HHS Approval of Entities That Certify Medical Review Officers

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Federal RegisterOct 24, 2024
89 Fed. Reg. 84900 (Oct. 24, 2024)
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    Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

    AGENCY:

    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, HHS.

    ACTION:

    Notice.

    SUMMARY:

    This notice publishes a list of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approved Medical Review Officers certification entities. The most recent HHS Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Mandatory Guidelines), effective on October 10, 2023 (Oral Fluid) and February 1, 2024 (Urine), address the role and qualifications of Medical Review Officers (MROs) and HHS approval of entities that certify MROs.

    DATES:

    HHS approval is effective October 24, 2024.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Joshua Hunt, Pharm.D., MPH, LCDR, United States Public Health Service, Area/Regional Pharmacy Consultant, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; Telephone: (301) 642-9354; Email: Joshua.hunt@samhsa.hhs.gov.

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Subpart M—Medical Review Officer (MRO), Section 13.2 of the Mandatory Guidelines, “How are nationally recognized entities or subspecialty boards that certify MROs approved?” states as follows: “All nationally recognized entities or subspecialty boards which seek approval by the Secretary to certify physicians as MROs for Federal workplace drug testing programs must submit their qualifications, a sample examination, and other necessary supporting examination materials ( e.g., answers, previous examination statistics or other background examination information, if requested). Approval will be based on an objective review of qualifications that include a copy of the MRO applicant application form, documentation that the continuing education courses are accredited by a professional organization, and the delivery method and content of the examination. Each approved MRO certification entity must resubmit their qualifications for approval every two years. The Secretary shall publish at least every two years a notice in the Federal Register listing those entities and subspecialty boards that have been approved.”

    HHS has completed its review of entities that certify MROs, in accordance with requests submitted by such entities to HHS.

    The HHS Secretary approves the following MRO certifying entities that offer MRO certification through examination:

    American Association of Medical Review Officers (AAMRO), 1506 E. Franklin St., Suite 300, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, Phone: 1-800-489-1839, Email: bbrandon@aamro.com, Website: http://www.aamro.com/

    Medical Review Officer Certification Council (MROCC), 3231 S. Halsted St, #167, Chicago, IL 60608, Phone: (847) 631-0599, Email: mrocc@mrocc.org, Website: http://www.mrocc.org/

    Dated: October 21, 2024.

    Xavier Becerra,

    Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

    [FR Doc. 2024-24735 Filed 10-23-24; 8:45 am]

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