[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 245 (Thursday, December 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67048-67052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32127]



[[Page 67048]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service


Statement of Mission, Organization, Functions and Delegations of 
Authority

Part G Indian Health Service

    Part G, of the Statement of Organization, Functions, and 
Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and Human 
Services, as amended at 52 FR 47053-67, December 11, 1987, and most 
recently amended at 60 FR 56606, November 9, 1995, is amended to 
reflect a reorganization of the Indian Health Service (IHS) 
Headquarters. This notice revises the organizational structure and 
realigns the administrative and programmatic functions of the IHS 
Headquarters. The streamlined IHS Headquarters organization is focused 
on leadership, advocacy, and support of the American Indian and Alaska 
Native (AI/AN) health care delivery programs operated by tribal 
governments, Urban Indian organizations, and directly by the IHS and 
follows recommendations contained in the Indian Health Design Team 
Final Report, November 1995. This new IHS Headquarters organizational 
structure is both flexible and prepared for further downsizing to meet 
the transfer of health programs and management responsibilities to 
tribal governments in support of Indian Self-Determination policies. 
The changes are as follows:
    Delete the functional statements for the IHS Headquarters in their 
entirety and replace with the following:

Chapter GA Office of the Director

Section GA-00, Indian Health Service--Mission

    The IHS provides a comprehensive health services delivery system 
for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) with opportunity for 
maximum tribal involvement in developing and managing programs to meet 
their health needs. The goal of the IHS is to raise the health level of 
the AI/AN people to the highest possible level.
    To carry out its mission and to attain its goal, the IHS:
    (1) Assists Indian tribes in developing their health programs 
through activities including health management training, technical 
assistance, and human resource development; (2) facilitates and assists 
Indian tribes in coordinating health planning, in obtaining and 
utilizing health resources available through Federal, State, and local 
programs, in operating comprehensive health programs, and in health 
program evaluation; (3) provides comprehensive health care services, 
including hospital and ambulatory medical care, preventive and 
rehabilitative services, and development of community sanitation 
facilities, and (4) serves as the principal Federal advocate for 
Indians in the health field to assure comprehensive health services for 
AI/AN.

Section GA-10, Indian Health Service--Organization

    The IHS is an Operating Division within the Department of Health 
and Human Services and is under the leadership and direction of a 
Director who is directly responsible to the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services. The IHS consists of the following major components:
     Office of the Director (GA),
     Office of Management Support (GAA),
     Office of Public Health (GAB), and
     IHS Area Offices (GF).

