[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]
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