[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 1994)] [Notices] [Pages 769-771] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-179] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: January 6, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Program Announcement and Proposed Minimum Percentages for ``High Rate'' and ``Significant Increase in the Rate'' for Implementation of the General Statutory Funding Preference for Grants for Nurse Anesthetist Education Programs for Fiscal Year 1994 The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces that applications will be accepted for fiscal year (FY) 1994 Grants for Nurse Anesthetist Education Programs under the authority of section 831(a), title VIII of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Nurse Education and Practice Improvement Amendments of 1992, title II of the Health Professions Education Extension Amendments of 1992, Public Law 102-408, dated October 13, 1992. Comments are invited on the proposed minimum percentages for ``high rate'' and ``significant increase in the rate'' for implementation of the general statutory funding preference. Approximately $1,791,000 will be available in FY 1994 for this program. Total continuation support recommended is $1,316,000. It is anticipated that approximately $475,000 will be available to support 5 competing awards averaging $95,000. Previous Funding Experience Previous funding experience information is provided to assist potential applicants to make better informed decisions regarding submission of an application for this program. In FY 1993, HRSA reviewed 16 eligible applications for Grants for Nurse Anesthetist Education Programs. Of those applications, 88 percent were approved and 12 percent were disapproved. Eight projects or 57 percent of the competing applications approved, were funded. In FY 1992, HRSA reviewed 3 applications for Grants for Nurse Anesthetist Education Programs. Of those applications, 67 percent were approved and 33 percent were disapproved. Two projects, or 67 percent of the applications received, were funded. Purpose Section 831(a) of the Public Health Service Act authorizes the Secretary to make grants to cover the costs of projects to develop and operate programs for the education of nurse anesthetists. The period of Federal support may not exceed 3 years. Eligibility Eligible applicants for Grants for Nurse Anesthetist Education Programs are public or private nonprofit institutions, accredited by an entity or entities designated by the Secretary of Education. Grants may be awarded to develop and operate a new nurse anesthetist program. Grants may also be awarded to maintain or expand an existing program. National Health Objectives for the Year 2000 The Public Health Service urges applicants to submit work plans that address specific objectives of Healthy People 2000. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full Report; Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Healthy People 2000 (Summary Report; Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402-9325 (Telephone 202-783-3238). Education and Service Linkage As part of its long-range planning, HRSA will be targeting its efforts to strengthening linkages between U.S. Public Health Service education programs and programs which provide comprehensive primary care services to the underserved. Review Criteria The review of applications will take into consideration the following criteria: 1. The national or special local need which the particular project proposes to serve with special emphasis on meeting shortages in underserved areas; 2. The potential effectiveness and impact of the proposed project including its potential contribution to nursing; 3. The administrative and managerial capability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project; 4. The appropriateness of the plan, including the timetable for carrying out the activities of the proposed project and achieving and measuring the project's stated objectives; 5. The capability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project; 6. The reasonableness of the budget for the proposed project, including the justification of the grant funds requested; and 7. The potential of the nurse anesthetist program to continue on a self-sustaining basis after the period of grant support. Other Considerations In addition, the following funding factors may be applied in determining funding of approved applications. A funding preference is defined as the funding of a specific category or group of approved applications ahead of other categories or groups of approved applications. A funding priority is defined as the favorable adjustment of aggregate review scores of individual approved applications when applications meet specified criteria. It is not required that applicants request consideration for a funding factor. Applications which do not request consideration for funding factors will be reviewed and given full consideration for funding. Statutory Funding Preference In making awards of grants under this section, preference will be given to any qualified applicant that--(A) has a high rate for placing graduates in practice settings having the principal focus of serving residents of medically underserved communities; or (B) during the 2- year period preceding the fiscal year for which such an award is sought, has achieved a significant increase in the rate of placing graduates in such settings. Preference will be given only for applications ranked above the 20th percentile of applications that have been recommended for approval by the appropriate peer review group. Proposed Minimum Percentages for ``High Rate'' and ``Significant Increase in the Rate'' ``High rate'' is defined as a