[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33274-33275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14235]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Health Center Controlled Networks

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Class Deviation from Competition Requirements for 
Health Center Controlled Networks.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Awarding Agency Grants Administration 
Manual (AAGAM) Chapter 2.04.103, the Bureau of Primary Health Care 
(BPHC) has been granted a class deviation from the exceptions to 
maximum competition requirements contained in the AAGAM Chapter 
2.04.104A-5 to provide additional funding without competition to the 37 
Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs) awarded under announcement 
HRSA-13-237, extending their December 1, 2014, to November 31, 2015, 
budget period through July 31, 2016. This action will align the project 
period end dates of all active HCCN grants and ensure maximum 
competition for a single HCCN funding opportunity in fiscal year (FY) 
2016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Intended Recipient of the Award: Health Center Controlled Networks 
awarded under funding opportunity announcement HRSA-13-237.
    Amount of Non-Competitive Awards: $11,909,772.
    Period of Supplemental Funding: December 1, 2015, to July 31, 2016.

    CFDA Number: 93.527.


    Authority: Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 254b, as amended).
    Justification: Health Center Controlled Networks enhance the use of 
health information technology (HIT) to improve the quality of care 
provided by Health Center Program awardees and look-alikes, 
collectively referred to as health centers. HCCNs bring health centers 
together to jointly address operational and clinical challenges, 
particularly the acquisition and implementation of HIT in a cost-
efficient manner. They help fulfill the Federal Health IT Strategic 
Plan and address HRSA's goal that all Health Center Program awardees 
will:
     Acquire and effectively implement certified Electronic 
Health Record (EHR) technology to enable all eligible providers to 
become meaningful users of EHRs as defined by the Centers for Medicare 
& Medicaid Services (CMS);
     access EHR incentive program payments; and

[[Page 33275]]

     enhance data reporting and technology-enabled quality 
improvement activities.
    Two HCCN funding opportunities were competed in FY 2013, resulting 
in two grant cohorts with project period end dates that differ by 8 
months: 37 grants funded under HRSA-13-237 ending November 30, 2015, 
and six grants funded under HRSA-13-267 ending July 31, 2016. BPHC 
requests to implement one project period end date for all active HCCNs, 
July 31, 2016, by providing an additional 8 months of support to grants 
funded under HRSA-13-237. Creating one funding cycle will prevent a 
lapse in funding that may jeopardize HIT implementation underway at the 
health centers receiving technical assistance from the HCCNs. By 
September 30, 2015, $11,909,772 will be awarded to continue the 37 
grants' approved activities for 8 months (see Table 1). Awardees will 
report progress and financial obligations made during the 8-month 
budget period extension as instructed by the Notice of Award.

               Table 1--Recipient Grants and Award Amounts
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           Grant No.                Organization name      Award amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
H2QCS25654.....................  ALABAMA PRIMARY HEALTH         $316,667
                                  CARE ASSOCIATION, INC.
H2QCS25636.....................  COLORADO COMMUNITY              316,667
                                  MANAGED CARE NETWORK.
H2QCS25650.....................  COMMUNITY CLINIC                416,667
                                  ASSOCIATION OF LOS
                                  ANGELES COUNTY.
H2QCS25663.....................  COMMUNITY HEALTH ACCESS         416,667
                                  NETWORK, INC.
H2QCS25644.....................  COMMUNITY HEALTH BEST           262,893
                                  PRACTICES, LLC..
H2QCS25665.....................  COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE           466,654
                                  ASSOCIATION OF NEW
                                  YORK STATE, INC.
H2QCS25655.....................  COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER         266,667
                                  ASSOCIATION OF
                                  CONNECTICUT.
H2QCS25635.....................  COMMUNITY HEALTH                144,096
                                  CENTERS OF ARKANSAS,
                                  INC.
H2QCS25651.....................  COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY            266,667
                                  CLINICS.
H2QCS25652.....................  GOLDEN VALLEY HEALTH            316,667
                                  CENTERS.
H2QCS25659.....................  GRACE COMMUNITY HEALTH          316,667
                                  CENTER, INC.
H2QCS25637.....................  HAWAII PRIMARY CARE             266,667
                                  ASSOCIATION.
H2QCS25657.....................  HEALTH CHOICE NETWORK,          466,667
                                  INC.
H2QCS25671.....................  HEALTH FEDERATION OF            266,667
                                  PHILADELPHIA, THE.
H2QCS25638.....................  IDAHO PRIMARY CARE              266,667
                                  ASSOCIATION.
H2QCS25639.....................  IN CONCERTCARE, INC....         266,667
H2QCS25640.....................  KANSAS ASSOCIATION FOR          266,667
                                  MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED.
H2QCS25641.....................  LOUISIANA PRIMARY CARE          316,667
                                  ASSOCIATION, INC.
H2QCS25660.....................  MAINE PRIMARY CARE              266,667
                                  ASSOCIATION.
H2QCS25661.....................  MICHIGAN PRIMARY CARE           366,352
                                  ASSOCIATION.
H2QCS25642.....................  MISSOURI COALITION FOR          366,667
                                  PRIMARY HEALTH CARE.
H2QCS25643.....................  MONTANA PRIMARY CARE            316,667
                                  ASSOCIATION, INC.
H2QCS25658.....................  NEAR NORTH HEALTH               416,667
                                  SERVICE CORPORATION,
                                  THE.
H2QCS25645.....................  NEW MEXICO PRIMARY CARE         266,667
                                  ASSOCIATION.
H2QCS25647.....................  OCHIN, INC.............         516,667
H2QCS25666.....................  OHIO SHARED INFORMATION         266,667
                                  SERVICES, INC.
H2QCS25649.....................  PTSO OF WASHINGTON.....         416,667
H2QCS25653.....................  REDWOOD COMMUNITY               266,667
                                  HEALTH NETWORK.
H2QCS25646.....................  SOONERVERSE, INC.......         266,667
H2QCS25656.....................  SOUTHBRIDGE MEDICAL             266,667
                                  ADVISORY COUNCIL, INC.
H2QCS25664.....................  SOUTHERN JERSEY FAMILY          266,667
                                  MEDICAL CENTERS, INC.
H2QCS25667.....................  TENNESSEE PRIMARY CARE          286,443
                                  ASSOCIATION.
H2QCS25648.....................  TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF            516,667
                                  COMMUNITY HEALTH
                                  CENTERS, INC.
H2QCS25662.....................  THE COASTAL FAMILY              266,667
                                  HEALTH CENTER, INC.
H2QCS25668.....................  VIRGINIA PRIMARY CARE           366,667
                                  ASSOCIATION, INC.
H2QCS25669.....................  WEST VIRGINIA PRIMARY           316,667
                                  CARE ASSOCIATION INC.
H2QCS25670.....................  WISCONSIN PRIMARY               266,667
                                  HEALTH CARE
                                  ASSOCIATION, INC.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Olivia Shockey, Expansion Division 
Director, Office of Policy and Program Development, Bureau of Primary 
Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration at 301-443-
9282 or at [email protected].

    Dated: June 4, 2015.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-14235 Filed 6-10-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P