[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 122 (Monday, June 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15538]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 27, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration

 

Final Funding Priorities for Cooperative Agreements for Area 
Health Education Centers Program for Fiscal Year 1994

    The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces 
the final funding priorities for fiscal year 1994, Cooperative 
Agreements for the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program 
authorized under the authority of section 746 (a)(l), title VII of the 
Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended by the Health Professions 
Education Extension Amendments of 1992, dated October 13, 1992.

Purpose

    Section 746(a)(1) of the PHS Act authorizes Federal assistance to 
schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine which have cooperative 
arrangements with one or more public or nonprofit private area health 
education centers for the planning, development and operation of area 
health education center programs.

Final Funding Priorities for FY 1994

    Proposed funding priorities were published in the Federal Register 
on February 17, 1994, at 59 FR 8000, for public comment. Several 
comments were received from one respondent. Comments on aspects of the 
proposed notice which were not specifically proposed for public comment 
are not addressed in this notice.
    The respondent suggested a change in the funding priority proposed 
for applicants which demonstrate an increase in the percentage of 
graduates who have entered a Primary Care Residency for the most recent 
3-year period. The respondent suggested that this priority be expanded 
to include awarding of the priority to applicants who have, during the 
most recent 3-year period, maintained a percentage of graduates 
entering a Primary Care Residency which substantially exceeds the 
average for all U.S. medical schools. This addition to the proposed 
funding priority would aid medical schools which may be maintaining a 
high percentage, i.e., 50-60 percent, compared to medical schools which 
may show a significant increase but start at a lower percentage, i.e., 
increase from 15 to 25 percent. It should be noted that an average 
percentage for all U.S. medical schools (osteopathic and allopathic) 
would most likely be lower than the 50-60 percent, example cited, and 
would not encourage schools to focus their efforts on increasing their 
percentage of graduates entering a Primary Care Residency. The second 
comment was related to the funding priority proposed for applicants 
which demonstrate an increase in the percentage of underrepresented 
minorities for the most recent 3-year period. The respondent suggested 
that for this priority the term ``minority'' should be used rather than 
underrepresented minority. The intent of this funding priority is to 
reward those applicants who show progress in reaching underrepresented 
minority populations. It is understood that data necessary to establish 
that specific populations or subpopulations are underrepresented in a 
specific discipline may not be readily accessible, or may differ in 
terms of data reported to medical school associations. Efforts were 
made in the application materials to assist applicants by allowing data 
to be presented in two ways, in a manner similar to that provided to 
their medical school association, or to present student applicant data 
related to the number and percent of minority population in the State 
where the applicant is based. All of the data on minorities presented 
by the applicants will be reviewed, recognizing that ``underrepresented 
minorities'' is defined for all applicants to this program in the 
Federal Register notice.
    Therefore, the final funding priorities will be retained as 
follows:
    A funding priority be given to:
    1. Applicants which demonstrate an increase in the percentage of 
graduates who have entered a Primary Care (Family Medicine, General 
Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics) Residency, for the most recent 
3-year period.
    2. Applicants which demonstrate an increase in the percentage of 
underrepresented minority graduates for the most recent 3-year period.

Additional Information

    If additional programmatic information is needed, please contact: 
Mr. Lou Coccodrilli, Acting Chief, AHEC and Special Programs Branch, 
Division of Medicine, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources 
and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Parklawn Building, room 
9A-05, Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: (301) 443-6817, FAX: (301) 
443-8890.
    This program is listed at 93.824 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: June 22, 1994.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
M.D., M.P.H.T.M. Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-15538 Filed 6-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P