minimum of 20 percent of graduates in academic years 1990-91, 1991-92 or 1992-93 who spend at least 50 percent of their worktime in clinical practice in the specified settings. Graduates who are providing care in a medically underserved community as a part of a fellowship or other educational experience can be counted. ``Significant increase in the rate'' means that, between academic years 1991-92 and 1992-93, the rate of placing graduates in the specified settings has increased by a minimum of 50 percent and that not less than 15 percent of graduates from the most recent year are working in these settings. Additional information concerning the implementation of this preference has been published in the Federal Register at 58 FR 40659, July 29, 1993. Established Funding Priority The following funding priority was established in FY 1993 following public comment (58 FR 40657, July 29, 1993) and the Administration is extending this funding priority in FY 1994. A funding priority will be given to programs which demonstrate either substantial progress over the last 3 years or a significant experience of 10 or more years in enrolling and graduating students from those minority populations identified as at-risk of poor health outcomes. Information Requirements Provision Under section 860(e)(2) of the Act, the Secretary may make an award under the Grants for Nurse Anesthetist Education Programs only if the applicant for the award submits to the Secretary the following information: 1. A description of rotations of preceptorships for students, or clinical training programs for residents, that have the principal focus of providing health care to medically underserved communities. 2. The number of faculty on admissions committees who have a clinical practice in community-based ambulatory settings in medically underserved communities. 3. With respect to individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds or from medically underserved communities, the number of such individuals who are recruited for academic programs of the applicant, the number of such individuals who are admitted to such programs, and the number of such individuals who graduate from such programs. 4. If applicable, the number of recent graduates who have chosen careers in primary health care. 5. The number of recent graduates whose practices are serving medically underserved communities. 6. A description of whether and to what extent the applicant is able to operate without Federal assistance under this title. Additional details concerning the implementation of this information requirement have been published in the Federal Register at 58 FR 43642, August 17, 1993 and will be provided in the application materials. Paperwork Reduction Act The standard application form PHS 6025-1, HRSA Competing Training Grant Application, General Instructions and supplement for this program have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This approval includes the burden for collection of information for the statutory general preference and for the information requirement provision. (OMB #0915-0060, expiration date July 31, 1995) Additional Information Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed minimum percentages for ``high rate'' and ``significant increase in the rate'' for implementation of the general statutory funding preference. The comment period is 30 days. All comments received on or before February 7, 1994 will be considered before the final minimum percentages for ``high rate'' and ``significant increase in the rate'' for implementation of the general statutory funding preference are established. Written comments should be addressed to: Marla Salmon, ScD, RN, FAAN, Director, Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, room 9-35, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857. All comments received will be available for public inspection and copying at the Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, at the above address, weekdays (Federal holidays excepted) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Application Requests Requests for application materials and questions regarding grants policy and business management issues should be directed to: Jacquelyn Whitaker (A-22), Grants Management Specialist, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, room 8C-26, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: (301) 443-6857, FAX: (301) 443-6343. Completed applications should be returned to the Grants Management Branch at the above address. If additional programmatic information is needed, please contact: Mary S. Hill, R.N., Ph.D., Chief, Nursing Education Practice Resources Branch, Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, room 9-35, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: (301) 443- 6193, FAX: (301) 443-8586. The deadline date for receipt of applications is March 15, 1994. Applications will be considered to be ``on time'' if they are either: (1) Received on or before the established deadline date, or (2) Sent on or before the established deadline date and received in time for orderly processing. (Applicants should request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing. Late applications not accepted for processing will be returned to the applicant. This program, Grants for Nurse Anesthetist Education Programs, is listed at 93.916 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. It is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs (as implemented through 45 CFR part 100). This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting Requirements. Dated: December 6, 1993. William A. Robinson, Acting Administrator. [FR Doc. 94-179 Filed 1-5-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160-15-P