Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/259

123STA T . 23 9PUBLIC LA W 111 –5—FE B.1 7, 2 0 09 section30 0 2.Th e HI T S t a n d a r ds C o m mittee sha l l up date such schedule annuall y . The Secretary shall pu b lish such schedule in the F ederal R e g ister. ‘ ‘ (4)PUBLIC I NP U T . — The HIT Standards Committee shall conduct open public meetings and de v elop a process to allo wf or public comment on the schedule described in paragraph (3) and recommendations described in this subsection. U nder such process comments shall be submitted in a timely manner after the date of publication of a recommendation under this subsection. ‘‘( 5 )C O N S I DERA TION.—The N ational Coordinator shall ensure that the relevant and available recommendations and comments from the National Committee on V ital and Health Statistics are considered in the development of standards. ‘‘(c) M E M BERS H IP AND O PERATIONS.— ‘‘( 1 )IN G ENERAL.—The National Coordinator shall ta k ea leading position in the establishment and operations of the HIT Standards Committee. ‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The membership of the HIT Standards Committee shall at least reflect providers , ancillary healthcare workers, consumers, purchasers, health plans, technology ven - dors, researchers, relevant Federal agencies, and individuals with technical e x pertise on health care q uality, privacy and security, and on the electronic exchange and use of health information. ‘‘(3) PARTICIPATION.—The members of the HIT Standards Committee appointed under this subsection shall represent a balance among various sectors of the health care system so that no single sector unduly influences the recommendations of such Committee. ‘‘(4) OUTSIDE IN V OLVEMENT.—The HIT Policy Committee shall ensure an opportunity for the participation in activities of the Committee of outside advisors, including individuals with expertise in the development of standards for the electronic exchange and use of health information, including in the areas of health information privacy and security. ‘‘(5) B ALANCE AMONG SECTORS.—In developing the proce- dures for conducting the activities of the HIT Standards Com- mittee, the HIT Standards Committee shall act to ensure a balance among various sectors of the health care system so that no single sector unduly influences the actions of the HIT Standards Committee. ‘‘( 6 ) A SSISTANCE.—For the purposes of carrying out this section, the Secretary may provide or ensure that financial assistance is provided by the HIT Standards Committee to defray in whole or in part any membership fees or dues charged by such Committee to those consumer advocacy groups and not for profit entities that work in the public interest as a part of their mission. ‘‘(d) APPLICATION O F FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), other than section 14, shall apply to the HIT Standards Committee. ‘‘(e) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall provide for publication in the Federal Register and the posting on the Internet website of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology of all recommendations made by the HIT Standards Committee under this section. Fed e ralR e gist er ,pub li c ati on.W eb posting. Federal Register, publication. D eadline.