[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30575-30577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14164]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement 575]


National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Evaluation 
of the Effectiveness of Medical Management and Rehabilitation Programs 
for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1995 funds for cooperative agreements 
to provide assistance for the development, implementation, and 
evaluation of demonstration projects that will determine the overall 
effectiveness of medical management and rehabilitation programs for 
individuals with work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
    The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the 
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 
2000, a PHS-led national activity to reduce morbidity and mortality and 
improve the quality of life. This announcement is related to the 
priority area of Occupational Safety and Health. (For ordering a copy 
of Healthy People 2000, see the Section Where to Obtain Additional 
Information.)

Authority

    The legislative authority for this program is authorized under 
Sections 20(a) and 22(e)(7) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 
of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 669(a) and 671(e)(7)) and Section 501(a) of the 
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (30 U.S.C. 951).

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a 
smoke-free workplace and promote the nonuse of all tobacco products, 
and Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking 
in certain facilities that receive Federal funds in which education, 
library, day care, health care, and early childhood development 
services are provided to children.

Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private, non-profit and 
for-profit organizations. Thus, universities, colleges, research 
institutions, hospitals, and other public and private organizations, 
State and local governments or their bona fide agents, federally 
recognized Indian tribal governments, Indian tribes or Indian tribal 
organizations, and small, minority- and/or women-owned businesses are 
eligible to apply.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $225,000 is available in FY 1995 to fund 
approximately 1 to 2 awards. It is expected the award(s) will begin on 
or about September 30, 1995, and will be made for a 12-month budget 
period within a project period of 3 to 5 years. Funding estimates may 
vary and are subject to change.
    Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the 
basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.

Purpose

    The purpose of the demonstration projects is to assess the 
effectiveness of medical management programs regarding rehabilitation 
and return-to-work of employees with work-related musculoskeletal 
disorders. Through the development and application of objective 
evaluation criteria, the project will provide a basis with which to 
compare the success rate of various medical management, rehabilitation 
and return-to-work programs. In addition, the demonstrations will 
provide additional data on the types of programs available; components 
of the programs; elements necessary for successful programs; the 
success rates of programs for returning populations to work and 
possible explanations; the influence programs have in convincing 
employers to change activities in jobs where the injury was noted; and 
the direct and indirect costs of successful medical management, 
rehabilitation, and return-to-work programs.
    This program may build on an existing program or provide assistance 
in initiating a new program. Personnel for the demonstration projects 
will include researchers from many disciplines such as ergonomics, 
epidemiology, occupational medicine, physical and occupational therapy 
and physical and rehabilitation medicine, nursing, health education, 
and economics. Additionally, this program will report and disseminate 
findings, relevant health and safety education and training information 
to State health officials, health-care providers, workers, management, 
unions, and employers. It is envisioned that new research methods and 
techniques will be developed that improve the success of rehabilitation 
and return-to-work programs for work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under A. 
(Recipient Activities), and CDC/NIOSH will be responsible for the 
activities listed under B. (CDC/NIOSH Activities).

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Develop and conduct a demonstration project for the evaluation 
of medical management, rehabilitation and return-to-work programs 
targeted at work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
    2. Develop objective criteria for determination of ``successful'' 
medical management, rehabilitative, and return-to-work programs for 
work-related musculoskeletal disorders. (Issues to consider include 
assessment of the level of exposure prior to the injury and the type of 
job to which the individual returns, and how the job where the injury 
was noted was changed to reduce the risk of injury to workers.)
    3. Identify existing medical management, rehabilitative and return-
to-work programs to validate criteria and facilitate implementation of 
the demonstration project.
    4. Develop a protocol that reviews the pertinent literature on 
program evaluation, describes the project methodology, the data to be 
collected and the proposed analysis of the data. Present the protocol 
to a panel of peer reviewers and revise the protocol as required for 
final approval.
    5. Conduct data collection, management and analysis.
    6. Prepare a final report summarizing the study methodology, 
results obtained, and conclusions reached, including recommendations 
regarding critical elements of effective medical management, 
rehabilitation and return-to-work programs for work-related 
musculoskeletal disorders.
    7. Report research results to the scientific community via 
presentations at professional conferences and articles 
[[Page 30576]] in peer-reviewed journals and the lay community.

