Standards Adoption Process

The standards adoption process, as outlined in sections 1171 through 1179 of the Social Security Act, requires that standards must meet certain criteria in order to be adopted by the Secretary.

The adoption process relies primarily on a number of HHS-designated standard-setting organizations to develop, coordinate, and revise technical standards. The Secretary may adopt a standard developed or modified by:

• A standard-setting organization
• A group other than a standard-setting organization, based on certain criteria outlined in Section 1172 of the Social Security Act

If no standard exists, the Secretary must rely on the recommendations of the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) and consult with the designated standard-setting organizations.

When adopting a standard, the Secretary is required to publish the recommendations of the NCVHS in the Federal Register.

For More Information

Standards for Electronic Transactions, Announcement of Designated Standard Maintenance Organizations Final Rule and Notice