[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27613-27616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13153]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegations of Authority

    This notice amends Part R of the Statement of Organization 
Functions and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (DHHS), Health Resources and Services Administration 
(HRSA) as most recently amended at 60 FR 56605, November 6, 1995 and 
the Office of the Administrator as last amended (61 FR 65062-65 dated 
December 10, 1996). This notice is to revise the functional statement 
for the Office of the Administrator. We are also announcing several 
significant administrative actions: Three centers will operate from the 
Immediate Office of the Administrator: the Center for Managed Care, the 
Center for Quality, and the Center for Public Health Practice. In 
addition, to further strengthen certain important aspects of the 
Agency's activities, three senior advisors will report to the 
Administrator: Senior Advisor for International Health, Senior Advisor 
for Special Initiatives, and Senior Advisor for Women's Health. 
Although not part of the formal

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organizational structure, these centers and advisors provide a 
flexible, interim mechanism for HRSA to focus significant projects and 
crosscutting efforts. Should we find that permanent organizational 
structures are necessary, we will establish such structures in future 
notices. Finally, we are changing the title of the officials who manage 
our four program bureaus from ``Bureau Director'' to ``Associate 
Administrator'' to reflect their status as a critical part of the 
corporate HRSA organization.

Section RA-00, Mission

    The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) directs 
national health programs which improve the health of the Nation by 
assuring quality health care to underserved, vulnerable and special-
need populations and by promoting appropriate health professions 
workforce capacity and practice, particularly in primary care and 
public health.
    1. Make the following changes:

Section RA-10 Organization

    The Office of the Administrator is headed by the Administrator, 
Health Resources and Services Administration (OA) who reports directly 
to the Secretary. The OA includes the following components:

(1) Office of the Administrator (R);
(2) Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (RA2);
(3) Office of Planning, Evaluation and Legislation (RA5);
(4) Office of Communications (RA6);
(5) Office of Minority Health (RA9); and
(6) AIDS Program Office (RAA)

    A. Amend the functional statement for the Immediate Office of the 
Administrator.

Immediate Office of the Administrator (RA)

    Leads and directs programs and activities of the Agency and advises 
the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services on policy 
matters concerning them; (2) provides consultation and assistance to 
senior Agency officials and others on clinical and health professional 
issues; (3) serves as the Agency's focal point on efforts to strengthen 
the practice of public health as it pertains to the HRSA mission; (4) 
establishes and maintains communications with health organizations in 
the public and private sectors to support the mission of HRSA; (5) 
coordinates the Agency's international health activities; and (6) 
manages the Agency's women's health activities.

Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (RA2)

    Directs, coordinates, develops, and administers the Agency's equal 
opportunity, and civil rights activities. Specifically: (1) Provides 
advice, counsel, and recommendations to Agency personnel, including the 
field offices on equal opportunity and civil rights and represents HRSA 
in all EEO areas; (2) administers affirmative action programs designed 
to ensure equality of opportunity in employment; (3) manages the civil 
service complaints system and prepares final Agency decisions; (4) 
manages the complaints system for Commissioned Corps personnel under 
provisions of Public Health Service Personnel Instruction 6 and issues 
proposed dispositions; (5) develops and directs implementation of the 
requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI 
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and 
the Americans With Disabilities Act, as they apply to recipients of 
HRSA funds; (6) provides technical assistance and guidance to the 
Agency on developing education and training programs regarding equal 
opportunity and civil rights; (7) promotes the awarding of contracts 
under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act which pertains to 
minorities and women; (8) approves settlement agreements and attorney 
fees; and (9) applies all applicable laws, guidelines, rules and 
regulations in accordance with those of the Office of Equal Employment 
Opportunity and Civil Rights at the Department.

Office of Planning, Evaluation and Legislation (RA5)

    Serves as the Administrator's primary staff element and principal 
source of advice on program planning, program evaluation, and 
legislative affairs; (2) develops the long-range program plan for the 
Agency; (3) develops the Agency's strategic plan encompassing its long-
range goals, objectives and priorities; (4) directs all activities 
within the Agency which compare the costs of the Agency's programs with 
their benefits; (5) develops and implements a comprehensive evaluation 
program; (6) conducts policy analyses and develops policy positions in 
programmatic areas for HRSA; (7) directs the legislative affairs of the 
Agency, including the development of legislative proposals and a 
legislative program; (8) develops and coordinates the Agency's health 
services research plan; (9) directs performance measurement activities, 
including technical assistance and standards development and 
assessment; (10) coordinates the program data activities across the 
Agency, including the design and management of program tracking and 
surveillance; and (11) directs and coordinates disease prevention and 
health promotion activities across the Agency.

