[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 70 (Friday, April 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 20216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08080]



[[Page 20216]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Notice of Availability of Final Policy Document

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

ACTION: Final Agency guidance and response to public comments.

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SUMMARY: On January 27, 2014, HRSA published Policy Information Notice 
(PIN) 2014-01 to convey and clarify statutory and regulatory governance 
requirements for section 330-funded health centers and look-alikes. The 
PIN, ``Health Center Program Governance,'' and HRSA's ``Comments and 
Response on Draft PIN: Health Center Program Governance'' are available 
on the Internet at http://www.bphc.hrsa.gov/policiesregulations/policies/pin201401.html, and constitutes final agency guidance.

DATES: The effective date of this final agency guidance was January 27, 
2014.

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 [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HHS' Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) provides grants to eligible health centers under 
section 330 of the Public Health Service Act to support the delivery of 
preventive and primary care services to medically underserved 
communities and vulnerable populations. In 2012, grants helped fund 
more than 1,200 health center grantees that provided services at nearly 
9,000 health care delivery sites and served more than 21 million 
people. There are also over 100 organizations known as Federally 
Qualified Health Center (FQHC) look-alikes (look-alikes). As described 
in section 1861(aa)(4) and section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security 
Act, look-alikes do not receive federal funding under section 330 of 
the PHS Act; however, to receive the look-alike designation and 
associated FQHC benefits, look-alikes must meet the statutory, 
regulatory, and policy requirements for health centers under section 
330.
    The purpose of this PIN is to: (a) Convey and clarify statutory and 
regulatory requirements regarding the structure and functioning of 
governing boards for all Health Center Program grantees (e.g., section 
330(e), (g), (h), and/or (i) grantees) and look-alikes; (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) to serve special 
populations; and (c) outline the eligibility and qualifying 
requirements for HRSA approval of a governance waiver for the 51 
percent patient majority governance requirement for eligible section 
330 grantees and look-alikes. This PIN also establishes HRSA policy 
that eliminates the monthly meeting requirement from waiver 
consideration.
    On August 20, 2009, HRSA made the draft PIN, ``Health Center 
Governance Requirements and Expectations,'' available for public 
comment. HRSA also published a notice in the Federal Register of 
September 18, 2009, requesting comments on this draft PIN. Fifty-one 
parties, including both individuals and groups, submitted a total of 
251 comments regarding the draft PIN. 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 HRSA's ``Comments and Response on Draft PIN: 
Health Center Program Governance.'' The purpose of this document is to 
summarize the major comments received and describe HRSA's response, 
including any corresponding changes made to the PIN. Where comments did 
not result in a revision to the PIN, explanations are provided.

    Dated: March 28, 2014.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-08080 Filed 4-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P