January 26, 2001
Administration Issues Regulatory Review Plan
President Bush's Chief of Staff Andrew Card, Jr., released the administration's plan to review pending regulatory proposals. The plan, which was announced Jan. 20 and printed in the Jan. 24 Federal Register [66 FR 7701-2], calls on all heads and acting heads of executive departments and agencies to refrain from sending proposed or final regulations to the Federal Register until they can be reviewed by the new administration. Regulations that have been sent to the Federal Register but not yet published are to be withdrawn until they are reviewed. Regulations published in the Federal Register that have not yet taken effect are to have their effective dates postponed for 60 days. The plan provides for exceptions in "emergency or other urgent situations relating to health and safety" as well as any regulations "promulgated pursuant to statutory or judicial deadlines." The Director of the Office of Management and Budget will make the final determination whether an exception is "appropriate under the circumstances." The impact of this plan on the medical records privacy regulations issued Dec. 20 is unclear.
Information: Dave Moore, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.
