[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 36698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17923]



[[Page 36698]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research


General Reorganization; Statement of Organization, Functions, and 
Delegations of Authority

    Part E, Chapter E (Agency for Health Care Policy and Research), of 
the Statement of Organization, functions, and Delegations of Authority 
for the Department of Health and Human Service (61 FR 15955-58, April 
10, 1996, and 62 FR 61511-12, November 18, 1997) is amended to reflect 
organizational changes within the Agency for Health Care Policy and 
Research (AHCPR). This action is necessitated by a reordering of Agency 
priorities and the need to more effectively align and utilize Agency 
resources. The principal organizational and functional changes required 
by this action involve:
    A. Abolishing the Office of Planning and Evaluation, with certain 
functions being reassigned to other components in AHCPR;
    B. Abolishing the Center for Information Technology, with a limited 
number of its functions absorbed by other components of the Agency;
    C. Retitling the Office of Scientific Affairs to be more reflective 
of expanded functions, and;
    D. Establishing a staff-level office within the Office of the 
Administrator to carry out the functions of the Center for Health 
Information Dissemination, which will subsequently be abolished by this 
action.

Other minor changes have been made consistent with this reorganization.
    Under Section E-10, Organization, delete entries A. through M. and 
insert the following:

A. Immediate Office of the Administrator
B. Office of Management
C. Office of Policy Analysis
D. Office of Research Review, Education, and Policy
E. Office of Health Care Information
F. Center for Cost and Financing Studies
G. Center for Organization and Delivery Studies
H. Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research
I. Center for Primary Care Research
J. Center for Quality Measurement and Improvement
K. Center for Practice and Technology Assessment

    Under Section E-20, Functions, delete the titles and statements for 
the Office of Planning and Evaluation (EAB), the Office of Scientific 
Affairs (EAE), the Center for Health Information Dissemination (EF), 
and the Center for Information Technology (EG).
    Within the statement for the Immediate Office of the Administrator 
(EA), delete (2) and insert the following: ``(2) plans, directs, 
coordinates, and evaluates the Agency's research, training programs, 
and dissemination activities, including particular focus areas, such as 
special populations, initiatives, and administrative policies and 
procedures;''.
    Within the statement for the Office of Policy Analysis (EAC), make 
the following changes:
    Delete (6) and insert the following: ``(6) coordinates the 
legislative activities of the Agency including the development of 
legislative proposals and analysis of health legislative initiatives, 
and reports to Congress;''
    Following (8), insert the following: ``(9) coordinates review and 
clearance of Department and other Federal policies and regulations; 
and'' and renumber the old (9) as (10).
    Following the statement for the Office of Policy Analysis (EAC), 
insert the following:
    Office of Research Review, Education, and Policy (EAE). Directs the 
scientific review process for grants and Small Business Innovation 
Research (SBIR) contracts, the assignment of applications to Agency 
Centers, manages Agency research training programs, and evaluates the 
scientific contribution of proposed and on-going research, 
demonstrations, and evaluations. Specifically: (1) directs the process 
for selecting, reviewing, and funding grants and reviewing SBIR 
contracts for scientific merit and program relevance; (2) assigns grant 
applications to Centers for administrative action; (3) manages the 
process for making funding decisions for grants; (4) directs Agency 
research training programs and implementation of the National Research 
Service Award authority; (5) manages the committee management and 
scientific integrity processes for the intramural and extramural 
programs of the Agency; (6) develops and coordinates clearance of peer 
review regulations, as required, policy notices and program 
announcements; (7) facilitates Agency-wide communication and 
coordination regarding extramural policy, planning, and analysis; and 
(8) represents the Agency in meetings with experts and organizations on 
issues related to the administration of the Agency's scientific 
programs.
    Office of Health Care Information (EAF). Designs, develops, 
implements, and manages programs for disseminating the results of 
Agency activities. Specifically: (1) Communicates the results and 
significance of health services research and other AHCPR initiatives to 
the health care industry, health care providers, consumers and 
patients, policy makers, researchers, and the media with particular 
emphasis on communicating AHCPR initiatives in the ways each of these 
constituencies are most interested; (2) manages the editing, 
publication, and information distribution processes of the Agency, 
including Freedom of Information Act administration; (3) provides the 
administrative support for reference services and the distribution of 
technical information to Agency staff; (4) manages the public affairs 
activities of the Agency, Agency clearinghouse for responding to 
requests for information and technical assistance, and a program for 
consumer information about health care research findings; (5) directs a 
user liaison program to provide health care research and policy 
findings to Federal, State and local public officials, and other 
audiences as appropriate; (6) evaluates the effectiveness of Agency 
dissemination strategies and implements changes indicated by such 
evaluations; and (7) represents the Agency in meetings with Department 
and Public Health Service representatives on press releases, media 
events, and publication clearance.
    All delegations and redelegations of authority to officers and 
employees of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research which were 
in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this 
reorganization shall continue in effect pending further redelegation, 
provided they are consistent with this reorganization.
    These changes are effective upon date of signature.

    Dated: June 18, 1998.
John M. Eisenberg,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-17923 Filed 7-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-90-M