[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69135-69137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20171]


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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 (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration 
(HRSA) (60 FR 56605, as amended November 6, 1995; 67 FR 46519, July 
15,2002; and 68 FR 787-793, January 7, 2003; 68 FR 64357-64357, 
November 13, 2003; 68 FR 64357-64357-64358, and as last amended at 70 
FR 42347-42348, July 22, 2005.)
    This notice reflects organizational changes in the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care (RC). 
Specifically, this notice updates the functional statements of the 
Bureau of Primary Health Care.

Chapter RC--Office of the Associate Administrator

Section RC-10, Organization

    Delete in its entirety and replace with the following: The Bureau 
of Primary Health Care (BPHC) is headed by an Associate Administrator, 
who reports directly to the Administrator, Health Resources and 
Services Administration. The Bureau of Primary Health Care includes the 
following components:
    (1) Office of the Associate Administrator (RC);
    (2) Office of Minority and Special Populations (RCG);
    (3) Office of Policy and Program Development (RCH);
    (4) Office of Quality and Data (RCK);
    (5) Office of Administrative Management (RCM);
    (6) Eastern Division (RCN);
    (7) Central Mid-Atlantic Division (RCP);
    (8) Western Division (RCQ);
    (9) Division of National Hansen's Disease Programs (RC7); and
    (10) Division Immigration Health Service (RC9).

Section RC-20, Functions

    (1) Delete the functional statement for the Office of the Associate 
Administrator (RC) and replace in its entirety; (2) Establish the 
Office of Administrative Management (RCM); (3) Delete the Division of 
Health Center Management (RCJ) in its entirety and replace with the 
following new Divisions: Eastern Division (RCN), Central Mid-Atlantic 
Division (RCP), and Western Division (RCQ); (4) Delete the Division of 
State and Community Assistance (RCL) in its entirety; (5) Re-title the 
Division of Policy and Development (RCH) as the Office of Policy and 
Program Development (RCH) and replace its functional statement in its 
entirety; (6) Re-title the Division of Clinical Quality (RCK) as the 
Office of Quality and Data (RCK) and replace its functional statement 
in its entirety; and (7) Delete the functional statement for the Office 
of Minority and Special Populations (RCG) and replace in its entirety.

Office of the Associate Administrator (RC)

    Provides overall leadership, direction, coordination, and planning 
in support of Bureau programs: (1) Establishes program goals, 
objectives and priorities, and provides oversight as to their 
execution; (2) plans, directs, coordinates and evaluates Bureau-wide 
management activities; and (3) maintains effective relationships within 
HRSA and with other Department of Health and Human

[[Page 69136]]

Services (HHS) organizations, other Federal agencies, State and local 
governments, and other public and private organizations concerned with 
primary health care, eliminating health disparities, and improving the 
health status of the Nation's underserved and vulnerable populations.

Office of Minority and Special Populations (RCG)

    Serves as the organizational focus for the coordination of Bureau 
activities relating to the delivery of health services to minority and 
special populations, including migrant and seasonal farmworkers, 
homeless persons, and residents of public housing. Specifically, (1) 
ensures that the needs and special circumstances of minority and 
special populations and the provider organizations that serve them are 
addressed in BPHC programs and policies; (2) advises BPHC about the 
needs of minority and special populations; (3) identifies, provides and 
coordinates assistance to communities, community-based organizations 
and BPHC programs related to the development, delivery and expansion of 
services targeted to minority and special populations; (4) coordinates 
Bureau activities for minority and special populations within HRSA and 
HHS, and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and 
other public and private organizations concerned with primary health 
care, eliminating health disparities, and improving the health status 
of the Nation's underserved and vulnerable populations; and (5) 
provides support to the National Advisory Council on Migrant Health.

Office of Policy and Program Development (RCH)

    Serves as the organizational focus for the development of BPHC 
policies and programs. Specifically, (1) leads and monitors the 
development and expansion of health centers and health systems 
infrastructure; (2) identifies, provides and coordinates assistance to 
communities, community-based organizations and BPHC programs related to 
the development and expansion of health centers and health systems 
infrastructure; (3) manages the Bureau's loan guarantee program; (4) 
oversees and coordinates the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) 
Look-Alike program; (5) leads and coordinates the analysis, development 
and drafting of policy impacting BPHC's programs; (6) consults and 
coordinates with other components within HRSA and HHS, and with other 
Federal agencies, State and local governments, and other public and 
private organizations on issues affecting BPHC's policies and programs; 
(7) performs environmental scanning on issues that affect BPHC's 
programs; (8) monitors BPHC's activities in relation to HRSA's 
Strategic Plan; and (9) serves as the Bureau's focal point for 
communication and program information.

Office of Quality and Data (RCK)

    Serves as the organizational focus for quality and program 
performance reporting. Specifically, (1) provides leadership for 
implementing BPHC clinical and quality strategies; (2) oversees BPHC 
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) malpractice programs, clinical, quality 
improvement, risk management, and patient safety activities to improve 
policies and programs for primary health care services; (3) serves as 
the Bureau's focal point for the design and implementation of data 
systems to assess and improve program performance, including health 
information technology systems; (4) coordinates BPHC clinical, quality, 
workforce, health information technology, and performance reporting 
activities within HRSA and HHS, and with other Federal agencies, State 
and local governments, and other public and private organizations 
concerned with primary health care, eliminating health disparities, and 
improving the health status of the Nation's underserved and vulnerable 
populations; and (5) identifies, provides and coordinates assistance to 
BPHC programs around clinical, quality and performance reporting 
activities.

