[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 227 (Monday, November 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71010-71011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27776]


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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 56605-56606 as amended November 6, 1995; and as amended 
at 61 FR 65063, December 10, 1996; and last amended at 72 FR 33099, 
June 11, 2008.)
    This notice reflects organizational changes in the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, Office of Rural Health Policy (RH). 
Specifically, this notice updates the functional statement of the 
Office of the Associate Administrator (RH), and creates the following 
components: Hospital-State Division (RH1), Community-Based Division 
(RH2), and the Border Health Division (RH3).

Chapter RH, Office of Rural Health Policy

Section RH, 00 Mission

    Delete in its entirety and replace with the following:
    The Office of Rural Health Policy 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.

Section RH-10, Organization

    Delete in its entirety and replace with the following:
    The Office of Rural Health Policy (RH) is headed by the Associate 
Administrator who reports directly to the Administrator, Health 
Resources and Services Administration. The Office of Rural Health 
Policy includes the following components:
    (1) Office of the Associate Administrator (RH);
    (2) Hospital State Division (RH1);
    (3) Community Based Division (RH2); and
    (4) Border Health Division (RH3).

Section RH-20, Functions

    Delete the functional statement for the Office of the Associate 
Administrator (RH) and replace in its entirety.

[[Page 71011]]

Office of the Associate Administrator (RH)

    The Office of the Administrator is headed by the Associate 
Administrator who, in conjunction with other management officials 
within HRSA, is responsible for the overall leadership and management 
of the Office of Rural Health Policy. The Office of Rural Health Policy 
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 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) 
directs the management of a nationwide rural health grants program; 
(12) directs the management of a program of State grants which support 
collaboration within State offices of rural health; (13) 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 Legislatures, 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 
the primary liaison to Department intergovernmental staff.

Hospital State Division (RH1)

    The Hospital State Division serves as the focal point within the 
Office of Rural Health Policy to support rural hospital and State grant 
programs focused on rural populations. Specifically, the Hospital State 
Division is organized around the following primary issue areas: (1) 
Plans and manages a program of State grants which support collaboration 
within State offices of rural health; (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; and 
(3) provides coordinated technical assistance to grantees and rural 
communities.

Community Based Division (RH2)

    The Community Based Division serves as the focal point within the 
Office of Rural Health Policy to support rural community grant 
programs. Specifically, the Community Based Division is organized 
around the following primary issue areas: (1) Plans and manages several 
nationwide rural health grants programs; (2) supports programs on rural 
health, public health, and health status improvement; (3) 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; (4) 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; and (5) provides technical assistance to grantees and 
rural communities.

Border Health Division (RH3)

    The Border Health Division provides leadership and direction to 
coordinate the Agency's assets in border regions. Specifically, the 
Border Health Division: (1) Assures that the Agency's engagement with 
regions of the border is strategic, performance based, builds 
partnerships and alliances, and maximizes utilization of Agency assets; 
(2) assures agency-wide coordination by establishing border health 
program policies and procedures including tracking mechanisms; (3) 
conducts management and evaluation studies to improve the health 
delivery system on the border; (4) serves as the secretariat and chair 
for the agency's Border Health Workgroup; (5) plans, directs, and 
coordinates the Agency's border health activities; and (6) plans, 
coordinates and facilitates the agency agreements activities with 
border health issues.

Section RH-30, Delegations of Authority

    All delegations and re-delegations of authority made to HRSA 
officials and employees of affected organizational components will 
continue in them or their successors pending further re-delegations, 
provided they are consistent with this reorganization.
    This reorganization is effective upon the date of signature.

    Dated: October 28, 2008.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-27776 Filed 11-21-08; 8:45 am]
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