the contact person for further details. The closed nature of the meeting aims to protect privacy and commercial interests.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a closed meeting notice in the Federal Register. The authority to sign such notices, which pertain to meetings and committee management activities for both the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, has been delegated to the Director of the Strategic Business Initiatives Unit. For further details, individuals can contact Mikel Walters, Ph.D., the Scientific Review Officer at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, by phone or email.

The National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council is holding a meeting on June 5, 2025, at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC, which will also be accessible virtually. The morning session, open to the public, includes discussions on topics such as environmental exposures and gut-brain signaling. The afternoon session will be closed to the public because it will involve reviewing grant applications and discussing sensitive information. Individuals interested in attending or providing comments are encouraged to contact Dr. David M. Balshaw.

The National Institutes of Health announced a closed meeting held by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. This meeting, scheduled for March 12-13, 2025, will take place both in person and virtually at the Embassy Suites in Washington, DC. Its purpose is to review and evaluate grant applications, and it will be closed to the public to protect confidential and personal information. The meeting highlights the importance of confidentiality in discussions involving trade secrets and personal privacy.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has finalized a rule updating the list of select agents and toxins that could be used as biological threats, effective January 16, 2025. The changes include removing certain Brucella species from the list, updating the nomenclature for several agents, increasing the permissible limit for a specific toxin, and designating Nipah virus as a Tier 1 select agent due to its high risk of misuse. The decision to retain or modify agents like the botulinum neurotoxin-producing species of Clostridium reflects considerations of public health, security, and regulatory compliance. These adjustments aim to align with current scientific understanding and reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining necessary security measures.

The National Cancer Institute announced closed meetings for a committee focusing on diet, lipid metabolism, and cancer. These meetings will be held on April 8, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The meetings are virtual and not open to the public to protect confidential information and personal privacy. The meeting will review and evaluate grant applications related to cancer research, and the contact person is Dr. Shree Ram Singh.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has announced a closed meeting of a special emphasis panel. This meeting, scheduled for February 11, 2021, will review and evaluate grant applications related to human biospecimen and data repository projects. It will take place virtually at the National Institutes of Health's Neuroscience Center in Rockville, Maryland. The meeting will remain closed to the public to protect confidential information and personal privacy associated with the grant discussions.