Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: Administrative implementation,
[Federal Register: May 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 100)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 29808-29811]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24my06-10]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
42 CFR Part 102
RIN 0906--AA61
Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: Administrative Implementation
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS.
ACTION: Adoption of interim final rule as final rule with amendments.
SUMMARY: This document adopts the Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (the Program) Administrative Implementation Interim Final Rule as the Final Rule with amendments, as follows: explains how the term ``child'' survivor is defined; updates the effective period of the Secretary's Declaration Regarding Administration of Smallpox Countermeasures (the Declaration); corrects an error in Sec. 102.20(d) to clarify that one of the Smallpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine Injury Table requirements to establish a covered Table injury is the first symptom or manifestation of onset of the injury in the Table time period specified; reflects the change in name from the Special Programs Bureau to the Healthcare Systems Bureau; provides the new address of the Bureau's Associate Administrator, and the new address of the Program Office; clarifies that no payments are authorized for fees or costs of personal representatives, including those of attorneys; and corrects a typographical error in Sec. 102.83(c) to make clear that the Secretary determines the timeframe for submission of required documentation.
DATES: The interim final rule, published on December 16, 2003, was effective on that date, and is adopted as the final rule with an amendment effective May 24, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul T. Clark, Director, Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, (301) 443-2330.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act of 2003 (SEPPA), Pub. L. 108-20, 117 Stat. 638, directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish the Program. Secondary to other payers, the Program provides medical, lost employment income, and death benefits for eligible individuals who sustained covered injuries as a result of receiving smallpox vaccine or other covered countermeasures, or as a result of accidental exposure to vaccinia. Congress appropriated $42 million in fiscal year (FY) 2003 for the administration of, and payment of benefits under, the Program. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 reduced this amount by $20 million. The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Pub. L. 109- 149) further reduced the Program's appropriation by $10 million to a total of $12 million. Section 220 of the Appropriations Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-149) further reduced the Program's appropriation by $10 million to a total of $12 million.
Individuals who receive a smallpox vaccination under a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), State, or local emergency response plan approved by HHS within the time period described in the Secretary's Declaration, and who sustain a covered injury, may be eligible for benefits under SEPPA. Individuals who contracted vaccinia through contact with such individuals or other eligible vaccinia contacts and who sustain a covered injury may also be eligible for benefits. In the case of death resulting directly from receipt of the smallpox vaccine or exposure to vaccinia by eligible individuals, certain of their survivors may be considered for death benefits. If an eligible individual who sustained a covered injury dies from another cause before payment of benefits has been made under the
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Program, the estate may qualify for payment of unreimbursed medical expenses incurred and employment income lost as a result of the covered injury, secondary to other payers.
SEPPA directed the Secretary to establish a table identifying adverse effects (including injuries, disabilities, conditions, and deaths) that shall be presumed to result from the administration of, or exposure to, the smallpox vaccine, and the time interval in which the first symptom or manifestation of each listed injury must appear in order for such presumption to apply. An Interim Final Rule for the Smallpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine Injury Table was published in the Federal Register on August 27, 2003 (68 FR 51492). Following a public comment period, the Final Rule was published on May 24, 2006.
An Interim Final Rule for the Administrative Implementation of the Program was published in the Federal Register on December 16, 2003 (42 CFR Part 102), with a 60-day public comment period. The public comment period ended on February 17, 2004. HHS received no comments.
Technical corrections to the Interim Final Rule were published in the Federal Register on February 17, 2004 (69 FR 7376).
Explanation of Provisions
In accordance with section 266(a)(2)(A) of the Public Health Service Act, added by SEPPA, death benefit amounts payable under the Program are equal to those available under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program. The PSOB Program death benefit amount is subject to change on October 1 each year. For example, in fiscal year (FY) 2003, the amount was $262,100; by FY 2006 the amount had increased to $283,385. To keep the public informed of the current amount, the Secretary will publish a Notice in the Federal Register announcing the new amount for each fiscal year consistent with the rate established under the PSOB Program. In accordance with PSOB Program provisions, the amount payable is determined by the date of death of the smallpox vaccine recipient or vaccinia contact, not the date of payment.
Also, this Final Rule is adding to the definition section, Sec. 102.3, a new paragraph (e) to clarify that, for purposes of survivorship benefits under the Program, the term ``child'' is defined in accordance with the PSOB Program's statutory definition in 42 U.S.C. at Sec. 3796b(3), as implemented in 28 CFR Part 32, as amended.
An adult child survivor of a deceased smallpox vaccine recipient or vaccinia contact may claim eligibility for death benefits if, at the time of the recipient or contact's death, he or she is over 18 years of age and incapable of self-support because of physical or mental disability. Examples of the types of supporting documentation requesters should submit to support eligibility as a disabled adult child survivor include, but are not limited to: Determination of disability letter, or award letter, issued by the Social Security Administration; determination of disability by a court of competent jurisdiction (e.g., requiring the need for a guardianship or conservatorship); and medical documentation of the physical or mental condition that precludes the capacity for self-support.