Office of Administrative Management (RCM)

    Plans, directs and coordinates Bureau-wide administrative 
management activities and has responsibilities related to the awarding 
of BPHC grant funds. Specifically, (1) serves as the Bureau's principal 
source for administrative and management advice and assistance; (2) 
formulates budget justifications for BPHC's programs and provides input 
into the analysis of BPHC budget execution; (3) provides advice, 
guidance and coordinates personnel activities for the Bureau including 
EEO, timekeeping, labor relations, and ethics; (4) provides 
organization and management analysis, coordinating the allocation of 
personnel resources, developing policies and procedures for internal 
operation, and interpreting and implementing the Bureau's management 
policies, procedures and systems; (5) develops and coordinates Bureau 
program and administrative delegations of authority activities; (6) 
provides guidance to the Bureau on financial management activities; (7) 
provides Bureau-wide support services such as continuity of operations 
and emergency planning, employee training, contracts, procurement, 
supply management, equipment utilization, printing, property 
management, space management, records management, and management 
reports; (8) performs a range of functions relating to the awarding of 
appropriated funds, working on recommended grant actions, and 
maintaining commitment levels for Bureau grantees and programs; (9) 
serves as the Bureau's Executive Secretariat; and (10) maintains 
effective relationships within HRSA and HHS, and with other Federal 
agencies, State and local governments, and other public and private 
organizations.

Eastern Division (RCN)

    Manages BPHC primary health care grant programs and activities 
within HHS Regions 1, 2 and 4. Specifically, for regions 1, 2 and 4: 
(1) Manages the post-award administration of the Bureau's primary 
health care grant programs; (2) serves as the BPHC representative to 
organizations receiving Bureau grants; (3) promotes a continued focus 
on efficient and effective care for underserved and vulnerable 
populations; (4) communicates and interprets program statutory/
regulatory requirements, policy, expectations and reporting 
requirements, providing technical guidance to grantees on the 
management and integration of community-based systems of care, the 
adaptation of successful strategies/models, and the resolution of 
difficult issues; (5) monitors the performance of BPHC primary health 
care grantees, making programmatic recommendations and providing 
assistance to improve performance, where appropriate; (6) reviews 
findings and recommendations of periodic and episodic grantee 
assessments, developing actions needed to assure continuity of services 
to underserved and vulnerable populations and appropriate use of 
Federal resources; (7) identifies, provides and coordinates training 
and technical assistance activities for BPHC primary health care grant 
programs, including State-based training and technical assistance; (8) 
conducts State and regional surveillance on issues that affect BPHC 
grant programs; and (9) provides consultation to and coordinates 
activities within HRSA and HHS, and with other Federal agencies, State 
and local governments, and other public and private organizations 
involved in the implementation of program activities.

[[Page 69137]]

Central Mid-Atlantic Division (RCP)

    Manages BPHC primary health care grant programs and activities 
within HHS Regions 3, 5 and 6. Specifically, for regions 3, 5 and 6: 
(1) Manages the post-award administration of the Bureau's primary 
health care grant programs; (2) serves as the BPHC representative to 
organizations receiving Bureau grants; (3) promotes a continued focus 
on efficient and effective care for underserved and vulnerable 
populations; (4) communicates and interprets program statutory/
regulatory requirements, policy, expectations and reporting 
requirements, providing technical guidance to grantees on the 
management and integration of community-based systems of care, the 
adaptation of successful strategies/models, and the resolution of 
difficult issues; (5) monitors the performance of BPHC primary health 
care grantees, making programmatic recommendations and providing 
assistance to improve performance, where appropriate; (6) reviews 
findings and recommendations of periodic and episodic grantee 
assessments, developing actions needed to assure continuity of services 
to underserved and vulnerable populations and appropriate use of 
Federal resources; (7) identifies, provides and coordinates training 
and technical assistance activities for BPHC primary health care grant 
programs, including State-based training and technical assistance; (8) 
conducts State and regional surveillance on issues that affect BPHC 
grant programs; and (9) provides consultation to and coordinates 
activities within HRSA and HHS, and with other Federal agencies, State 
and local governments, and other public and private organizations 
involved in the implementation of program activities.

Western Division (RCQ)

    Manages BPHC primary health care grant programs and activities 
within HHS Regions 7, 8, 9 and 10. Specifically, for regions 7, 8, 9 
and 10: (1) Manages the post-award administration of the Bureau's 
primary health care grant programs; (2) serves as the BPHC 
representative to organizations receiving Bureau grants; (3) promotes a 
continued focus on efficient and effective care for underserved and 
vulnerable populations; (4) communicates and interprets program 
statutory/regulatory requirements, policy, expectations and reporting 
requirements, providing technical guidance to grantees on the 
management and integration of community-based systems of care, the 
adaptation of successful strategies/models, and the resolution of 
difficult issues; (5) monitors the performance of BPHC primary health 
care grantees, making programmatic recommendations and providing 
assistance to improve performance, where appropriate; (6) reviews 
findings and recommendations of periodic and episodic grantee 
assessments, developing actions needed to assure continuity of services 
to underserved and vulnerable populations and appropriate use of 
Federal resources; (7) identifies, provides and coordinates training 
and technical assistance activities for BPHC primary health care grant 
programs, including State-based training and technical assistance; (8) 
conducts State and regional surveillance on issues that affect BPHC 
grant programs; and (9) provides consultation to and coordinates 
activities within HRSA and HHS, and with other Federal agencies, State 
and local governments, and other public and private organizations 
involved in the implementation of program activities.

Section RC-30, Delegations of Authority

    All delegations of authority and re-delegations of authority made 
to HRSA officials that were in effect immediately prior to this 
reorganization, and that are consistent with this reorganization, shall 
continue in effect pending further re-delegation.
    This reorganization is effective upon the date of signature.

    November 7, 2006.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-20171 Filed 11-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P