[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51373-51375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26114]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

42 CFR Part 57

RIN 0906-AA47


Grants for Residency Training and Advanced Education in the 
General Practice of Dentistry

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This technical amendment revises the regulations governing the 
program for Grants for Residency Training and Advanced Education in the 
General Practice of Dentistry, authorized by section 749 of the Public 
Health Service Act (the Act), to modify the application and review 
criteria to be consistent with current Agency streamlining efforts.

DATES: These regulations are effective October 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernice Parlak, Acting Director, 
Division of Associated, Dental, and Public Health Professions, Bureau 
of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-101, Rockville, Maryland 20857; telephone: 
(301) 443-6853.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule amends the existing 
regulations for Grants for Residency Training and Advanced Education in 
the General Practice of Dentistry, governed by section 749 of the 
Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 293m) to remove redundant 
application and project requirements, and to revise the evaluation 
criteria to eliminate duplication and bring the language into 
compliance with current grants policy. Specific changes are discussed 
below according to the section numbers and headings of the regulations 
affected.

Section 57.1104 How must an entity apply for a grant?

    Section 57.1104 is revised to remove the phrase ``in particular the 
requirements of Sec. 57.1105'' because this language is unnecessary and 
redundant.

Section 57.1105 What requirements must a project meet?

    The project requirements listed in paragraphs (a), (c), (d), and 
(f) of this section are being removed because they are redundant to the 
accreditation standards published by the American Dental Association 
Commission on Dental Accreditation. Compliance with these accreditation 
standards is an eligibility requirement of the grant program, as 
described in Sec. 57.1103. The paragraphs (a), (c), (d) and (f) in 
Sec. 57.1105 that are being removed are as follows:
    (a) The project staff must plan, develop, and/or operate an 
approved residency or advanced educational program in the general 
practice of dentistry.
    (c) If the training site provides medical care, then the medical 
and dental care of patients must be coordinated.
    (d) If a primary care medical residency program is conducted by the 
applicant, then joint training experiences must be provided. For 
purposes of this paragraph, primary care means internal medicine, 
family medicine, or pediatrics.
    (f) The training program, the performance of each participant, and 
the quality of patient care must be evaluated.

Section 57.1106 What are the criteria for deciding which 
applications are to be funded?

    The heading of the section is being revised to read, ``How will 
applications be evaluated?''
    Further, the evaluation criteria are being revised to reflect 
current Agency initiatives to streamline and standardize the review of 
health professions education grant applications. The revision shifts 
the language of the criteria from passive to active voice, and reflects 
increased attention to measurable performance goals and outcomes. The 
introductory text of the section will be designated as paragraph (a). 
The following paragraphs (1) through (8) list the revised evaluation 
criteria:

    (1) The proposal addresses the legislative intent of the program 
and has a well-documented rationale;
    (2) The objectives of the proposed project are consistent with 
the program's rationale, and are measurable and achievable within 
the project period;
    (3) The proposed project's methodology is consistent with the 
objectives and explained in appropriate detail;
    (4) The evaluation is linked to the objectives and addresses the 
project outcomes;

[[Page 51374]]

    (5) The applicant demonstrates the administrative and managerial 
capability to carry out the proposed project;
    (6) The proposed budget is complete, appropriate, cost-
effective, and clearly justified;
    (7) The plan for institutionalizing the project outcomes is 
specific and realistic; and
    (8) The proposal plans to attract, maintain, and graduate 
minority and disadvantaged students.

    A new paragraph (b) is added to indicate the following:
    (b) In determining the funding of applications approved, under 
paragraph (a) of this section, the Secretary will consider any special 
factors relating to national needs as the Secretary may from time to 
time announce in the Federal Register.

Justification for Omitting Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    These technical changes do not change the focus or intent of the 
grant program; they are ``housekeeping measures'' which are intended to 
update the existing regulations to be consistent with current grants 
policy. Further, in the last two years, the Agency has had numerous 
concerns about the duplication of the evaluation criteria as well as 
the project requirements from peer reviewers evaluating the grant 
applications and from the grantees for compliance in meeting project 
requirements. These amendments address the concerns raised by our 
customers.
    Since these amendments are of a technical nature, the Secretary has 
determined, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 and departmental policy, that it 
is unnecessary and impractical to follow proposed rulemaking procedures 
or to delay the effective date of these regulations.