The Secretary has amended the Declaration by extending the dates of its effective period each year. The Secretary will continue to publish a notice in the Federal Register as needed to update further the effective period of the Declaration. These amendments to the Declaration are made pursuant to the Secretary's authority under section 261(a)(5) of the Public Health Service Act, added by SEPPA and section 224(p)(2)(A) of the Public Health Service Act. Therefore, this Final Rule updates the definition of the effective period of the Declaration in Sec. 102.3(k) of the Interim Final Rule (redesignated now as paragraph (l) to accommodate insertion of the new paragraph (e)).
For the presumption to apply that an injury resulted from the administration of, or exposure to, the smallpox vaccine, the injury must be listed on the Smallpox (Vaccinia) Vaccine Injury Table, and the first symptom or manifestation of onset of the injury must occur within the time interval listed on the Table. Otherwise, the presumption of causation does not apply, and the requester must prove causation. The parenthetical example given in Sec. 102.20(d) of the Interim Final Rule erroneously states that one of the Table requirements to establish a covered injury is ``onset of the injury within the time interval included on the Table.'' However, it is not the onset of the injury that must manifest within that time interval. Rather, the requirement is that the onset of the first symptom or manifestation of the injury must manifest within the specified time period. Therefore, this Final Rule herein amends the parenthetical example in Sec. 102.20(d) to reflect the inadvertent omission of this language.
This Final Rule also reflects the change in name of the HRSA Bureau that operates the Program. The Special Programs Bureau has been renamed the Healthcare Systems Bureau. Therefore, Sec. Sec. 102.40(a) and (b), 102.41(a) and (b), and 102.90(b)(1),(2), and (c)) are amended accordingly.
Further, the Program Office has a new address: Parklawn Building, Room 11C-06, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857. This is the address to which all mail to the Program should be sent, whether by U.S. Postal Service, commercial carrier, or private courier service. Thus, Sec. Sec. 102.40(a) and (b), and 102.41(a) and (b)) are amended to reflect this change. Program telephone numbers remain unchanged.
In addition, this Final Rule updates the address for the Associate Administrator of the Healthcare Systems Bureau listed in Sec. Sec. 102.90(b)(1) and (2). All letters seeking reconsideration of the Secretary's eligibility or benefits determinations, whether sent by U.S. Postal Service, commercial carrier, or private courier service, should be sent to the Associate Administrator, Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 12-105, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
The Program is not authorized to pay, or reimburse a requester for fees or costs incurred by the requester in using a personal representative, including legal fees, to file for benefits on his or her behalf (see Frequently Asked Questions on the Program's Web site at http://www.hrsa.gov/smallpoxinjury). Therefore, for clarification
purposes, Sec. 102.44(d) of the Interim Final Rule is changed in this Final Rule to read as follows: ``No payment or reimbursement for representatives' fees or costs. The Act does not authorize the Secretary to pay, or reimburse for, any fees or costs associated with a requester's use of a personal representative under this Program, including those of an attorney.'' The Program does not provide guidelines for legal fees.
Finally, this regulation also corrects a typographical error in Sec. 102.83(c) of the Interim Final Rule regarding interim payments of benefits. The fourth sentence of that subsection should read: ``If a requester's documentation is incomplete, the requester must submit the required documentation within the timeframe determined by the Secretary'' not ``determined by the requester'' as erroneously stated.
Justification of Waiver of Delay of Effective Date
The Secretary has found that a delay in the effective date of this Final Rule is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The adoption of the Interim Final Rule as a Final Rule
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reflects amendments, updates, and clarifications that will be helpful to requesters without imposing additional burdens. It has no effect on any individual's rights or responsibilities.
Economic and Regulatory Impact
Executive Order 12866 directs agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when rulemaking is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that provide the greatest net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health, safety distributive and equity effects). In addition, under the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), if a rule has a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities, the Secretary must specifically consider the economic effect of a rule on small entities and analyze regulatory options that could lessen the impact of the rule.
Executive Order 12866 requires that all regulations reflect consideration of alternatives, of costs, of benefits, of incentives, of equity, and of available information. Regulations must meet certain standards, such as avoiding an unnecessary burden. Regulations that are ``significant'' because of cost, adverse effects on the economy, inconsistency with other agency actions, effects on the budget, or novel legal or policy issues, require special analysis.
