[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 142 (Monday, July 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 48426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17497]



[[Page 48426]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Health Center Program

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of class deviations from the requirements for 
competition and application period for the health center program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) is awarding funds to 
health centers transitioning to value-based models of care, improving 
the use of information in decision making, and increasing engagement in 
delivery system transformation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Intended Recipient of the Award: Approximately 1,380 Health Center 
Program award recipients.
    Amount of Competitive Awards: Approximately $90 million will be 
awarded in FY 2016 through a one-time supplement.
    Period of Supplemental Funding: Anticipated 12 month project period 
is September 1, 2016 through August 31, 2017.
    CFDA Number: 93.224.

    Authority:  Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 254b, as amended).

    Justification: Targeting the Nation's neediest populations and 
geographic areas, the Health Center Program supports more than 1,300 
health centers that operate over 9,000 service delivery sites in every 
state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and 
the Pacific Basin. Nearly 23 million patients received comprehensive, 
culturally competent, quality primary health care services through the 
Health Center Program award recipients in 2014.
    The fiscal year (FY) 2016 Health Center Program Delivery System 
Health Information Investment (DSHII) funding will provide formula-
based, one-time support for the purchase of health information 
technology (health IT) enhancements to accelerate health centers' 
transition to value-based models of care, improve efforts to share and 
use information to support better decisions, and increase engagement in 
delivery system transformation efforts. Grant funds will help health 
centers make strategic investments to enhance their health IT, 
implement new clinical and administrative workflows, develop new 
reports, and better prepare providers and staff to use health IT and 
data to achieve the quality, cost, and patient-centered goals of 
delivery system reforms. In addition, health centers that do not 
currently have a certified electronic health record (EHR) at all sites 
and in use by all providers must propose at a minimum to use DSHII 
funding to initiate and/or increase the number of sites and providers 
using a certified EHR. The investments will help health centers improve 
the quality and safety of services provided to the nation's most 
vulnerable populations.

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 [email protected].

    Dated: July 18, 2016.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-17497 Filed 7-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P