[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56364-56365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19507]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Notice of Availability of Draft Policy Document for Comment

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS.

ACTION: This is a Notice of Availability and request for comments on a 
draft Agency Guidance (``Policy Information Notice'' (PIN)) to clarify 
program and application requirements of the Federally Qualified Health 
Center Look-Alike program and make them consistent with those 
requirements under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. The 
PIN, ``Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike Guidelines 
and Application'' (``FQHC Look-Alike PIN'') is available on the 
Internet at http://bphc.hrsa.gov/draftsforcomment/lookalike/.

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DATES: Comments must be received by close of business November 7, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comments to the following e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUMMARY: HRSA believes that community input is valuable to the 
development of policies and policy documents related to the 
implementation of BPHC programs, including the FQHC Look-Alike Program. 
Therefore, we are requesting comments on the PIN referenced above. 
After review and consideration of all comments received, the PIN may be 
amended to incorporate certain recommendations from the public. Once 
the PIN is finalized, it will be made available on HRSA's Web site, 
along with the Agency's ``Response to Public Comments.'' That document 
will summarize the major comments received and describe the Agency's 
response, including any corresponding

[[Page 56365]]

changes made to the PIN. Where comments do not result in a revision to 
the PIN, explanations will be provided.
    Background: HRSA has received numerous requests for clarification 
regarding the program guidelines, requirements, and application process 
for the FQHC Look-Alike program. The purpose of the FQHC Look-Alike PIN 
is to respond to these requests for clarification and to make the 
application process more consistent with section 330 grant programs.
    The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Acts of 1989, 1990, and 1993 
amended section 1905 of the Social Security Act to create a new 
category of facility under Medicaid and Medicare known as Federally 
Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The Social Security Act Sec.  
1905(l)(2)(B) definition of an FQHC included an entity which, based on 
the recommendation of HRSA, is determined to meet the requirements of 
the section 330 grant program but does not receive the grant. This 
category of health centers has been labeled FQHC Look-Alikes.
    To ensure that there are appropriate numbers of health centers to 
serve the millions of uninsured and underinsured populations throughout 
the country, FQHC Look-Alike status was made available to those 
entities that do not receive funding under section 330 but operate and 
provide services similar to grant-funded programs. As such, FQHC Look-
Alikes are expected to demonstrate a commitment to serve all 
populations residing in their respective medically underserved 
communities regardless of their ability to pay and to satisfy all of 
the administrative, management, governance and service-related 
requirements that apply to section 330 funded health centers. Benefits 
of obtaining FQHC Look-Alike status include eligibility for enhanced 
Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement, participation in the 340(b) 
Federal Drug Pricing Program, and automatic Health Professional 
Shortage Area designation.
    HRSA is responsible for managing the FQHC Look-Alike program and 
submitting recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services (CMS) for designation as FQHCs; however, CMS has the final 
authority to designate applicants as FQHCs. The organizations are 
recertified annually to assure they are in compliance with these 
regulations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding this notice, 
please contact Cicely Nelson at (301) 594-4496.

    Dated: September 24, 2007.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-19507 Filed 10-2-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P