Office of Communications (RA6)

    Provides leadership and general policy and program direction for, 
and conducts and coordinates communications and public affairs 
activities of the Agency; (2) serves as focal point for coordination of 
Agency communications activities with those of other health agencies 
within the Department of Health and Human Services and with field, 
State, local, voluntary and professional organizations; (3) develops 
and implements national communications initiatives to inform and 
educate the public, health care professionals, policy makers and the 
media; (4) researches, writes and prepares speeches and audiovisual 
presentations for the Administrator; (5) provides communication and 
public affairs expertise and staff advice and support to the 
Administrator in program and policy formulations and execution 
consistent with policy direction established by the Assistant Secretary 
for Public Affairs; (6) develops and implements policies and procedures 
related to external media relations and internal employee 
communications including those for the development, review, processing, 
quality control, and dissemination of Agency communications materials, 
including exhibits and those disseminated electronically; (7) serves as 
Communications and Public Affairs Officer for the Agency including 
establishment and maintenance of productive relationships with 
communications media; and (8) coordinates the implementation of the 
Freedom of Information Act for the Agency.

Office of Minority Health (RA9)

    Serves as the principal advisor and coordinator to the agency for 
special needs of minority and disadvantaged populations, including 
advice on committee membership; (2) establishes short-term and long-
range objectives for health activities addressing minority and 
disadvantaged populations; (3) participates in the organization and the 
planning of specific activities to meet minority health needs and 
collaborates with the Agency budget officials to assure an appropriate 
share of funds is devoted to minority health programs; (4) consults 
with public and private sector

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agencies and organizations to assure minority health issues are 
addressed; (5) participates in the focus of activities and objectives 
in assuring equity in access to resources and health careers for 
minorities and the disadvantaged; (6) establishes and manages an 
agencywide data collection system for minority health activities and 
initiatives including White House initiatives, Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities, Educational Excellence for Hispanic 
Americans, and Departmental initiatives; (7) reviews inter/intra-Agency 
agreements related to racial/ethnic minority and disadvantaged 
populations; (8) participates in the formulation of HRSA's goals, 
policies, legislative proposals, priorities, and strategies, as they 
affect professional organizations and institutions of higher education 
(medical, public health, etc.) involved in or concerned with the 
delivery of health services to minorities and disadvantaged 
populations; and (9) links HRSA minority and disadvantaged program 
efforts to potential partners at the Federal, State and local levels 
and provides agencywide expertise on the development of culturally 
appropriate programs and materials.

AIDS Program Office (RAA)

    Coordinates all AIDS-related activities within the Agency; (2) 
advises the Administrator on policy, clinical, and educational issues 
pertaining to the administration of HRSA's AIDS program; (3) keeps the 
Administrator informed of any difficulties arising within or outside 
HRSA that might adversely affect the Agency's ability to carry out its 
AIDS responsibilities; (4) coordinates the formulation of an overall 
strategy and policy for the HRSA AIDS programs; (5) working with the 
Office of Planning, Evaluation and Legislation, coordinates the 
preparation of HRSA's AIDS-related programmatic, budgetary and 
legislative proposals; (6) monitors and analyzes AIDS-related policy 
and legislative developments for their impact on HRSA's AIDS 
activities; (7) reviews AIDS-related program activities to determine 
their consistency with established policies; (8) coordinates HRSA's 
comments on AIDS-related reports, position papers, legislative 
proposals including requests from other agencies; (9) represents the 
Agency and the Department at AIDS-related meetings, conferences, task 
forces etc.; (10) plans and carries out special AIDS-related 
assignments for the Administrator.
    2. Abolish the Office of Public Health Affairs (RA8), and 
incorporate its functions into the Immediate Office of the 
Administrator (RA).
    3. Amend the functional statement for the Office of Management and 
Program Support; abolish the Office of Policy and Information 
Coordination (RA3) and reestablish it as the Division of Policy, Review 
and Coordination (RS7) by inserting its functional statement after the 
Office of Information Resources Management (RS6) in the Office of 
Management and Program Support.