Section GA-20, Functions

    Office of the Director (GA). Provides overall direction and 
leadership for the IHS by:
    (1) Establishing goals and objectives for the IHS consistent with 
the mission of the IHS; (2) providing leadership during the development 
of health care policy; (3) providing leadership to ensure the delivery 
of quality comprehensive health services; (4) coordinating the IHS 
activities and resources internally and externally with the activities 
and available resources of other governmental and nongovernmental 
programs, promoting optimum utilization of all available health 
resources; (5) advocating for the health needs and concerns of AI/AN 
and promoting the IHS programs at the local, State, national, and 
international levels; (6) developing and demonstrating alternative 
methods and techniques of health services management and delivery with 
maximum participation by Indian tribes and Indian organizations; (7) 
supporting the development of individual and tribal capacities to 
participate in Indian health programs through means and modalities that 
they deem appropriate to their needs and circumstances; (8) affording 
Indian people an opportunity to enter a career in the IHS by applying 
Indian preference; (9) disseminating information to IHS consumers and 
the general public regarding the activities of the IHS and the health 
status of AI/AN people and communities; and (10) ensuring full 
application of the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity laws and 
the Civil Rights Act in managing the human resources of the IHS.
    Urban Indian Health Programs Staff. (1) Advises the Director, IHS, 
on the activities and issues related to the IHS' implementation of 
Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, as amended; (2) 
develops and recommends policies, administrative procedures and 
guidelines for IHS services and activities for urban Indian health 
programs and organizations; (3) assures that urban Indian health 
programs and organizations are informed of pertinent health policy and 
that consultation with urban Indian health programs and organizations 
occurs during the development of IHS policy; (4) supports urban Indian 
health programs and organizations in managing health programs and 
coordinates support available from other public and private agencies 
and organizations; (5) advises the Director, IHS, on agency compliance 
to urban Indian health program policies, administrative procedures and 
guidelines; (6) maintains relevant information on urban Indian health 
programs and organizations; and (7) coordinates meetings and other 
communications with urban Indian health program representatives.
    To provide for the full participation of Indian tribes in the 
programs and services provided by the Federal Government, and to ensure 
that the responsibilities of the United States are not waived, 
modified, or diminished in any way with respect to Indian tribes and 
individual Indians, by any grant, contract, compact, or funding 
agreement awarded by the IHS under the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act, as amended, the:
     Office of Tribal Self-Governance (GA-1). (1) Develops and 
oversees the implementation of Tribal self-governance legislation and 
authorities in the IHS, under Title III of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended; (2) develops 
and recommends policies, administrative procedures, and guidelines for 
self-governance tribal activities, with maximum input from IHS staff 
and workgroups, tribes and tribal organizations, and the Tribal Self-
Governance Advisory Committee; (3) advises the Director on Agency 
compliance with self-governance policies, administrative procedures and 
guidelines and coordinates activities for resolution of problems with 
appropriate IHS and HHS staff; (4) provides technical assistance and 
support in the development of the Tribal Self-Governance Demonstration 
Project; (5) participates in the reviews, and recommends approval, of 
proposals

[[Page 67049]]

