[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64357-64358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28374]


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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 
(HRSA) (60 FR 56605, as amended November 6, 1995; as last amended at 68 
FR 8515-8517, February 21, 2003). This notice is to announce the re-
titling of the Office of Special Programs to the Special Programs 
Bureau and to amend the functional statement to include functions 
relating to the National Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Program, 
the Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act Program and the Trauma-
Emergency Medical Services Systems Program. Specifically, this notice 
establishes the Division of Health Care Emergency Preparedness (RR5) 
and the Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Office (RR6) in 
the newly titled Special Programs Bureau (RR) as follows:

Special Programs Bureau (RR)

    Provides the overall leadership and direction for the procurement, 
allocation, and transplantation of human organs and bone marrow; 
programmatic, financial and architectural/engineering support for 
construction/renovation programs; operation of the Department's Vaccine 
Injury Compensation Program and the State Planning Grants Program. 
Specifically: (1) Administers the Organ Procurement and Transplantation 
Network and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients to assure 
compliance with Federal regulations and policies; (2) administers the 
National Marrow Donor Program in matching volunteer unrelated marrow 
donors for transplants and studying the effectiveness of unrelated 
marrow donors for transplants and related treatment; (3) develops and 
maintains a national program of grants and contracts to organ 
procurement organizations and other entities to increase the 
availability of various organs to transplant candidates; (4) manages 
the national program for compliance with the Hill-Burton uncompensated 
care requirement and other assurances; (5) directs and administers the 
Section 242 hospital mortgage insurance program (through inter-agency 
agreement with HUD) and HHS direct and guaranteed construction loan 
repayment program; (6) directs and administers an earmarked grant 
program for the construction/renovation/equipping of health care and 
other facilities; (7) directs and administers the National Vaccine 
Injury Compensation Program; (8) directs and administers the Smallpox 
Emergency Personnel Protection Act Program; (9) directs and administers 
the State Planning Grants Program; (10) directs and administers the 
National Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Program; and (11) directs 
and administers the Trauma-Emergency Medical Services Systems Program.

Division of Health Care Emergency Preparedness (RR5)

    The Division of Health Care Emergency Preparedness (DHCEP) 
facilitates the development of State, territorial and municipal 
terrorism preparedness programs under grants and/or cooperative 
agreements to improve the Nation's health care systems to respond to 
any terrorism or other public health emergency event. Specifically, the 
Division, together with other components of the Agency; (1) serves as 
the national focus for leadership in and coordination of Federal, 
State, local and non-governmental efforts to define the readiness needs 
for any terrorism or other public health emergency event and to assist 
in the development of programs that address the problems; (2) analyzes 
or coordinates analysis of regional or national issues and problems and 
recommends responses to those problems through research, training, or 
other actions, as indicated; (3) develops, interprets, and disseminates 
policies, regulations, standards, guidelines, new knowledge, and 
program information for the various programs and services relevant to 
terrorism and emergency preparedness; (4) provides technical assistance 
and professional consultation to field and headquarters staffs, to 
State and local health personnel, to other Federal agencies, and to 
voluntary and professional organizations on all aspects of terrorism 
preparedness planning efforts; (5) establishes and maintains 
cooperative working relationships with voluntary, professional, and 
other relevant entities and serves as a focal point for communications 
to improve terrorism preparedness; (6) coordinates within this Agency 
and with other Federal program efforts to extend and improve 
comprehensive, coordinated services and promote integrated, state-based 
systems of care for this program; (7) administers a program of 
cooperative agreements and contracts to provide comprehensive 
approaches to improve

[[Page 64358]]

terrorism preparedness; (8) works collaboratively with the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention and the Department's Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness in 
administering the National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program. 
Further, HRSA has identified key stakeholders in other Federal 
agencies, including the Department of Defense and Homeland Security as 
well as key national professional organizations: (9) administers the 
Trauma-Emergency Medical Services Systems Program; (10) promotes 
coordination of terrorism preparedness under the Public Health Security 
and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Section 319 of 
the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) while supporting 
activities related to countering potential terrorist threats to 
civilian populations; (11) administers the Trauma-Emergency Medical 
Services Systems Program within the authority of Title XII of the PHS 
Act and provides leadership to facilitate the development of effective, 
comprehensive and inclusive statewide trauma systems. The program 
promotes trauma systems that are prepared and are responsive to 
emergency and disaster situations, are coordinated with State Emergency 
Management and disaster planning efforts. The Trauma-EMS Systems 
Program works to accomplish these goals by providing national 
leadership, performing nation system assessments, strategic planning 
for priority initiatives, awarding grants to support State 
infrastructure development, supporting the development of best 
practices and models for State trauma systems planning and evaluation, 
and coordinating related Federal activities.

Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Office (RR6)

    The Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Office (SVICPO) 
administers all statutory authorities related to the operation of the 
Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act (SEPPA). Specifically the 
SVICPO: (1) Evaluates petitions for compensation filed under the SEPPA 
through medical review and assessment of compensability for all 
completed claims; (2) processes awards for compensation made under the 
SEPPA; (3) promulgates regulations to revise the Smallpox Vaccine 
Injury Table; (4) develops and maintains all automated information 
systems necessary for program implementation; (5) provides and 
disseminates program information; and, (6) maintains a working 
relationship with other Federal and private sector partners in the 
administration and operation of the SEPPA.

Delegation of Authority

    All delegations and redelegations of authorities to officers and 
employees of the Health Resources and Services Administration which 
were in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this action 
will be continued in effect in them or their successors, pending 
further redelegation, provided they are consistent with this action.
    This document is effective upon the date of signature.

    Dated: November 4, 2003.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-28374 Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P