Office of Management and Program Support (RS)

    Provides agencywide leadership, program direction, and coordination 
to all phases of management; (2) provides management expertise and 
staff advice and support to the Administrator in program and policy 
formulation and execution; (3) plans, directs, and coordinates the 
Agency's activities in the areas of administrative management, 
financial management, human resources management, debt management, 
information resources management, grants and contracts management, 
procurement, real and personal property accountability and management, 
and administrative services; (4) directs and coordinates the 
development of policy and regulations; (5) oversees the development of 
annual operating objectives and coordinates HRSA work planning and 
appraisals; (6) serves as the Agency's focal point for field programs 
and activities except those field functions of the Division of Federal 
Occupational Health; (7) administers the Agency's Executive Secretariat 
and Committee Management functions; (8) coordinates the Department's 
tort claims panel and associated activities; and (9) administers the 
Agency's internal controls and integrity activities.

Division of Policy Review and Coordination (RS7)

    Advises the Administrator and other key Agency officials on policy 
issues and assists in the identification and resolution of policy 
issues and problems; (2) establishes and maintains review and tracking 
mechanisms and systems that provide agencywide coordination and 
clearance of policies, regulations and guidelines; (3) contributes to 
the analysis, development and implementation of agencywide programs and 
policies through coordination with relevant Agency program components 
and other related sources; (4) plans, organizes and directs the 
Agency's Executive Secretariat with primary responsibility for 
preparation and management of written policy and other routine 
communications to and from the Administrator; (5) coordinates the 
preparation of proposed rules and regulations relating to Agency 
programs and coordinates Agency review and comment on other Department 
regulations that may affect the Agency's programs; and (6) oversees and 
coordinates the committee management system of the Agency.
    4. Amend the Office of Field Coordination by establishing the HRSA 
Field structure.

Office of Field Coordination (RS5)

    Serves as the Agency's focal point for Field programs and 
activities. Specifically: (1) oversees and manages HRSA activities in 
the field; (2) advises the Administrator on appropriate resource 
allocation for field activities; (3) at the direction of the 
Administrator, assists in the implementation and evaluation of HRSA 
programs in the field through coordination of activities, and assessing 
the effectiveness of programs to identify opportunities for improving 
policies and service delivery systems; (4) develops and implements 
activities in the field designed to improve customer service and 
relationships; (5) at the direction of the Administrator, develops and 
coordinates the field implementation of special program initiatives 
which involve multiple HRSA field components and/or multiple HRSA 
programs; (6) serves as field liaison to the Administrator, Associate 
Administrators, State and local health officials as well as private and 
professional organizations; (7) acts as liaison to provide 
administrative and financial support services to HRSA field components; 
and (8) exercises line management authority as delegated.
    5. Under Part R, Health Resources and Services Administration, 
establish a new chapter HRSA Field Offices RSD, to read as follows:
    Section RSD-00 Mission--The HRSA Field Offices support HRSA's 
mission by providing direct support to HRSA's program operations and 
carrying out crosscutting priorities and activities.
    Section RSD-10 Organization. The Health Resources and Services 
Administration Field Offices consist of:
     HRSA Field Offices (RSDI--RSDX).
    The ten HRSA Field Offices will be organizationally configured in 5 
clusters.
    Section RSD-20 Functions. The Field Offices carry out the following 
responsibilities: administer HRSA field health programs and activities 
to assure a coordinated field effort in support of national health 
policies and State and local needs within the region; (2) assess 
regional health requirements, assuring integration of HRSA health 
programs, and addressing crosscutting program issues and initiatives to 
achieve

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program goals; (3) provide a HRSA focal point for responding to the 
needs of State and local governments, community agencies, and others 
involved in the planning or provision of general health; (4) support 
intergovernmental activities and respond to health issues of State and 
local concerns; (5) administer health activities and programs to 
provide for prevention of health problems; and (6) assure access to and 
quality of general health services.
    Section R-30 Delegations of Authority. All delegations and 
redelegations of authority which were in effect immediately prior to 
the effective date hereof, have been continued in effect in them or 
their successors pending further redelegation.
    This reorganization is effective upon date of signature.

    Dated: May 15, 1997.
Claude Earl Fox,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-13153 Filed 5-19-97; 8:45 am]
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