from tribes for self-governance planning and negotiation grants; (6) 
oversees the negotiation of self-governance compacts and annual funding 
agreements with participating tribal governments; (7) in conjunction 
with IHS Area and Headquarters components, identifies the amount of 
Area office and Headquarters managed funds necessary to implement the 
annual funding agreements and prepares annual budgets for available 
tribal shares; (8) coordinates semi-annual reconciliation of funding 
agreements with IHS Headquarters components, Area offices, and 
participating tribes; (9) is the principal IHS office for developing, 
releasing, and presenting information on behalf of the Director, IHS, 
related to the IHS tribal self-governance activities to tribes, tribal 
organizations, HHS officials, IHS officials, and officials from other 
Federal agencies, State and local governmental agencies, and other 
agencies and organizations; (10) arranges national self-governance 
meetings to promote the participation by all AI/AN tribes in IHS self-
governance activities and program direction; and (11) coordinates 
meetings for self-governance tribal delegations visiting IHS 
Headquqarters.
    And, the
    Office of Tribal Programs (GA-2). (1) Advises the Director, IHS, on 
the activities and issues related to IHS' implementation of self-
determination under Title I of the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act, as amended; (2) develops and recommends 
policies, administrative procedures, and guidelines for a range of IHS 
services and activities for Title I tribes and direct service tribes, 
and advises the Director of the effect they have on health programs; 
(3) assures that Indian tribes and Indian organizations are informed, 
regarding pertinent health policy and program management issues, and 
that consultation and participation by tribes and Indian organization 
occurs during the development of IHS policy; (4) administers the Tribal 
Management Grant Program to assist tribes in developing and 
strengthening their capabilities in managing health programs; (5) 
supports Title I tribes in managing health programs and coordinates 
support available from other public and private agencies and 
organizations; (6) advises the Director, IHS, on Agency compliance to 
IHS self-determination program policies, administrative procedures, and 
guidelines; (7) coordinates implementation of special Indian 
legislation and authorities; (8) maintains relevant information on 
Indian tribes and programs, and IHS tribal self-determination policies; 
(9) coordinates meetings and other communications with non-self 
governance tribal delegations; and (10) is the principal IHS office for 
developing, releasing, and presenting information on behalf of the IHS 
Director related to the IHS tribal self-determination activities to 
tribes, tribal organizations, HHS officials, IHS officials, and 
officials form other Federal agencies, State and local governmental 
agencies, and other agencies and organizations.
    Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Staff (GA-3). (1) 
Administers the IHS equal employment opportunity, civil rights, and 
affirmative action programs, in accordance with applicable laws, 
regulations, and HHS policies; (2) plans and oversees the 
implementation of IHS affirmative employment and special emphasis 
programs; (3) reviews data on the IHS employee personnel actions and 
advises IHS managers of discriminatory trends; (4) ensures immediate 
action on complaints of alleged sexual harassment of discrimination on 
the basis of sexual orientation; (5) decides on accepting, for 
investigation, or dismissing discrimination complaints and evaluates 
accepted complaints for procedural sufficiency and investigates, 
