[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 180 (Friday, September 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 47947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22444]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Notice of Availability of Draft Policy Documents 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 Notices'' (PINs)) to convey 
and clarify statutory and regulatory governance requirements for 
federally-funded health centers and Federally Qualified Health Center 
(FQHC) Look-Alikes. The PIN, ``Health Center Governance Requirements 
and Expectations'' is available on the Internet at http://bphc.hrsa.gov/draftsforcomment/governance/draftgovernancepin.htm.

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DATES: Comments must be received by October 26, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to <[email protected]> by 
close of business October 26, 2009.
SUMMARY: HRSA believes that community input is valuable to the 
development of policies and policy documents related to the 
implementation of HRSA programs, including the Health Center Program. 
Therefore, we are requesting comments on the PIN referenced above. 
Comments will be reviewed and analyzed, and a summary and general 
response will be published as soon as possible after the deadline for 
receipt of comments.
    Background: HRSA administers the Health Center Program, which 
supports more than 7,500 health care delivery sites, including 
community health centers, migrant health centers, health care for the 
homeless centers, and public housing primary care centers. Health 
centers serve medically underserved communities, delivering preventive 
and primary care services to patients regardless of their ability to 
pay. The purpose of the recently published draft PIN is (a) To convey 
and clarify HRSA's policy regarding Health Center Program statutory and 
regulatory governance requirements for all Health Center Program 
grantees (e.g., health centers funded under section 330(e), (g), (h) 
and (i) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended) and FQHC 
Look-Alikes (per section 1905(l)(2)(B) and section 1861(aa)(4) of the 
Social Security Act.); (b) provide clarification regarding board 
requirements for public centers under co-applicant arrangements, 
including public centers funded or designated solely under sections 
330(g), 330(h) and/or 330(i) of the PHS Act, as amended to serve 
special populations; and (c) outline the eligibility and qualifying 
expectations for HRSA approval of a governance waiver for the fifty-one 
percent consumer/patient majority governance requirement for eligible 
section 330 grantees and FQHC Look-Alikes. The PIN eliminates the 
monthly meeting requirement from waiver consideration.

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: September 11, 2009.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-22444 Filed 9-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P