[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 163 (Thursday, August 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40160-40161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17883]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Notice of Supplemental Awards to the Territorial Health 
Departments of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and U.S. Virgin Islands for 
the Zika Maternal and Child Health Services Program

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

[[Page 40161]]


ACTION: Notice of Supplemental Award.

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SUMMARY: HRSA announces the award of supplemental grants under the Zika 
Response and Preparedness Act to the territorial health departments of 
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and U.S. Virgin Islands to address the 
unmet needs of women, children, and families who are or may be affected 
by Zika virus (ZIKV) infection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Intended Recipient of the Award: Territorial health departments of 
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
    Amount of Non-Competitive Awards: Approximately $1,050,000.
    CFDA Number: 93.110.
    Authority: Zika Response and Preparedness Act (Pub. L. 114-223) and 
Section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701(a)(2)).
    Justification: The current spread of ZIKV poses a significant 
threat to public health, including the health of women, children, and 
families who are affected by ZIKV infection. ZIKV infection during 
pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, especially affecting the 
neurological system of the infant.
    Funding for these awards is available under the Zika Response and 
Preparedness Act through Special Projects of Regional and National 
Significance (SPRANS) funds.
    The needs of infants and children affected by ZIKV are complex. 
Families, health care providers, and public health professionals will 
be required to work together to assure that community-based, 
comprehensive, high quality health and social services are available to 
these children. The support system must address the medical needs of 
these children, such as regularly screening children who may not be 
symptomatic at birth; coordinate care through a medical home; finance 
care needed by children and families; link to community-based services; 
partner with families; and eventually address transition to adult 
services. Following HRSA's December 2016 grant awards to the 
territorial health departments of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and U.S. 
Virgin Islands, recipients continued to identify pregnant women and 
infants with lab evidence of ZIKV infection that led them to refine 
their response to ZIKV. HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) 
received information from the territorial health departments of unmet 
needs in their response to ZIKV through monitoring site visits, regular 
communication, and prior approval requests. Needs identified by 
recipients included additional equipment, personnel, and transportation 
services. With further analysis of other federal funding and the 
current epidemiologic data, MCHB confirmed additional funding is 
essential to ensure access to services and a comprehensive medical home 
for women, children, and families who are or may be affected by ZIKV 
infection. Disease burden and the significant increase in pregnant 
women and children with lab evidence of ZIKV infection in American 
Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands was also considered as a factor in 
determining the allocation of funds to the territories to address unmet 
needs. The period of performance of the supplemental award will be 
September 2017 through December 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Paz Carlos, Division of State 
and Community Health, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health 
Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18N104A, 
Rockville, Maryland 20857; [email protected].

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                                                              FY 2017
     Grantee/organization name            Territory        supplemental
                                                              awards
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Puerto Rico Health Department.....  Puerto Rico.........         $52,850
American Samoa Health Department..  American Samoa......         423,142
U.S. Virgin Islands Health          U.S. Virgin Islands.         574,008
 Department.
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    Dated: August 18, 2017.
George Sigounas,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-17883 Filed 8-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P