Economic Impact

    Executive Order 12866 requires all regulations reflect 
consideration of alternatives, of costs, of benefits, of incentives, of 
equity, and of available information. Regulations must meet certain 
standards, such as avoiding unnecessary burden. Regulations which are 
``significant'' because of costs, adverse effects on the economy, 
inconsistency with other agency actions, effects on the budget, or 
novel legal or policy issues, require special analysis.
    The Department believes the resources required to implement the 
requirements in this final rule are minimal. Therefore, in accordance 
with the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), and the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 which amended the 
RFA, the Secretary certifies these regulations will not have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. For the 
same reasons, the Secretary also has determined this is not a 
``significant'' rule under Executive Order 12866.

Academic and Community Partnerships

    As part of its long-range planning, the Health Resources and 
Services Administration 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 to promote the non-use 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.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This final rule does not affect the recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements in the existing regulations for the Grants for Residency 
Training and Advanced Education in the Practice of General Dentistry 
Program. The reporting requirements for data collections under 
Sec. 57.1804 are currently approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 under OMB No. 
0915-0060.

List of Subjects Under 42 CFR Part 57

    Aged, Dental health, Education of the disadvantaged, Educational 
facilities, Educational study programs, Grant programs--education, 
Grant programs--health, Health facilities, Health professions, Loan 
programs--health, Medical and dental schools, Student aid, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Scholarships and fellowships.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, No. 93.897, Grants for 
Residency Training and Advanced Education in the General Practice of 
Dentistry.)

    Approved: September 26, 1997.
Claude Earl Fox,
Acting Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration.

    Accordingly, 42 CFR part 57, subpart L is amended as set forth 
below:

PART 57--GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TEACHING FACILITIES, 
EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND STUDENT LOANS

Subpart L--Grants for Residency Training and Advanced Education in 
the General Practice of Dentistry

    1. The authority for 42 CFR part 57, subpart L continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 215 of the Public Health Service Act, 58 Stat. 
690, as amended by 63 Stat. 35 (42 U.S.C. 216); sec. 786(b) of the 
Public Health Service Act, 90 Stat. 2317, as amended by 99 Stat. 
540-541 (42 U.S.C. 295g-6(b)); redesignated as sec. 785 and amended 
by 102 Stat. 3130-3131 (42 U.S.C. 295g-5); renumbered as sec. 749, 
as amended by Pub. L. 102-408, 106 Stat. 2043-2044 (42 U.S.C. 293m).


Sec. 57.1104  [Amended]

    2. Section 57.1104, is amended by removing the phrase ``, in 
particular the requirements of Sec. 57.1105'' at the end of paragraph 
(c) (1).
    3. Section 57.1105 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 57.1105  What requirements must a project meet?

    A project supported under this subpart must meet the following 
requirements:
    (a) The general practice residency or advanced education program in 
general dentistry must be accredited by the American Dental Association 
Commission on Dental Accreditation;
    (b) Each project must have at least two participants enrolled in 
the training program; and
    (c) Each participant who receives stipend support must sign a 
statement of intent to work in the practice of general dentistry.
    4. Section 57.1106 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 57.1106  How will applications be evaluated?

    (a) As required by section 798(a) of the Act, each application for 
a grant under this subpart shall be submitted to a peer review group, 
composed principally of non-Federal experts, for an evaluation of the 
merits of the proposal as contained in the application. The Secretary 
may not approve such an application unless a peer review group has 
recommended the application for approval. The Secretary will award 
grants to applicants whose projects will best promote the purposes of 
section 749 of the Act. The Secretary will approve or disapprove 
applications filed in accordance with Sec. 57.1104, taking into

[[Page 51375]]

consideration, among other factors, the degree to which:
    (1) The proposal addresses the legislative intent of the program 
and has a well-documented rationale;
    (2) The objectives of the proposed project are consistent with the 
program's rationale, and are measurable and achievable within the 
project period;
    (3) The proposed project's methodology is consistent with the 
objectives and explained in appropriate detail;
    (4) The evaluation is linked to the objectives and addresses the 
project outcomes;
    (5) The applicant demonstrates the administrative and managerial 
capability to carry out the proposed project;
    (6) The proposed budget is complete, appropriate, cost-effective, 
and clearly justified;
    (7) The plan for institutionalizing the project outcomes is 
specific and realistic; and
    (8) The proposal plans to attract, maintain, and graduate minority 
and disadvantaged students.
    (b) In determining the funding of applications approved under 
paragraph (a) of this section, the Secretary will consider any special 
factors relating to national needs as the Secretary may from time to 
time announce in the Federal Register.

[FR Doc. 97-26114 Filed 9-29-97; 10:50 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P