[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21478]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 31, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
 

Program Announcement for Allied Health Project Grants for Fiscal 
Year 1995

    The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces 
that applications will be accepted for fiscal year (FY) 1995 Allied 
Health Project Grants under the authority of section 767, title VII of 
the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Health Professions 
Education Extension Amendments of 1992, Public Law 102-408, dated 
October 13, 1992.
    This program announcement is subject to the appropriation of funds. 
Applicants are advised that this program announcement is a contingency 
action being taken to assure that should funds become available for 
this purpose, they can be awarded in a timely fashion consistent with 
the needs of the program as well as to provide for even distribution of 
funds throughout the fiscal year. The Administration's budget request 
for FY 1995 includes $2,300,000 for this program. Total continuation 
support recommended is $2,073,000. Under the Administration's budget 
request, it is anticipated that $227,000 will be available to support 2 
competing awards averaging $100,000.

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 1994, HRSA 
reviewed 72 applications for Allied Health Project Grants. Of those 
applications, 51 percent were approved and 49 percent were disapproved. 
Eleven projects, or 15 percent of the applications received, were 
funded. In FY 1993, HRSA reviewed 83 applications for Allied Health 
Project Grants. Of those applications, 59 percent were approved and 41 
percent were disapproved. Eight projects, or 10 percent of the 
applications received, were funded.

Purposes

    Section 767 authorizes the award of grants to assist in meeting the 
costs associated with expanding or establishing programs that will 
increase the number of individuals trained in allied health 
professions. Programs and activities funded under this section may 
include:
    (1) Those that expand enrollments in allied health professions with 
the greatest shortages or whose services are most needed by the 
elderly;
    (2) Those that provide rapid transition training programs in allied 
health fields to individuals who have baccalaureate degrees in health-
related sciences;
    (3) Those that establish community-based allied health training 
programs that link academic centers to rural clinical settings;
    (4) Those that provide career advancement training for practicing 
allied health professionals;
    (5) Those that expand or establish clinical training sites for 
allied health professionals in medically underserved or rural 
communities in order to increase the number of individuals trained;
    (6) Those that develop curriculum that will emphasize knowledge and 
practice in the areas of prevention and health promotion, geriatrics, 
long-term care, home health and hospice care, and ethics;
    (7) Those that expand or establish interdisciplinary training 
programs that promote the effectiveness of allied health practitioners 
in geriatric assessment and the rehabilitation of the elderly;
    (8) Those that expand or establish demonstration centers to 
emphasize innovative models to link allied health clinical practice, 
education, and research; and
    (9) Those that provide financial assistance (in the form of 
traineeships) to students who are participants in any such program; and
    (A) Who plan to pursue a career in an allied health field that has 
a demonstrated personnel shortage; and
    (B) Who agree upon completion of the training program to practice 
in a medically underserved community;

that shall be utilized to assist in the payment of all or part of the 
costs associated with tuition, fees and such other stipends as the 
Secretary may consider necessary.
    To maximize program benefit, programs that provide financial 
assistance in the form of traineeships to students will not be 
considered for funding in FY 1995. The period of Federal support will 
not exceed 3 years.

Eligibility

    Eligible entities for the purpose of this grant are:
    (1) Schools, universities, or other educational entities which 
provide for allied health personnel education and training and which 
meet such standards as the Secretary may prescribe; or
    (2) Other public or nonprofit private entities capable, as 
determined by the Secretary, of carrying out the purpose of the Allied 
Health Project Grants program; and
    (3) Located in a State.

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.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The Public Health Service strongly encourages all grant recipients 
to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all 
tobacco products. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect 
and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

Review Criteria

    The review criteria, stated below, which were established in FY 
1990 (55 FR 12424, dated 4/3/90) after public comment, will remain 
unchanged in FY 1995.
     The extent to which the proposed project meets the legislative 
purpose;
     The background and rationale for the proposed project;
     The extent to which the project contains clearly stated realistic 
and achievable objectives;
     The extent to which the project contains a methodology 
which is integrated and compatible with project objectives, including 
collaborative arrangements and feasible workplans;
     The evaluation plans and procedures for program and 
trainees, if involved;
     The administrative and management capability of the 
applicant to carry out the proposed project, including institutional 
infrastructure and resources;
     The extent to which the budget justification is complete, 
cost-effective and includes cost-sharing, when applicable; and
     Whether there is an institutional plan and commitment for 
self-sufficiency when Federal support ends.

Other Considerations

    In addition, the following funding factor will 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 in a discretionary program, or favorable adjustment of the 
formula which determines the grant award in a formula grant program.
    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.

Funding Preference

    The statutory preference identified in section 767(b)(2) and the 
statutory preference identified in section 791(a) of the PHS Act have 
been combined in the following preference which will be applied to 
Allied Health Project Grants for fiscal year 1995: Preference shall be 
given to qualified applicants that--
    (A) Expand and maintain first-year enrollment by not less than 10 
percent over enrollments in base year 1992; or
    (B) Demonstrate that not less than 20 percent of the graduates of 
such training programs during the preceding 2-year period are working 
in medically underserved communities (high rate for placing graduates 
in practice settings having the principal focus of serving residents of 
medically underserved communities); or
    (C) 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.

Minimum Percentages for ``High Rate'' and ``Significant Increase in 
the Rate''

    The minimum percentages for ``high rate'' and ``significant 
increase in the rate'' were established in FY 1994 after public comment 
(59 FR 23889, dated May 9, 1994). The Administration is extending these 
minimum percentages in FY 1995.
    ``High rate'' is defined as a minimum of 20 percent of graduates in 
academic year 1992-93 or academic year 1993-94, whichever is greater, 
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 part of a fellowship or other educational 
experience can be counted.
    ``Significant increase in the rate'' means that, between academic 
years 1992-93 and 1993-94, 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 59 FR 15741, 
dated April 4, 1994.

Information Requirements Provision

    Under section 791(b) of the Act, the Secretary may make an award 
under the Allied Health Project Grants only if the applicant for the 
award submits to the Secretary the following information:
    1. A description of rotations or 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, dated 8/17/93, 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 
7/31/95)

Application Requests

    Application forms will be sent to FY 1994 applicants and to those 
who request kits. Requests for application materials and questions 
regarding grants policy and business management issues should be 
directed to: Ms. Jacquelyn Whitaker (D37), 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: 
Dr. Norman Clark, Program Officer, Associated Health Professions 
Branch, Division of Associated, Dental, and Public Health Professions, 
Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 8C-02, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone (301) 443-6763.
    The deadline date for receipt of applications is January 27, 1995. 
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.
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program 
is 93.191. This program 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: August 25, 1994.
Ciro V. Sumaya, M.D.,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-21478 Filed 8-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P