Web site: http://ccmis.usphs.gov/eccis

The electronic Commissioned Corps Issuance System (eCCIS) is available at http://ccmis.usphs.gov/eccis/. Policies coming up for review or are under review and development are listed on the first page of that site. Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps) are encouraged to provide their Chief Professional Officers (CPOs), Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) chairs, and/or their Surgeon General’s Policy Advisory Council (SGPAC) representatives with their recommendations for changes to existing policies or proposals for new policies. Policies are posted to the Web site http://ccmis.usphs.gov/eccis/ when signed by the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) or the Secretary.

Components of the Commissioned Corps Issuance System (CCIS)
of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Services (Corps)

The Commissioned Corps Issuance System (CCIS) consists of Commissioned Corps Directives (CCDs), Commissioned Corps Instructions (CCIs), Personnel Policy Memorandums (PPMs), and Personnel Operation Memorandums (POMs). These issuances are defined as:

Commissioned Corps Directives (CCDs) – These are issued by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and are also referred to as ‘regulations.’

CCDs are broad policy issuances containing what is required by legislation, the President, or the Secretary of HHS to initiate, govern, or regulate actions or conduct by HHS organizational components or personnel within specific areas of responsibility. The Secretary will issue CCDs to establish or describe policy, programs, and organizations; define missions; provide authority; and assign responsibilities.

Commissioned Corps Instructions (CCIs) – These are issued by the Assistant Secretary for Health.

CCIs are issuances (policies) that implement the regulations contained in CCDs, or prescribe the manner or a specific plan or action for carrying out the policies, operating a program or activity, and assigning responsibilities. CCIs are issued by the Assistant Secretary for Health.

Personnel Policy Memorandums (PPMs) – These are issued by the Assistant Secretary for Health.

PPMs are issuances that set forth new or revised policies and/or provide information necessary for the proper administration and management of the Corps. PPMs are issued by the Assistant Secretary for Health due to time constraints which preclude publishing a CCI that introduces new or revised policies. PPMs have the full force and effect of CCIs. Under the direction of the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Director of the Office of Commissioned Corps Force Management may issue PPMs to make technical corrections to CCIs and PPMs, provide yearly updates, and make minor adjustments to policies issued by the Assistant Secretary for Health.

Personnel Operations Memorandums (POMs) – These are issued by the Surgeon General.

POMs are issuances that provide information and set forth operational guidance from the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). POMs are issued by the Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service (SG). Under the direction of the SG, the Directors of the Office of Commissioned Corps Operations, the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment, and the Office of Reserve Affairs may issue POMs to make technical corrections to POMs, provide yearly updates, and make minor adjustments to information and operational guidance issued by the SG.