adjudicates,and resolves such complaints; and (6) develops EEO 
education and training programs for IHS programs, supervisors, 
counselors, and employees.
    Office of Management Support (GAA.) (1) Provides advice and support 
to the Director and IHS managers on administrative and management 
regulations, policies, and procedures; (2) provides IHS-wide 
leadership, guidance, and support in the management of financial, 
human, personal property, supply, and information resources; (3) 
formulates, administers, and supports IHS-wide policies, delegations of 
authority, and organizations and functions development; (4) provides 
leadership, direction, and coordination of activities for continuous 
improvement of management accountability and administrative systems and 
for effective and efficient program support services IHS-wide; (5) 
administers a program for assuring the integrity of IHS employees in 
performance of their official duties and responsibilities that conforms 
with applicable laws, regulations, and guidance from within the 
Department and from other Federal oversight agencies, and directs the 
process for personnel security and suitability in the IHS; (6) ensures 
the accountability and integrity of acquisition and grants management, 
personal property utilization, and disposition of IHS resources; (7) 
assures that the IHS management services, policies, procedures, and 
practices support IHS Indian Self-Determination policies; (8) 
administers the control and quality of IHS reports, correspondence, and 
publications charged to Headquarters' officials for internal or 
external dissemination, including regular and special reports required 
by the Department and the Congress; (9) advises the Director on 
statutory and regulatory issues related to the IHS and coordination 
resolution of IHS legal issues with the Office of the General Counsel 
(OGC), IHS staff, and other Federal agencies; (10) provides leadership 
and advocacy of the IHS mission and goals with the Department, 
Administration, Congress, and other external authorities; (11) assures 
that IHS appeal systems meet legal standards; (12) assists in the 
assurance of Indian access to State, local, and private health 
programs; (13) manages IHS compliance with ethics requirements 
including the Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act; and (14) 
assures that access to IHS records meet statutory requirements.
    Executive Secretariat (GAA-1). (1) Reviews, analyzes, and 
coordinates correspondence received by the IHS Office of the Director 
(OD); (2) assigns and controls required correspondence follow-up action 
by appropriate functional areas at IHS Headquarters and Areas; (3) 
assigns, control, and tracks reports required by the Congress; (4) 
ensures the quality of correspondence, reports, and publications from 
IHS Headquarters and Area offices that require signature by IHS OD for 
internal and external distribution; (5) conducts training to promote 
conformance by IHS Headquarters and Area staff on the IHS Executive 
Correspondence Guidelines, other good correspondence practices, and/or 
the requirements of higher echelon organizations; (6) maintains an 
automated document tracking system to assist in timely processing of 
internal and external correspondence; (7) maintains official records 
for OD correspondence and conducts topic research of files, as needed; 
(8) writes, develops, prepares, and coordinates documents for IHS OD 
signature; (9) coordinates the review of policy issues that surface in 
prepared responses or initiatives and resolves differences; and (10) 
ensures accurate flow of correspondence and related information to 
tribes, tribal organizations, heads of Federal Government departments 
and