B. CDC/NIOSH Activities

    1. Provide scientific, epidemiologic, ergonomic and clinical 
technical assistance to the recipient for the successful completion of 
the project.
    2. Identify reviews and/or clearances that must be fulfilled by the 
recipient, and identify and convene a Peer Review Panel for review of 
draft study protocol.
    3. Assist in study design, survey instrument designs (if 
necessary), the collection, tabulation and analysis of data, 
interpretation of the results and preparation of the written reports.
    4. Assist in the reporting of project results to the scientific, 
public health, labor and industrial communities via presentations at 
professional conferences and publications in peer-reviewed and 
technical publications.

Evaluation Criteria

    A CDC convened ad hoc committee will review the applications. The 
review will be based on the evidence submitted in the application which 
specifically describes the applicant's ability to meet the following 
criteria:

1. Understanding the Problem (30%)

    Responsiveness to the objectives of the cooperative agreement 
including: (a) applicant's understanding of the objective of the 
proposed cooperative agreement; and, (b) relevance of the proposal to 
the objective.

2. Program Personnel (25%)

    (a) Applicant's qualifications to do research on this topic; (b) 
the qualifications and time allocation of the professional staff to be 
assigned to this project; and (c) the applicant's ability to describe 
the approach to be used in carrying out the responsibilities of the 
applicant in this project.

3. Project Design (20%)

    Steps proposed in planning and implementing this project and the 
respective responsibilities of the applicant for carrying out those 
steps.

4. Project Planning (15%)

    The applicant's schedule proposed for accomplishing the activities 
to be carried out in this project and for evaluating the 
accomplishments.

5. Facilities and Resources (10%)

    The adequacy of the applicant's facilities, equipment, and other 
resources available for performance of this project.

6. Budget Justification (not scored)

    The budget will be evaluated to the extent that it is reasonable, 
clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of funds.

Executive Order 12372 Review

    This program is not subject to review by Executive Order 12372, 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

Public Health Reporting Requirements

    This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this 
program is 93.283.

Other Requirements

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Projects that involve the collection of information from 10 or more 
individuals and funded by this cooperative agreement will be subject to 
approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act.

Human Subjects

    If the proposed project involves research on human subjects, the 
applicant must comply with the Department of Health and Human Services 
Regulations, 45 CFR Part 46, regarding the protection of human 
subjects. Assurance must be provided to demonstrate the project will be 
subject to initial and continuing review by an appropriate 
institutional review committee. The applicant will be responsible for 
providing assurance in accordance with the appropriate guidelines and 
form provided in the application kit.
    In addition to other applicable committees, Indian Health Service 
(IHS) institutional review committees also must review the project if 
any component of IHS will be involved or will support the research. If 
any American Indian community is involved, its tribal government must 
also approve that portion of the project applicable to it.

Application Submission and Deadline

    The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1 
(Revised 7/92, OMB Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Henry S. 
Cassell, III, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-
13, Atlanta, GA 30305, on or before July 19, 1995.
    1. Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the 
deadline if they are either:
    (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the review group. Applicants must request a legibly dated 
U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a 
commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private metered 
postmarks are not acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
    2. Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria 
in 1.(a) or 1.(b) above are considered late and will be returned to the 
applicant.

Where to Obtain Additional Information

    To receive additional written information call (404) 332-4561. You 
will be asked to leave your name, address, and telephone number and 
will need to refer to Announcement 575. You will receive a complete 
program description, information on application procedures, and 
application forms.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from Oppie Byrd, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-
13, Atlanta, GA 30305, telephone (404) 842-6546. Programmatic technical 
assistance may be obtained from Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies, 
ATTN: Marie Haring Sweeney, Ph.D., Mailstop R-13, Robert A. Taft 
Laboratories, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1049, 
telephone (513) 841-4207, FAX (513) 841-4486.
    Please refer to Announcement 575 when requesting information and 
submitting an application.
    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) referenced in the Introduction Section may be obtained through 
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, 
Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.
    Copies of A Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Disease 
and Injury Prevention (CDC, Morbidity and [[Page 30577]] Mortality 
Weekly Report, March 27, 1992, Volume 41, Number RR-3, Pages 5-11) may 
be obtained by calling (404) 488-4334.

    Dated: June 5, 1995.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 95-14164 Filed 6-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P