Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs

The current version of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Mandatory Guidelines), effective on October 1, 2010, addresses the role and qualifications of Medical Review Officers (MROs) and HHS approval of entities that certify MROs. Subpart M--Medical Review Officer (MRO), Section 13.1(b), "Who may serve as an MRO?" states as follows: "Nationally recognized entities that certify MROs or subspecialty boards for physicians performing a review of Federal employee drug testing results that seek approval by the Secretary must submit their qualifications and a sample examination. Based on an annual objective review of the qualifications and content of the examination, the Secretary shall publish a list in the Federal Register of those entities and boards that have been approved." HHS has completed its review of entities that train and certify MROs, in accordance with requests submitted by such entities to HHS. (1) The HHS Secretary approves the following MRO certifying entities that offer both MRO training and certification through examination: