[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66546-66547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19265]


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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; amended at 67 FR 
46519, July 15, 2002; 68 FR 787-793, January 7, 2003, 68 FR 64357-
64358, November 13, 2003; at 69 FR 56433-56434, September 21, 2004; 70 
FR 61293-61294, October 21, 2005; and last amended at 71 FR 46237-
46238, August 11, 2006).
    This notice reflects changes to the organization and functions of 
the Office of the Administrator (RA), Office of Rural Health Policy 
(RH) and the Bureau of Primary Health Care (RC). Specifically, it moves 
the Intergovernmental Affairs function within the Office of 
Communication (RA6) from the Office of Administrator (OA) to the Office 
of Rural Health Policy (RH). Additionally, it moves the Black Lung 
Clinic Program and the Radiation Exposure Screening and Education 
Program from the Bureau of Primary Health Care (RC) to the Office of 
Rural Health Policy (RH).

Chapter RA--Office of the Administrator

Section RA-10, Organization

    The Offices under the Immediate Office of the Administrator consist 
of the following components:
    (1) Immediate Office of the Administrator (RA);
    (2) Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (RA2);
    (3) Office of Planning and Evaluation (RA5);
    (4) Office of Communications (RA6);
    (5) Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (RA9);
    (6) Office of Legislation (RAE);
    (7) Office of Information Technology (RAG); and
    (8) Office of International Health Affairs (RAH).

Section RA-20, Functions

    Delete the functional statement for the Office of Communications 
(RA6) in its entirety and replace it with the following:

Office of Communication (RA6)

    Provides leadership and general policy and program direction for, 
and conducts and coordinates communications and public affairs 
activities of the Agency. Specifically: (1) Serves as focal point for 
coordination of Agency communications activities with those of other 
health agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services and 
with field, State, local, voluntary and professional organizations; (2) 
develops and implements national communications initiatives to inform 
and educate the public, health care professionals, policy makers and 
the media; (3) coordinates, researches, writes and prepares speeches 
and audiovisual presentations for the HRSA Administrator and staff; (4) 
provides communication and public affairs expertise and staff advice 
and support to the Administrator in program and policy formulations and 
execution consistent with policy direction established by the Assistant 
Secretary for Public Affairs; (5) develops and implements policies and 
procedures related to external media relations and internal employee 
communications including those for the development, review, processing, 
quality control, and dissemination of Agency communications materials, 
including exhibits and those disseminated electronically; (6) serves as 
Communications and Public Affairs Officer for the Agency including 
establishment and maintenance of productive relationships with the news 
media; (7) coordinates the implementation of the Freedom of Information 
Act for the Agency; and (8) manages audio visual and multimedia 
activities in support of communications efforts through multiple media 
formats.

Chapter RH--Office of Rural Health Policy

Section RH-10, Organization

    The Office of Rural Health Policy is headed by the Associate 
Administrator who reports directly to the Administrator, HRSA. 
Specifically, this notice amends the functional statement by adding 
responsibility for the Black Lung Clinic Program; Radiation Exposure 
Screening and Education Program, and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Section RH -20, Functions

    Delete the functional statement for the former Rural Health Policy 
(RH) in its entirety and replace with the following:
    The Office of Rural Health Policy (RH) serves as a focal point 
within the Department and as a principal source of advice to the 
Administrator and Secretary for coordinating efforts to strengthen and 
improve the delivery of health services to populations in the Nation's 
rural areas and border areas, providing leadership and interacting with 
stakeholders in the delivery of health care to underserved and at risk 
populations. Specifically, the Office of Rural Health Policy is 
organized around the following primary issue areas:
    Delivery of Health Services: (1) Collects and analyzes information 
regarding the special problems of rural health care providers and 
populations; (2) works with States, State hospital associations, 
private associations, foundations, and other organizations to focus 
attention on, and promote solutions to problems related to the delivery 
of health services in rural communities; (3) provides staff support

[[Page 66547]]

to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services; 
(4) stimulates and coordinates interaction on rural health activities 
and programs in the Agency, Department and with other Federal agencies; 
(5) supports rural health center research and keeps informed of 
research and demonstration projects funded by States and foundations in 
the field of rural health care delivery; (6) establishes and maintains 
a resource center for the collection and dissemination of the latest 
information and research findings related to the delivery of health 
services in rural areas; (7) coordinates congressional and private 
sector inquiries related to rural health; (8) advises the Agency, 
Administrator and Department on the effects of current policies and 
proposed statutory, regulatory, administrative, and budgetary changes 
in the programs established under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social 
Security Act on the financial viability of small rural hospitals, the 
ability of rural areas to attract and retain physicians and other 
health professionals; (9) oversees compliance by CMS with the 
requirement that rural hospital impact analyses are developed whenever 
proposed regulations might have a significant impact on a substantial 
number of small rural hospitals; (10) supports specialized rural 
programs on minority health, mental health, preventive health 
education, oral health and occupational health and safety; (11) plans 
and manages a nationwide rural health grants program; (12) plans and 
manages a program of State grants which support collaboration within 
State offices of rural health; (13) plans, directs, and coordinates the 
Agency's border health activities; (14) funds public and private non-
profit entities for the operation of clinics that provide diagnosis, 
treatment and rehabilitation of active and retired coal miners and 
others with respiratory ailments (black lung) and other occupational 
related respiratory disease impairments; and (15) funds radiation 
exposure screening and education programs that screen eligible 
individuals adversely affected by the mining, transport and processing 
of uranium and the testing of nuclear weapons for cancer and other 
diseases.
    Intergovernmental Affairs: (1) Provides the Administrator with a 
single point of contact on all activities related to important State 
and local government, stakeholder association, and interest group 
activities; (2) coordinates Agency cross-Bureau cooperative agreements 
and activities with organizations such as the National Governors 
Association, National Conference of State Legislature, Association of 
State and Territorial Health Officials, National Association of 
Counties and National Association of County and City Health Officials; 
(3) interacts with various commissions such as the Delta Regional 
Authority, Appalachian Regional Commission, Denali Commission and the 
United States and Mexico Border Health Commission; and (4) serves as 
primary liaison to Department intergovernmental staff.

Section RH-30, Delegation of Authority

    All delegations 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 re-delegation. I hereby ratify and 
affirm all actions taken by any HRSA official which involves the 
exercise of these authorities prior to the effective date of this 
delegation.
    This reorganization is effective upon the date of signature.

    Dated: October 31, 2006.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E6-19265 Filed 11-14-06; 8:45 am]
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