[[Page 67050]]

agencies, congressional staff offices, and members of Congress.
    Management Policy Support Staff (GAA-2). (1) Provides analysis, 
advisory, and assistance services to IHS managers and staff for the 
development, clearance, and filing of IHS directives and delegations of 
authority; (2) serves as principal advisor and source for technical 
assistance for establishment or modification of organizational 
infrastructures, functions, and Standard Administrative code 
configurations; (3) administers a program for assuring IHS' compliance 
with management control requirements in the Federal Managers' Financial 
Integrity Act; (4) coordinates the development, clearance, and 
transmittal of IHS responses and followup to reports issued by the 
Office of Inspector General (OIG), the General Accounting Office (GAO), 
and other Federal internal and external authorities; and (5) provides 
assistance and support to special assigned task groups, and conducts 
special program or management integrity reviews as required.
    Division of Administrative Support (GAA1). (1) Plans, develops and 
directs program support and general services programs; (2) develops and 
disseminates policy and procedural guidelines for uniform 
administrative services and practices; (3) provides guidance and 
support to IHS Headquarters and field in the development, planning, and 
implementation of administrative functions; (4) maintains liaison with 
Department and General Services Administration (GSA) on logistics 
issues affecting the IHS; (5) monitors, evaluates, and reports on 
administrative programs and services; (6) provides advice and technical 
assistance on design and layout, inventories, and print order tracking 
for IHS publications; and (7) manages a variety of special projects.
    Division of Financial Management (GAA2). (1) Develops and prepares 
the budget for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) submission and 
the President's budget for the Indian Health Service and Facilities 
Appropriation; (2) participates with Department officials in budget 
briefings for the OMB and Congress; (3) distributes, coordinates, and 
monitors resource allocations; and (4) in collaboration with the 
Headquarters officials and the tribes, develops and implements budget, 
fiscal, and accounting procedures and conducts reviews and analyses to 
ensure compliance in budget activities.
    Division of Acquisition and Grants Management (GAA3). (1) Develops, 
recommends, and oversees the implementation of policies and procedures 
and delegations of authority for the acquisition and grants management 
activities in the IHS, including self-governance compacts, consistent 
with applicable regulations, directives, and guidance from higher 
echelon in the Department and Federal government oversight agencies; 
(2) executes and administers contracts for IHS Headquarters, grant 
awards IHS-wide, and assists in acquisition and grants operations at 
field components as required; (3) evaluates compliance with acquisition 
and grants management related directives at IHS Headquarters and Area 
offices and oversees actions required to correct identified weaknesses; 
(4) provides cost advisory and audit resolution services in accordance 
with applicable statutes and regulations; (5) advises the Director, 
Office of Management Support, of proposed legislation, regulations and 
directives that affect contracts and financial assistance programs in 
the IHS; (6) manages the IHS acquisition and grant information systems 
and conducts analysis of data for reports and/or responses to inquiries 
from internal and external authorities; (7) conducts training and 
provides advice and technical consultation for contracts and grants 
policies and procedures to IHS Headquarters and field components; (8) 
coordinates the IHS Small, Disadvantaged, and Women-Owned Business 
programs and oversees compliance with the Buy Indian Act; (9) is the 
IHS contact point for contract protests, and to the Department and the 
GAO regarding contract-related issues; (10) administers the agency 
agreements program in the IHS; and (11) coordinates the collection of 
disallowed costs cited in reports of contractor and grantee audits.
    Division of Human Resources (GAA4). (1) Advises the Director, IHS, 
on personnel management issues, programs and policies for Civil Service 
and Commissioned Corps personnel programs; (2) assures implementation 
of the Indian Preference policy in all personnel practices; (3) 
develops personnel management policies, programs, and reports in 
accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies; (4) 
provides personnel management and services throughout IHS, to include, 
but not limited to, manpower planning and utilization, staffing, 
recruitment, compensation and classification, human resource 
development, pay administration, labor, and employee relations; (5) 
provides advice, consultation, and assistance to IHS management and 
tribal officials on tribal health program personnel policy issues; (6) 
provides technical support, guidance, and assistance on all personnel 
programs to IHS Headquarters operations and other organizations as 
necessary; (7) provides liaison for IHS commissioned corps activities 
with the Department Division of Commissioned Personnel; and (8) 
represents IHS in all personnel management matters.
    Division of Information Technology Support (GAA5). (1) Advises the 
Director, IHS, on all aspects of information management; (2) directs 
the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and 
standards for information management activities and services in the 
IHS; (3) directs the design, development/purchase, implementation, and 
support of information systems and services used in the IHS; (4) 
provides information technology services and support to IHS, tribal, 
and urban Indian health programs; and (5) represents the IHS to, and 
enters into information technology agreements with, Federal, tribal, 
State, and other organizations.
    Division of Regulatory and Legal Affairs (GAA6). (1) Manages the 
IHS' overall regulations program and responsibilities, including 
determining the need for and developing plans for changes in 
regulations, developing or assuring the development of needed 
regulations, and maintaining the various regulatory planning processes; 
(2) provides all IHS liaison with the Office of the Federal Register on 
matters relating to the submission and clearance of documents for 
publication in the Federal Register; (3) assures proper agency 
clearance and processing of Federal Register documents; (4) informs 
management and program officials of regulatory activities of other 
Federal agencies; (5) manages the IHS review of non-IHS regulatory 
documents that impact the delivery of health services to Indians; (6) 
advises the Director and serves as liaison with the Office of the 
General Counsel (OGC) on such matters as litigation, regulations, and 
related policy issues; (7) determines need for and obtains legal 
clearance of IHS directives and other issuances; (8) coordinates legal 
issues with the OGC, IHS, HHS components, and other Federal agencies, 
including the identification and formulation of legal questions, and 
advising on the implementation of OGC opinions; (9) assures the IHS' 
appeals processes meet legal standards; (10) advises on the 
participates in Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
appeals and hearings; (11) provides guidance and assistance on State 
and Federal health reform efforts, including access and civil rights

