[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 6 (Friday, January 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1486-1487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-534]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Statement of Mission, Organization, Functions and Delegation of 
Authority

    Part G, of the Statement of Organization, Functions, and 
Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and Human 
Services, as amended at 60 FR 56606, November 9, 1995, and most 
recently amended at 61 FR 67048, December 19, 1996, is amended to 
reflect a realignment of the California Area Indian Health Service. The 
changes are as follows:
    Delete the functional statements for the California Area Indian 
Health Service in their entirety and replace with the following:

Section GFG-00, California Area Indian Health Service--Mission

    The California 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 California Area 
IHS is to raise the health level of the AI/AN people to the highest 
possible level.

Section GFG-10, Functions. Office of the Director (GFGA)

    Provides overall direction and leadership for the California Area 
Indian Health Service (IHS) by: (1) Encouraging maximum consultation 
and participation by California Area tribes and tribal and urban Indian 
organizations in establishing the goals and objectives of the 
California Area IHS, and in developing the policies of the California 
Area IHS; (2) coordinates the California Area IHS activities and 
resources internally and externally with those of other Federal, State, 
local and privately funded health care programs to maximize quality 
health care services to tribal and urban Indians in the State of 
California; (3) ensuring compliance to the IHS guidelines and 
administrative procedures pertinent to Indian Self-Determination 
contracting processes and Tribal Self-Governance compacting; (4) 
assuring that Indian Tribes and Indian organizations are informed 
regarding pertinent health policy and program management issues and 
coordinates meetings and other communications with tribal delegations; 
(5) advocating for the health needs and concerns of American Indians 
and Alaska Natives (AI/AN); (6) developing and demonstrating methods 
and techniques for continuous improvement of health services management 
and delivery by California Area tribes and tribal and urban Indian 
organizations; (7) ensuring that the principles of Equal Employment 
Opportunity laws and the Civil Rights Act are applied in the management 
of the human resources of the California Area IHS, and (8) advises the 
Director, IHS, of issues and potential issues, relevant to the 
California Area, or to the IHS in general, and recommending and 
participating in actions to prevent or correct problems.

Office of Management Support (GFGAB)

    (1) Provides advice to the Area Director and functional area 
managers on California Area IHS administrative and management policy 
and procedures requirements, delegations of authority, documenting the 
organizations and functions of the California Area IHS, personnel 
administration and management, and agency agreements management; (2) 
develops, recommends and implements processes for management 
accountability and the periodic assessment of managerial performance; 
(3) provides guidance and support to Area managers regarding resources, 
personal property, acquisition management; (4) provides a full 
complement of administrative services in support of the Area-wide 
health services delivery and management systems, i.e., forms 
management, travel management, communications management, supplies 
management, printing, mail management, etc.; (5) advises the Area 
Director and functional area managers on the civil service and 
commissioned corps personnel programs' administration and management 
requirements; (6) directs the personnel security and suitability 
clearance, and other ethics in employment programs, for the California 
Area IHS, and (7) provides advice, consultation, and assistance to 
tribal officials and tribal organizations on tribal health program 
personnel policy issues.

Resources Management Staff (GFGAB-1)

    (1) Develops and submits the budget for the California Area IHS; 
(2) distributes, coordinates, and monitors resource allocations; (3) 
interprets policies, guidelines, manual issuances, and OMB circulars 
relevant to budget development, presentation and execution for the Area 
Director, functional area managers, and tribal and urban program 
officials; (4) directs the collection, review, and analysis of program 
and financial data to determine resource requirements; (5) recommends 
and coordinates Area budget execution; (6) maintains fund control; and 
(7) prepares reprogramming requests.

Acquisition Management Staff (GFGAB-2)

    (1) Develops and recommends policies and procedures specific to 
acquisition operations in the California Area IHS that are consistent 
with higher echelon and government oversight agency policy issuances; 
(2) provides advice, technical consultation, and training to California 
Area managers and staff; (3) reviews and makes recommendations for 
approval/disapproval of contract-related documents such as: pre- and 
post-award documents, unauthorized commitments, procurement planning 
documents, Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition, 
waivers, and deviations; (4) executes and administers contracts for the 
California Area IHS; (5) reviews, recommends, and issues delegations of 
acquisition authority in the California Area IHS, and (6) supports and 
maintains the IHS Contract Information System and controls entry of 
data into the HHS Contract Information System.

