[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38454-38455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18831]


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[[Page 38455]]


DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration


Cooperative Agreement With the Telemedicine Research Center

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Health and 
Human Services (HHS).

SUMMARY: The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP), Health Resources and 
Services Administration, announces its intent to award funds in FY 1996 
to support a cooperative agreement with the Telemedicine Research 
Center (TRC), Portland, Oregon.
    The Office of Rural Health Policy funds 19 rural telemedicine 
projects through grants. It has been encouraged by the Office of 
Management and Budget and the Senate Committee on Appropriations to 
develop a standard data set for telemedicine evaluation and conduct an 
objective and scientific evaluation of telemedicine programs. The 
purpose of this cooperative agreement is to collect basic information 
about the operations, utilization, costs, benefits, and sustainability 
of the 19 rural telemedicine projects funded through the Office of 
Rural Health Policy. The specific objectives are (1) to develop 
standard data collection questions and instruments for the ongoing 
monitoring and evaluation of rural telemedicine projects and (2) to use 
the standard data collection questions and instruments over a one year 
period. The proposed data collection will require Office of Management 
and Budget approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The data 
collection will not take place until OMB approval has been obtained.
    HRSA plans to award this cooperative agreement to the TRC because 
of its unique characteristics, skills, and superior qualifications in 
the area of telemedicine evaluation. The TRC was founded for the 
purpose of conducting multi-network telemedicine evaluations, and is 
the only organization that conducts multi-network telemedicine 
evaluations and analyzes the data across the multiple networks. 
Accordingly, HRSA has determined that there is adequate basis for 
awarding this cooperative agreement to the TRC without competition.

    Authority: This cooperative agreement is authorized under 
section 301 of the Public Health Service Act, with funds 
appropriated under Public Law 104-134 (MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 1996, TO MAKE A FURTHER DOWN PAYMENT TOWARD A BALANCED 
BUDGET, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.)

AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS: Approximately $200,000 will be made available to 
support the cooperative agreement for a budget period of one year, 
beginning in FY 1996. The project period will be two years at a total 
cost of approximately $330,000.

OTHER AWARD INFORMATION: This program is not subject to the provision 
of Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs 
(as implemented by 45 CFR Part 100).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dena S. Puskin, Sc.D., Deputy 
Director, Office of Rural Health Policy, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-05, 
Rockville, MD 20857, 301-443-0835, [email protected].

    Dated: July 18, 1996.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-18831 Filed 7-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P