[[Page 67051]]

aspects and State Medicaid waiver applications; (12) advises on the 
administration of the contract health services (CHS) appeals system and 
is a participant with the Office of Public Health in the Director's CHS 
appeal decisions; and (13) manages the retrieval and transmittal of 
information in response to requests received under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) or the Privacy Act, and ensures the security of 
IHS documents used in such responses that contain sensitive and/or 
confidential information.
    Division of Health Professions Support (GAA7). (1) Develops the IHS 
program to recruit, select, assign, and retain health care 
professionals, in accordance with policies and guidance provided by the 
Division of Human Resources; (2) assesses IHS professional staffing 
needs; (3) provides research and analysis functioned for Chief Medical 
Officers, Clinical Directors, and senior clinicians; (4) manages and 
supports health professions education programs and activities; and (5) 
develops and administers Indian Health Professions programs authorized 
by the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), as amended.
    Office of Public Health (GAB). (1) Advises and supports the 
Director, IHS, on policy, budget formulation, and resources allocation 
regarding the operation and management of IHS direct, tribal and urban 
public health programs, quality assurance, and self-determination; (2) 
provides agency-wide leadership and consultation to IHS direct, tribal, 
and urban public health programs on IHS goals, objectives, policies, 
standards, and priorities; (3) represents the IHS within the HHS and 
external organizations for purposes of liaison, professional 
collaboration, cooperative ventures, and advocacy; (4) manages and 
provides national leadership and consultation for IHS and Area Offices 
on strategic and tactical planning, program evaluation and assessment, 
public health and medical services, research agendas, and special 
public health initiatives for the agency; (5) manages the design, 
development, and assessment, for facilities implementation of resource 
requirements and resources allocation methodology models for the 
agency; (6) carries out IHS responsibilities as required by the United 
States Federal Response Plan under Emergency Support Function No. 8; 
(7) assures agency compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations 45, 
Part 46, Protection of Human Subjects; and (8) administers the 
functions related to clinical services, managed care, hospitals and 
ambulatory care centers, community and environmental health, and 
facilities and environmental engineering.
    Division of Clinical and Preventive Services (GAB1). (1) Serves as 
the primary source of technical and policy advice for IHS, and Area 
Offices and IHS direct, tribal, and urban public health programs on the 
full scope of clinical health care programs, including their quality 
assurance and preventive aspects, and tort claims; (2) provides 
leadership in articulating the clinical needs of the AI/AN population 
and competing health care needs; (3) advocates the resource needs of 
specialized health care delivery providers of clinical services 
disciplines; (4) provides consultation and technical support to IHS 
direct, tribal, and urban health programs including, but not limited 
to, alcohol and substance abuse, dental services, diabetes and other 
chronic disease prevention, emergency medical services training and 
material support, mental health, nutrition services training and 
education, services for children with special needs, and sensory 
disabilities services; and (5) administers the program functions that 
include, but are not limited to, alcohol and substance abuse, chronic 
disease such as diabetes and cancer, clinical engineering, dental 
services, emergency medical services, health records, maternal and 
child health, mental health and social services, pharmacy services, 
nursing services, and nutrition and dietetics.
    Division of Managed Care (GAB2). (1) Serves as the primary source 
of technical and policy advice for IHS, and Area Offices and IHS 
direct, tribal, and urban public health programs on the full scope of 
clinical health programs, including their quality assurance and 
preventive aspects, managed care services, third party collections and 
reimbursements, health care facility accreditation, risk management and 
quality assurance; (2) administers and implements guidelines for the 
IHS contract health services (CHS) program including funds management, 
alternate resources, the Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF), 
claims adjudication, and manages the national IHS payment policy with a 
fiscal intermediary; (3) provides leadership at a national and State 
level for Medicare and Medicaid and the private insurance sector; (4) 
serves as liaison with the Health Care Financing Administration for 
rate setting; (5) performs analytical studies to address managed care 
issues; (6) serves as the focal point regarding Medicaid and Medicare 
managed care activities, including the review, evaluation, and 
monitoring of sections 1115 and 1915(b) Medicaid waiver proposals and 
other state and federal health care reform activities; and (7) assures 
training on negotiation of provider agreements for Medicaid and private 
insurance network provider participation.
    Division of Community and Environmental Health (GAB3). (1) Serves 
as the primary source of technical and policy advice for IHS 
Headquarters and Area Offices on the full scope of preventive, 
community, and environmental health programs and health data issues; 
(2) provides leadership in identifying and articulating preventive, 
community, and environmental health needs of AI/AN populations and 
supports efforts to build tribal capacity; (3) advocates for 
preventive, community, and environmental health care providers; (4) 
provides and directs public health surveillance, intervention and 
evaluation programs and the information systems to support them; (5) 
maintains, analyzes, makes accessible, and publishes results from 
national program databases; (6) performs statistical and 
epidemiological consultation for the IHS in response to special 
conditions and communicable disease outbreaks of public health 
significance; and (7) performs functions related to public health 
programs such as environmental health, injury prevention, institutional 
environmental health, chronic disease prevention, infectious disease 
control, public health nursing, public health education, HeadStart, 
dental public health, community health representatives, and nutrition.
    Division of Facilities and Environmental Engineering (GAB4). (1) 
Serves as the primary source of technical and policy advice for IHS 
Headquarters and Area Offices, and IHS direct, tribal, and urban public 
health programs on the full scope of health care and sanitation 
facilities construction and management, environmental engineering, and 
realty services management; (2) develops objectives, priorities, 
standards, and methodologies for the conduct and evaluation of 
environmental and facilities engineering activities; (3) maintains 
needs based workload methodology for equitable resource distribution; 
and (4) provides leadership, consultation, and staff development to 
assure functional and well maintained health care facilities, and the 
availability of water, sewer, and solid waste facilities.