Office of Public Health (GFGAC)

    (1) Provides leadership and consultation to tribal and urban public 
health programs on the IHS goals, objectives, policies, program 
standards, and priorities; (2) serves as the primary source of 
technical and policy advice to the Area Director, Area office staff, 
and tribal and urban health program officials on the full scope of 
clinical health care programs, including their quality assurance and 
preventive aspects, and tort claims; (3) participates in identifying 
and articulating the health needs of the AI/AN population in the State 
of California; (4) coordinates the availability and accessibility of 
Medicare and Medicaid programs, and other managed care programs' 
services, to AI/AN in the State of California; (5) provides 
consultation and technical support to tribal and urban public health 
programs including, but not limited to, dental services, diabetes and 
other chronic disease prevention, nutrition services, and nursing 
services, alcohol/substance abuse prevention and treatment, including 
the coordination of the Youth Regional Treatment Center

[[Page 1487]]

services; (6) provides assistance in the development and implementation 
of Area policy and procedures regarding managed care services, third 
party collections and reimbursements, health care facility 
accreditation, risk management and quality assurance; (7) coordinates 
the reimbursement of allowable costs for qualified high cost contract 
health service cases from the IHS Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund to 
tribal health care programs in the State of California; (8) serves as 
project officer on contract awarded in the State of California for the 
delivery of health care services, and coordinates activities for 
monitoring and evaluating contractor performance; (9) provides advice 
to the Area Director on the activities and issues related to the 
implementation of Title V of the American Indian Health Care 
Improvement Act, as amended, in the State of California; (10) provides 
support to urban Indian health programs and organizations in managing 
health programs and attending financial and other types of support 
available from other public and private agencies and organizations, and 
(11) designs, maintains, and controls the data collection, analysis, 
and publication of health program information in the activities.

Information Resource Staff (GFGAC-1)

    (1) Is the principal advisor to the Area Director, functional area 
managers, and tribal and urban health program officials in the State of 
California, regarding the design and implementation of automated 
information systems; (2) provides advice on the installation and 
maintenance services to the Area managers and tribal and urban health 
programs on operational automated information systems used in the IHS, 
i.e., RPMS, CHSMIS, CDMIS, etc., for improved personal productivity and 
health services data collection; (3) provides reports and information 
on a priority basis and gathers, consolidates, and transmits automated 
RPMS data to central processing centers, and (4) serves as the focal 
point for clearance of requests to purchase information systems 
hardware and software for the California Area IHS.

Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (GFGAD)

    (1) Serves as the principal advisor, advocate, consultant, and 
technical assistant on all services relating to Sanitation Facilities 
Construction, Environmental Health Services, Operation and Maintenance, 
Injury Prevention, and Facilities Management for the California Area 
IHS; (2) plans, coordinates, implements, and evaluates all aspects of 
Title I contracting and Title III compacting under the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended; (3) consults 
with tribal groups/organizations in the development and implementation 
of environmental health and engineering policies and initiatives; (4) 
provides consultation and technical guidance to tribal health programs 
including preventive maintenance surveys, personnel training, and 
fiscal reviews; (5) performs or directs surveys and investigations to 
determine the condition of tribal health facilities; (6) serves as the 
principal advisor regarding the real property management program which 
oversees owned and leased real property and GSA assigned space; 
interacts with GSA Region IX and Engineering Services to ensure 
adequacy of facilities, and (7) coordinates property management 
activities including space assignments, space need determinations, 
regulatory compliance, and reporting.

Division of Environmental Health Services (GFGAD1)

    (1) Plans, coordinates, and evaluates the Area's Environmental 
Health Services program; (2) serves as the principle advisor on all 
matters pertaining to environmental health program activities, 
policies, and procedures; (3) plans, coordinates, implements, and 
evaluates a comprehensive Injury Prevention Program throughout the 
Area; (4) assists health programs to meet the goal of accreditation by 
the appropriate accrediting agency; (5) plans, coordinates, and 
evaluates the Area fluoridation program; and (6) Plans, coordinates, 
and evaluates the Area Operation and Maintenance Program.

Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction (GFGAD2)

    (1) Plans, coordinates, and evaluates the Area's Sanitation 
Facilities Construction responsibilities; (2) serves as the principal 
advisor on matters relating to public health engineering and Sanitation 
Facilities Construction activities, policies, and procedures; (3) 
coordinates the provision of sanitation facilities for new housing 
projects sponsored by other Government agencies; and (4) coordinates 
the provision of sanitation facilities for new and existing housing.

OEHE District Offices: Redding District Office (GFGA1); Sacramento 
District Office (GFGA2); Escondido District Office (GFGA3)

    (1) Implements the Sanitation Facilities Construction and 
Environmental Health Services responsibilities; (2) serves as the 
principal advisor to communities, individuals, contractors, and other 
organizations on all matters pertaining to Sanitation Facilities 
Construction and Environmental Health Services; (3) implements 
activities that assist all health programs to be attain accreditation 
by appropriate accrediting agencies; (4) implements the Area 
fluoridation and Operation and Maintenance activities, and (5) 
implements the provision of sanitation facilities for new housing 
projects sponsored by other government agencies and for existing 
housing.

Section GFG-20, The Order of Succession to the Area Director

Deputy Director
Associate Director, Office of Public Health
Associate Director, Office of Management Support
Associate Director, Office of Environmental Health and Engineering

Section GFG-30, California Area IHS--Delegations of Authority

    All delegations and redelegations of authority made to officials in 
the California Area IHS 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 the date of signature.

    Dated: December 23, 1997.
Michael H. Trujillo,
Assistant Surgeon General Director.
[FR Doc. 98-534 Filed 1-8-98; 8:45 am]
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