Notice2026-06284
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority; Office of The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
Primary source
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Published
April 1, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services Department
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16204-16205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06284]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of
Authority; Office of The National Coordinator for Health Information
Technology
AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information
Technology.
ACTION: Notice.
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This reorganization by the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) reverses the actions that created the management title of
Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, removes that title and role
from HHS' leadership structure, and restores the Office of the National
Coordinator for Health Information Technology (hereafter referred to as
ONC) as a singularly titled office. The roles and responsibilities of
the HHS Chief Technology Officer, Office of the HHS
[[Page 16205]]
Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, and Office of the HHS Chief Data
Officer will no longer be part of ONC.
Part A, Office of the Secretary, Statement of Organization,
Functions, and Delegations of Authority for the Department of Health
and Human Services, Chapter AR, Office of the National Coordinator for
Health Information Technology (ONC), as last amended at 89 FR 60903
(July 29, 2024), 83 FR 19289 (May 2, 2018), 79 FR 31941 (June 3, 2014),
77 FR 29349-50 (May 17, 2012), 76 FR 65196 (Oct. 20, 2011), 76 FR 6795
(Feb. 8, 2011), 75 FR 49494 (Aug. 13, 2010), 74 FR 62785-86 (Dec. 1,
2009), 70 FR 48718-03 (Aug. 19, 2005) is amended.
The prior Federal Register Notice is amended as follows:
I. Under AR.10, Organization, delete all of components and replace
with the following:
A. Immediate Office of the National Coordinator (ARA)
B. Office of Programs and Implementation (ARI)
C. Office of Standards, Certification, and Analysis (ARC)
II. Delete AR.20, Functions, in its entirety and replace with the
following:
Section AR.20, Functions
A. Immediate Office of the National Coordinator: The Immediate
Office (IO) is headed by the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology (henceforth referred to as the National
Coordinator), who provides leadership and executive and strategic
direction for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology. The National Coordinator is responsible for
carrying out ONC's mission and implementing the functions of the
organization. The IO: (1) advances the interoperability of health
information as central and foundational to the core mission of HHS to
enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans; (2)
ensures that health information technology (IT) initiatives for health
and human services are coordinated across HHS programs, including
aligning health information technology investments; (3) ensures that
the health IT policy and programs of HHS are coordinated with those of
relevant executive branch agencies (including Federal commissions and
advisory committees) with a goal of avoiding duplication of effort and
of helping to ensure that each agency undertakes activities primarily
within the areas of its greatest expertise and technical capability;
(4) leads the efforts to promulgate health IT regulations that advance
interoperability across the entire health care sector, including across
behavioral health, human services, and public health sectors; (5) leads
Federal and industry efforts to advance the access, exchange, and use
of health information across the healthcare sector. The Principal
Deputy National Coordinator, a part of the IO, works with and reports
directly to the National Coordinator and is responsible for supporting
the National Coordinator in day-to-day programmatic operations and
strategy for ONC, and programmatic staff management of the
organization. The Principal Deputy National Coordinator is a career
senior executive service position that, in conjunction with the
National Coordinator, provides executive oversight for the activities
of ONC offices.
The Deputy National Coordinator for Operations/Chief Operating
Officer (henceforth referred to as the Chief Operating Officer) works
with and reports directly to the National Coordinator. The Chief
Operating Officer is a career senior executive service position. The
Chief Operating Officer manages enterprise risk and formulates
solutions to ensure ONC has the resources to achieve its mission and
goals, ensures fiscal integrity and adherence to federal laws and
regulations; and leads agency-wide strategy and services that are
operational in nature.
B. Office of Programs and Implementation: The Office of Programs
and Implementation is headed by a Deputy National Coordinator who
serves as the Executive Director. The Deputy National Coordinator/
Executive Director of the Office of Programs and Implementation is a
career senior executive service position. This office is responsible
for: (1) policy and rulemaking activities, including implementation of
provisions included in the Health Information Technology for Economic
and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) and the 21st Century Cures Act;
(2) ONC's domestic and global health IT initiatives; (3) coordination
with executive branch agencies, Federal commissions, advisory
committees, and external partners; (4) advanced analysis and the
establishment of health IT policies for ONC and HHS to support health
and human services initiatives, including in the areas of behavioral
health, care transformation, health IT investment alignment, human
services, information blocking, interoperability, privacy and security,
and quality improvement; and (5) operational support for the Health
Information Technology Advisory Committee established in the 21st
Century Cures Act.
C. Office of Standards, Certification, and Analysis: The Office of
Standards, Certification, and Analysis is headed by a Deputy National
Coordinator who serves as the Executive Director. The Deputy National
Coordinator/Executive Director of the Office of Standards,
Certification, and Analysis is a career senior executive service
position. This office is responsible for: (1) executing provisions
included in the HITECH Act and the 21st Century Cures Act; (2)
providing technical leadership and coordination within the health IT
community to identify, evaluate, and influence the development of
standards, implementation guidance, and best practices to advance
nationwide interoperability for health and human services initiatives;
(3) coordinating with Federal agencies and other public and private
partners to implement and advance interoperability nationwide for
health and human services initiatives; (4) leading the development of
electronic testing tools, resources, and data to achieve
interoperability, enhanced usability, and aid in the optimization of
health IT; (5) administering the ONC Health IT Certification Program,
including the Certified Health IT Product List; (6) and leading ONC's
technical interoperability interests and investments to advance the
development of innovative solutions for interoperability.
III. Delegation of Authority.
Pending further delegation, directives, or orders by the Secretary
or by the National Coordinator all delegations and redelegations of
authority made to officials and employees of affected organizational
components will continue in them or their successors pending further
redelegations, provided they are consistent with this reorganization.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2026-06284 Filed 3-31-26; 8:45 am]
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