[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 61 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15455-15456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7692]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Solicitation of Partnering Organizations for Diabetes Detection 
Program

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On March 6, 2003, The Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) published an announcement seeking public and private sector 
organizations to partner in the establishment of the nationwide 
Diabetes Detection Program. This notice clarifies the intent of that 
announcement. It describes the Program and the partnerships, which 
would be established through memoranda of understanding with interested 
organizations and entities.

ADDRESSES: Notification of interest in partnering should be sent to 
Elizabeth Majestic, M.P.H., Acting Director, Office of Disease 
Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of Public Health and Science, 
Room 738-G, 200 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20201; (202) 
401-6295 (telephone), 202-690-7054 (fax). Notifications may also be 
submitted by electronic mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellis Davis, Office of Disease 
Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of Public Health and Science, 
Room 738-G, 200 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20201; (202) 
260-2873 (telephone), (202) 690-7054 (fax), or by electronic mail to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Department will be launching a diabetes detection initiative. 
The goal of the initiative is to encourage people at risk for diabetes 
to get tested and to refer those who test positive for follow-up. 
Approximately 6 million people have diabetes and do not know it. It is 
believed that for many of these people, earlier diagnosis and 
management or treatment can prevent or delay the devastating 
complications of diabetes. State health departments and federally-
funded community health centers will serve as the cornerstone for these 
detection efforts.
    To assist the Department in implementing the diabetes detection 
initiative, HHS is seeking partners to participate in the initiative in 
accordance with their particular interests. The partnerships would be 
established through memoranda of understanding where each party would 
be responsible for resources to support their activity.
    Where appropriate, organizations and entities could collaborate 
with state health department and community health center programs, as 
in the following examples:
    [sbull] Partnering organizations could participate in a nationwide 
advertising campaign that would alert the American public to the 
opportunity for diabetes detection;
    [sbull] Partnering organizations could participate in the 
production or distribution of printed materials that will be used by 
state programs and community health centers responsible for 
implementing the initiative;
    [sbull] Employers could adopt the project and conduct detection 
clinics where people at high risk of diabetes could be identified, then 
referred for specific diagnosis and followup if warranted;
    [sbull] Hospitals could provide professional resources to conduct 
detection clinics;

[[Page 15456]]

    [sbull] Managed care plans could adopt the project and encourage 
their enrollees to have themselves assessed for risk and alter their 
lifestyles if the risk warrants;
    [sbull] Colleges and universities could conduct detection events 
for their student populations;
    [sbull] Area agencies on aging could form a component of a 
statewide program.
    Where a statewide program is not in place, partnering organizations 
such as these could proceed on their own.

Availability of Funds

    There are no Federal funds available for these partnerships.

Content of Request for Partnership

    Each request for partnership should contain a description of: (1) 
The entity or organization; (2) its proposed involvement in the 
Department's diabetes detection initiative; and (3) resources or 
services the partnering organization would like to offer.

Evaluation Criteria

    Partners will be selected by the Office of Disease Prevention and 
Health Promotion using the following criteria:
    (1) Requester's qualifications and capability to contribute to the 
partnership;
    (2) Requester's creativity for contributing to the diabetes 
detection initiative.

    Dated: March 25, 2003.
Elizabeth Majestic,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Disease Prevention and 
Health Promotion), Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 03-7692 Filed 3-28-03; 8:45 am]
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