[[Page 67052]]

Section GA-30, Indian Health Service--Order of Succession

    During the absence or disability of the Director, IHS, or in the 
event of a vacancy in that office, the following IHS Headquarters 
officials, in the order listed below, shall act as Director, IHS. In 
the event of a planned extended period of absence the IHS Director may 
specify a different order of succession. The order of succession will 
be:
    (1) Deputy Director
    (2) Director of Headquarters Operations
    (3) Director of Field Operations
    (4) Director, Office of Management Support
    (5) Director, Office of Public Health
    (6) Chief Medical Officer

Section GA-40, Indian Health Service--Delegations of Authority

    All delegations of authority and redelegations of authority made to 
IHS officials that were in effect immediately prior to this 
reorganization, and that are consistent with this reorganization shall 
continue in effect pending further redelegation.

Chapter GF IHS Area Offices

Section GF.00, IHS Area Offices--Mission

    The IHS Area Offices carry out the mission of the IHS by providing 
a system of health care unique to the Area population.

Section GF.10, IHS Area Offices--Organization

    An Area Office is a bureau-level organization under the direction 
of an Area Director, who reports to the Director, IHS. Area Office 
Directors supervise clinical directors, who administer programs of 
direct care to the Area population. The following are the Area Offices 
of the IHS:
     Aberdeen Area Office (GFA)
     Alaska Area Office (GFB)
     Albuquerque Area Office (GFC)
     Bemidji Area Office (GFE)
     Billings Area Office (GFF)
     California Area Office (GFG)
     Nashville Area Office (GFH)
     Navajo Area Office (GFJ)
     Oklahoma City Area Office (GFK)
     Phoenix Area Office (GFL)
     Portland Area Office (GFM)
     Tucson Area Office (GFN)

Section GF.20, IHS Area Offices--Functions

    The specific functions of the IHS Area Offices vary, however, each 
Area Office includes functions organized to support major categories of 
administrative management and clinical activities, such as:
    Administration and Management--Financial management, administrative 
and office services, contract/grant administration, procurement, 
personnel management, facilities management, management information 
systems, contract health care services, and equal employment 
opportunity;
    Program Planning, Analysis and Evaluation Programs--Program 
planning, statistical analysis, legislative initiatives, research and 
evaluation, health records, management information systems, and patient 
registration/third party collection;
    Tribal Activity Programs--Provision of Public Law 93-638, Indian 
Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act, health services 
delivery, community health representative services, urban health, 
alcoholism and substance abuse, and health education;
    Health Programs--Primary care, clinical activities, mental health, 
nursing services, dental services, health promotion and disease 
prevention, professional recruitment and community services, and the 
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations;
    Environmental Health/Sanitation Facilities Construction Programs--
Environmental health and engineering/sanitation facilities construction 
programs for IHS Area Office, and
    Information Resources Management Programs--Automated data 
processing (ADP), ADP planning and operations, management information 
systems, office automation systems, voice and data telecommunications 
management.

Section GF.30, IHS Area Offices--Order of Succession

    The order of succession for Area Directors at the IHS Area Offices 
are determined by Area and continue in effect until changed.

Section GF.40, IHS Area Offices--Delegations of Authority

    All delegations and redelegations of authority made to officials in 
the IHS Area Offices that were in effect immediately prior to this 
reorganization, and that are consistent with this reorganization, shall 
continue in effect pending further redelegation.
    This reorganization shall be effective on March 1, 1997.

    Dated: December 2, 1996.
Michael H. Trujillo,
Assistant Surgeon General, Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 96-32127 Filed 12-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-16-M