[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8982-8983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4532]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


State Offices of Rural Health Grant Program

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration. HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and 
Services Administration (HRSA), announces that applications are being 
accepted for matching grants to States for the purpose of improving 
health care in rural areas through the continued operation of State 
Offices of Rural Health. This program is authorized by section 338J of 
the Public Health Service Act 42 U.S.C. 254r. Awards will be made from 
funds appropriated under Public Law 105-78 (HHS Appropriations Act for 
Fiscal Year 1998). Approximately $3.0 million will be available to 
support 50 grants in fiscal year (FY) 1998.

Background

    This Federal-State partnership helps America's rural communities 
rebuild their health care system by supporting initiatives and 
partnerships in rural health development. Begun in 1991, the State 
Office of Rural Health Grant Program has spurred the development of 
State offices by providing matching funds for their creation and a 
forum for exchanging information and strategies among States, providing 
an institutional framework that links small rural communities with 
State and Federal resources and developing long-term solutions to rural 
health problems.

Other Award Information

    Grant applications should be submitted for a five-year project 
period. Funding will be for a single year. Continued funding is 
contingent upon the availability of Federal funds and satisfactory 
performance by the grantee. Only one grant application may be submitted 
from each State. It must indicate approval by a senior official of the 
State Health Department or their designee.
    This is a renewal of an existing grant program that features a 
single grantee from each of the 50 States. A list of these grantees may 
be obtained by contacting Roberto Anson, Office of Rural Health Policy, 
HRSA, at (301) 443-0835.

Requesting Applications

    Call the HRSA Grants Application Center at 1-888-300-4772 to 
request a grant application kit and program guidance for the State 
Office of Rural Health Grant Program (Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance (CFDA) No. 93.913). Applications and guidance will be 
available following publication of this notice.
    The standard application form and general instructions for 
completing applications (Form PHS-5161-1, OMB 0937-0189) have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget.

Deadline for Submitting Applications

    Application deadline for this program is March 23, 1998. The 
application must be postmarked no later than March 23, 1998. Applicants 
should submit the signed original and two copies of the application to 
the: HRSA GRANTS APPLICATION CENTER, 40 West Gude Drive, Suite 100, 
Rockville, MD 20850.
    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are either: (1) Received on or before the deadline date; or (2) 
postmarked on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
orderly processing. A legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier 
or U.S. Postal Service will be accepted in lieu of a postmark. Private 
metered postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing. 
Late applications will be returned to the sender.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for technical or programmatic 
information should be directed to Roberto Anson, Director, State 
Offices of Rural Health Grant Program, Office of Rural Health Policy, 
HRSA, (301) 443-0835.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Program Objectives

    The purpose of the program is to improve health care in rural 
areas. To receive a Federal grant, each State must agree that its State 
Office of Rural Health will carry out at least the following 
activities: (1) Establish and maintain a clearinghouse for collecting 
and disseminating information on rural health care issues; (2) 
coordinate the activities carried out in the State that relate to rural 
health care, including providing coordination for the purpose of 
avoiding duplication in such activities; (3) identify Federal, State 
and non-governmental programs regarding rural health, and provide 
technical assistance to public and nonprofit private entities regarding 
participation in such programs; and (4) help develop rural health 
policies through inter-organization collaborations and partnerships. In 
addition to these required activities, State Offices of Rural Health 
are encouraged to use Federal grant funds for activities that support, 
but do not directly fund, the recruitment and retention of health 
professionals to serve in rural areas. State Offices must also submit 
an annual report regarding its performance, progress and activities.
    Federal funds under this grant program may not be used to: (1) 
Provide health care services; (2) purchase medical equipment, vehicles 
or real property; or (3) conduct certificate of need activities. Also, 
not more than 10% of grant funds may be expended on research.

Eligible Applicants

    The fifty States.
    The State (e.g., Department of Health, State University) can 
conduct the required and any discretionary activities directly or 
through grants or contracts to other public or nonprofit private 
entities (e.g., University, Area Health Education Center). To encourage 
States to commit their own resources, this program requires a match of 
three non-Federal dollars for every one Federal dollar to support the 
operation of their State Office of Rural Health.

Review Criteria

    Grant applications will be evaluated on the basis of the following 
criteria:
    (1) The extent to which the application is responsive to the 
requirements and purposes of this Federal-State partnership program;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant has developed measurable 
goals,

[[Page 8983]]

objectives and timetable including performance and outcome measures;
    (3) The extent to which the Office coordinates rural health 
activities within the State and collaborates with other health 
entities, especially the State Primary Care Organizations and Primary 
Care Associations;
    (4) The strength of the applicant's plans for administrative and 
financial management of the Office; and
    (5) The reasonableness of the budget proposed for the Office.

Executive Order 12372

    The State Office of Rural Health Grant Program has been determined 
to be a program which is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
12372 concerning intra-governmental review of Federal programs, as 
implemented by 45 CFR part 100. Executive Order 12372 sets up a system 
for State and local government review of proposed Federal assistance 
applications. A current list of State Single Point of Contact (SPOCs), 
including their names, addresses, and telephone numbers, is included in 
the application kit. Not all States have SPOCs so this requirement only 
applies to those States with SPOCs. Applicants should contact their 
SPOCs as early as possible to alert them to the prospective application 
and receive any necessary instructions on the State process. (See part 
148, Intergovernmental Review of PHS Programs under Executive Order 
12372 and 45 CFR part 100 for a description of the review process and 
requirements.)
    The OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.913.

    Dated: February 13, 1998.
Claude Earl Fox,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-4532 Filed 2-20-98; 8:45 am]
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