[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44865-44866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22509]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegations of Authority

    This notice amends Part R of the Statement of Organization, 
Functions and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (DHHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (60 
FR 56605 as amended November 6, 1995, as last amended at 63 FR 38189, 
July 15, 1998). This notice reflects the name change of the Office of 
Field Coordination to the Office of Field Operations and its elevation 
from the Office of Management and Program Support.
    I. Under Part R, HRSA, Office of Management and Program Support 
(RS), delete RS5 Office of Field Coordination in its entirety.
    II. Establish a new chapter as the ``Office of Field Operations,'' 
(RE) to read as follows:
    Section RF-00 Mission:  The Office of Field Operations is comprised 
of Headquarters Staff and Field Clusters. The Field Clusters includes 
the Northeast Cluster, the Southeast Cluster, the Midwest Cluster, the 
West Central Cluster and the Pacific West Cluster. The Office of Field 
Operations supports the mission of HRSA and the Department's mission of 
improving the health of the Nation's population by administering HRSA 
field health programs and activities to assure a coordinated HRSA 
effort in support of national health policies and State and local needs 
within the field.
    The clusters will assist HRSA in addressing cross-cutting program 
issues and initiatives to achieve program goals, and in providing a 
HRSA focal point for responding to the needs of State and local 
governments, community agencies and others involved in the planning or 
provision of general health. This organizational structure will support 
intergovernmental activities which respond to health issues on both the 
State and local levels, help administer health activities and programs 
to provide prevention of health problems, and assure access to and 
quality of general health services.
    Section RF-10 Organization:  The Office of Field Operations is 
headed up by the Associate Administrator who reports directly to the 
Administrator, HRSA. The Associate Administrator and the immediate 
staff are located in Headquarters. Each cluster is headed up by a Field 
Coordinator who reports to the Associate Administrator, Office of Field 
Operations in addition, the Field Coordinator is located in the lead 
city of the cluster. The Office of Field Operations is organized as 
follows:

A. The Office of Field Operations (RE)
B. Field Cluster Operations (RF)
C. Northeast Cluster (RF1)
    1. Philadelphia, PA. (RF11)--lead city
    2. Boston, MA. (RF12)
    3. New York, NY (RF13)
D. Southeast Cluster (RF2)
    1. Atlanta, GA. (RF21)
E. Midwest Cluster (RF3)
    1. Chicago, IL. (RF31)--lead city
    2. Kansas City, MO. (RF32)
F. West Central Cluster (RF4)
    1. Dallas, TX. (RF41)--lead city
    2. Denver, CO. (RF42)
G. Pacific West Cluster (RF5)
    1. San Francisco, CA. (RF51)--lead city
    2. Seattle, WA. (RF52)
    Section RF-20 Function:A. The Office of Field Operations serves as 
the Agency's focal point for Field programs and activities. 
Specifically: (1) Oversees and manages HRSA activities in the field; 
(2) advises the Administrator on appropriate resource allocation for 
field activities; (3) assists in the implementation and evaluation of 
HRSA programs in the field through coordination of activities, and 
assessing the effectiveness of programs to identify opportunities for 
improving policies and service delivery systems; (4) develops and 
implements activities in the field designed to improve customer service 
and relationships; (5) develops and coordinates the field 
implementation of special program initiatives which involve multiple 
HRSA field components and/or multiple HRSA programs; (6) serves as 
field liaison to the Administrator, Bureau Associate Administrators, 
State and local health officials as well as private and professional 
organizations; (7) acts as liaison to provide administrative and 
financial support services to HRSA field components; and (8) exercises 
line management authority as delegated to the Field Coordinators 
related to general administrative and management functions.
    B. The Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West Central and Pacific West 
Clusters function as follows:
1. Immediate Office of the Field Coordinator
    Serves as HRSA's senior public health official in the field, 
providing liaison with State and local health officials as well as 
private and professional organizations; (2) provides input from local 
regional and State perspectives to assist the Administrator and 
Associate Administrators in the formulation, development, analysis and 
evaluation of HRSA programs and initiatives; (3) at the direction of 
the Administrator and/or in conjunction with the Associate 
Administrators and the Associate Administrator, Office of Field 
Operations, coordinates the field implementation of special initiatives 
which involve multiple HRSA programs and/or field offices (e.g. Border 
Health); (4) assists with the implementation of HRSA programs in the 
field by supporting the coordination of activities, alerting program 
officials of potential issues and assessing policies and service 
delivery systems; (5) represents the Administrator in working with the 
other Federal agencies in coordinating health programs and activities; 
and (6) exercises line management authority as delegated from the 
Administrator for general administrative and management functions 
within the field structure.
2. Division of Health Services
    Directs and coordinates field development and implementation of 
HRSA primary care programs and activities designed to increase access 
to primary care for underserved populations in the States served by the 
division; (2) provides continuous program monitoring of HRSA health 
service grants and contracts for compliance with applicable laws, 
regulations, policies and performance standards; (3) assures 
implementation of loan programs; (4) provides for development, 
implementation and monitoring of the annual field work plan related to 
assigned program areas, including setting objectives responsive to 
national and field priorities based on guidance provided by the 
appropriate HRSA bureau component and assigns division resources 
required to attain these objectives; (5) coordinates with other field 
office staff and headquarters staff to develop and consolidate 
objectives crossing program and division lines; (6) serves as a source 
of expertise on health services development, primary health care 
programs and as field program liaison with HRSA headquarters on 
technical programmatic matters; (7) establishes effective communication 
and working

[[Page 44866]]

relationships with health-related organizations of States and other 
jurisdictions; and (8) serves as a focal point for information on 
health service programs and related efforts, including voluntary 
professional and other private sector activities.
3. Division of Health Resources
    Directs and coordinates field development and implementation of 
HRSA programs and activities designed to increase the capacity and 
capability of health facilities construction, maternal and child health 
care programs and other health-related programs in the States served by 
the cluster; (2) provides continuous program monitoring of HRSA grants 
and contracts for compliance with applicable laws, regulations, 
policies and performance standards; (3) assures implementation of loan 
programs; (4) provides for development, implementation, and monitoring 
of the annual field work plan related to assigned program areas, 
including setting objectives responsive to national and field 
priorities based on guidance provided by appropriate HRSA bureau 
components and assigns division resources required to attain these 
objectives; (5) coordinates with other field office staff and 
headquarters staff to develop and consolidate objectives crossing 
program and division lines; (6) serves as a source of expertise on 
resource development, maternal and child health programs, HIV/AIDS 
programs, health professions programs and as field program liaison with 
HRSA headquarters on technical programmatic matters, (7) establishes 
effective communication and working relationships with health-related 
organizations of States and other jurisdictions, (8) serves as a focal 
point for information on health resource programs and related efforts, 
including voluntary, professional and other private sector activities.
    Section RF-30 Delegations of Authority: All delegations and 
redelegations of authority which were in effect immediately prior to 
the effective date hereof have been continued in effect in them or 
their successors pending further redelegation. I hereby ratify and 
affirm all actions taken by any DHHS official which involved the 
exercise of these authorities prior to the effective date of this 
delegation.

    This reorganization is effective upon date of signature.

    Dated: August 12, 1998.
Claude Earl Fox,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-22509 Filed 8-20-98; 8:45 am]
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