[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 29 (Friday, February 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 7239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3087]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Notice of Availability of Final Policy Guidance

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

ACTION: Final Agency Guidance and Response to Public Comments.

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SUMMARY: HRSA is publishing a final Agency Guidance (``Policy 
Information Notice'' (PIN) 2009-02), to describe the policy and 
processes pertaining to requests from federally-funded health centers 
to change the scope of their Federal project. The PIN, ``Specialty 
Services and Health Centers'' Scope of Project,'' and the Agency's 
``Response to Public Comments'' are available on the Internet at http://bphc.hrsa.gov.

DATES: The effective date of this final Agency guidance is December 18, 
2008.
    Background: The Health Resources and Services Administration 
administers the Health Center Program, as authorized by section 330 of 
the Public Health Service (PHS) Act as amended, (42 U.S.C. 254b). 
Health centers improve the health of the Nation's underserved 
communities and vulnerable populations by assuring access to 
comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care 
services. Health center grants support a variety of community-based and 
patient-directed public and private nonprofit organizations and 
continue to serve an increasing number of the Nation's underserved. 
Charges for health care services are set according to income. At the 
end of the 2007 calendar year, there were more than 1,000 federally-
funded health centers with more than 7,000 primary health care delivery 
sites located in urban and rural underserved areas throughout the U.S. 
and its territories. In 2007, over 16 million medically underserved and 
uninsured patients received comprehensive, culturally competent, 
quality primary health care services through the federally-supported 
Health Center Program.
    On August 10, 2007, HRSA made the draft PIN, ``Specialty Services 
and Health Centers'' Scope of Project,'' available for public comment 
on HRSA's Web site. HRSA also published a notice in the Federal 
Register of August 29, 2007, requesting comments on this draft PIN.
    Sixty-five comments were received from 20 organizations and/or 
individuals. After review and careful consideration of all comments 
received, HRSA has amended the PIN to incorporate certain 
recommendations from the public. The final PIN reflects these changes.
    In addition to making the final PIN available on HRSA's Web site, 
HRSA is also posting the Agency's ``Response to Public Comments'' at 
http://bphc.hrsa.gov/policy/pin0902/pin0902comments.htm. The purpose of 
that document is to summarize the major comments received and describe 
the Agency's response, including any corresponding changes made to the 
PIN. Where comments did not result in a revision to the PIN, 
explanations are provided. Any interested party that does not have 
access to HRSA's Web site can contact the HRSA point of contact to 
request that a hardcopy of the ``Response to Public Comments'' be 
mailed to their attention.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions regarding this notice, 
please contact the Office of Policy and Program Development, Bureau of 
Primary Health Care, HRSA, at 301-594-4300.

    Dated: February 6, 2009.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E9-3087 Filed 2-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P