The Secretary has determined that minimal resources are required to implement the provisions included in this regulation. Therefore, in accordance with the RFA, and the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, which amended the RFA, the Secretary certifies that this Final Rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The Secretary has also determined that this rule does not meet the criteria for a major rule as defined by Executive Order 12866 and would have no major effect on the economy or Federal expenditures. This rule is not a ``major rule'' within the meaning of the statute providing for Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking, 5 U.S.C. 801.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
The Secretary has determined that this Final Rule will not have effects on State, local, or tribal governments or on the private sector such as to require consultation under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
Federalism Impact Statement
The Secretary has also reviewed this rule in accordance with Executive Order 13132 regarding federalism, and has determined that it does not have ``federalism implications.'' The rule does not ``have substantial direct effects on the States, or on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.''
Impact on Family Well-Being
This rule will not adversely affect the following elements of family well-being: Family safety, family stability, marital commitment; parental rights in the education, nurture and supervision of their children; family functioning, disposable income or poverty; or the behavior and personal responsibility of youth, as determined under section 654(c) of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 1999. In fact, this Final Rule may have a positive impact on the disposable income and poverty elements of family well-being to the extent that injured persons (or their survivors who are eligible to receive compensation) receive benefits without a corresponding burden being imposed on them.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The information collection requirements remain unchanged.
List of Subjects in 42 CFR Part 102
Benefits, Biologics, Compensation, Immunization, Public health, Smallpox, Vaccinia.
Dated: November 14, 2005. Elizabeth M. Duke, Administrator.
Approved: December 22, 2005. Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary.
Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the Federal Register on May 18, 2006.
0 For the reasons stated above, the Secretary is adopting the Interim Final Rule adding 42 CFR part 102, published at 68 FR 70080 on Tuesday, December 16, 2003, as amended on February 17, 2004, at 69 FR 7376, as a Final Rule with the following amendments:
PART 102--SMALLPOX VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION PROGRAM
0 1. The authority citation for part 102 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 216, 42 U.S.C. 239-239h.
0 2. Amend Sec. 102.3 to read as follows: 0 A. Redesignate paragraphs (e) through (bb) as paragraphs (f) through (cc) and add new paragraph (e) to read as set forth below; and 0 B. Amend newly designated paragraph (l) (formerly designated paragraph (k)) to read as set forth below:
Sec. 102.3 Definitions
* * * * *
(e) Child means any natural, illegitimate, adopted, or posthumous child or stepchild of a deceased smallpox vaccine recipient or vaccinia contact who, at the time of the recipient or contact's death is:
(1) 18 years of age or under; or
(2) Over 18 years of age and a student as defined in section 8101 of title 5, United States Code; or
(3) Over 18 years of age and incapable of self-support because of physical or mental disability. * * * * *
(l) Effective period of the Declaration means the time span specified in the Declaration, as amended by the Secretary. * * * * *
Sec. 102.20 [Amended]
0 3. Amend Sec. 102.20, paragraph (d) introductory text by adding the words ``the first symptom or manifestation of'' before the word ``onset'' in the parenthetical example.
Sec. 102.40 [Amended]
0 4. Amend Sec. 102.40 as follows: 0 A. In paragraph (a), remove the words ``Special Programs Bureau'', and add in their place ``Healthcare Systems Bureau'', and remove the words Room ``16C-17'', and add in their place ``Room 11C-06''; 0 B. In paragraph (b), remove the words ``Special Programs Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, 4350 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814'' and add in their place ``Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 11C-06, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857''.
Sec. 102.41 [Amended]
0 5. Amend Sec. 102.41 as follows: 0 A. In paragraph (a), remove the words ``Special Programs Bureau'', and add in their place ``Healthcare Systems Bureau'', and remove the words Room ``16C-17'', and add in their place ``Room 11C-06''; 0 B. In paragraph (b), remove the words ``Special Programs Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, 4350 East- West Highway, 10th Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814'' and add in their place ``Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration,
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Parklawn Building, Room 11C-06, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857''.
0 6. Revise Sec. 102.44 paragraph (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 102.44 Representatives of requesters.
* * * * *
(d) No payment or reimbursement for representatives' fees or costs. The Act does not authorize the Secretary to pay, or reimburse for, any fees or costs associated with the requester's use of a personal representative under this Program, including those of an attorney.
Sec. 102.83 [Amended]
0 7. Amend Sec. 102.83, paragraph (c), by removing the second occurance of the word ``requester'' and in its place add the word ``Secretary'' at the end of the fourth sentence of that section.
Sec. 102.90 [Amended]
0 8. Amend Sec. 102.90 as follows: 0 A. In paragraph (b)(1) remove the words ``Special Programs Bureau'', and add in their place ``Healthcare Systems Bureau,'' and remove the words ``Room 16C-17, and add in their place ``Room 12-105''; 0 B. In paragraph (b)(2) remove the words ``Special Programs Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, 4350 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814,'' and add in their place ``Healthcare Systems Bureau, Parklawn Building, Room 12-105, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857''; 0 C. In paragraph (c), remove the words ``Special Programs Bureau'' and add in their place ``Healthcare Systems Bureau''.
[FR Doc. 06-4762 Filed 5-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P
