You should be aware that the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has just published a Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) notice in the Federal Register proposing revisions to how it collects complaint information from the public.
This action (OMB control 0945‑0002) covers two critical intake forms used by OCR — the “Civil Rights and Conscience Complaint” and the “Health Information Privacy, Security, & Breach Notification Complaint.” It explains changes to reduce unnecessary questions, clarify confusing terms, and align statutory references with recent developments in executive policy and court orders.
What’s new in the notice
Forms being updated: OCR’s intake forms used for civil rights, conscience, and HIPAA‑related privacy/security/breach complaints will be revised under the PRA submission.
Why it’s happening: The notice states the purpose is to continue collecting only the minimum information needed for OCR to begin complaint processing while reducing burden and improving clarity. It specifically references incorporating changes from Executive Order 14168 and a stay in the definition of “sex discrimination” from Texas v. Becerra (an Eastern District of Texas decision affecting the nationwide application of certain definitions).
Comment period: A 30‑day public comment period is open following publication, meaning stakeholders can weigh in on burden estimates or wording that could materially affect how intake works.
What this means for intake and compliance teams
Form mapping: Compare the forthcoming proposed forms with your current intake workflows and ticketing systems to spot dropped questions or reworded fields.
Downstream effects: Changes in statutory references or omitted questions may affect reporting guidance, evidence retention, or how incidents are classified for compliance.
Opportunity to comment: If your organization’s complaint intake, triage, or reporting burdens will shift meaningfully — or if definitions are unclear — preparing targeted comments for submission (via reginfo.gov or regulations.gov) before the comment deadline could shape the final forms.