[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 2734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-964]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Health Information Technology Implementation

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Noncompetitive Replacement Award to Tennessee Primary 
Care Association, Brentwood, Tennessee.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will 
be transferring the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) 
(section 330 of the Public Health Service Act) Health Information 
Technology Implementation for Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCN) 
funds originally awarded to Community Health Network, Inc. (CHN), to 
the Tennessee Primary Care Association (TPCA) to ensure the 
implementation of a Health Center Controlled Network in the State of 
Tennessee.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Former Grantee of Record: Community Health Network, Inc.
    Original Period of Grant Support: June 1, 2010, to May 31, 2012.
    Replacement Awardee: Tennessee Primary Care Association.
    Amount of Replacement Award: $1,807,399.60.
    Period of Replacement Award: The period of support for the 
replacement award is December 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012.

    Authority: Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 
U.S.C. 245b.
    CFDA Number: 93.703

Justification for the Exception to Competition

    The former grantee (CHN) relinquished the grant and its 
responsibilities due to financial difficulties as well as management 
and legal concerns. TPCA has been a HRSA funded Primary Care 
Association since 1985 and is a well established organization with 
sound fiscal and grants management operations.
    In the effort to preserve the opportunity to advance information 
technology resources of the Tennessee's medically underserved 
communities, TPCA has demonstrated the capacity to fulfill the 
expectations of the original grant award and has collaborated with 
CHN's Board of Directors to plan for a smooth transition of the grant.
    The transfer of these funds will ensure full implementation of the 
grant which will greatly advance the State of Tennessee's continuity of 
care and have a positive impact on population health. It will also help 
the participating health centers to meet requirements for Meaningful 
Use and Patient Centered Medical Home programs by the Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the National Committee for 
Quality Assurance (NCQA) and/or the Joint Commission.
    The implementation of a Health Center Controlled Network would 
assist with the advancement and effective use of Health Information 
Technology. These advancements will result in measurable improvements 
in patient outcomes and reductions of health disparities for 
underserved communities in the State of Tennessee. As a result, in 
order to ensure a timely implementation of a Health Center Controlled 
Network in the State of Tennessee as originally awarded, this 
replacement award will not be competed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mayra Nicolas via phone at (301) 
594-4294 or via email at [email protected].

    Dated: January 10, 2012.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-964 Filed 1-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P