[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 66 (Monday, April 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19151-19152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07153]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegations of Authority

    This notice amends Part R of the Statement of Organization, 
Functions and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration 
(HRSA) (60 FR 56605, as amended November 6, 1995; as last amended at 84 
FR 49535-49540 dated September 20, 2019).
    HRSA is making changes within the Federal Office of Rural Health 
Policy (FORHP) in order to realign the functions for the management of 
emerging rural health program initiatives, including rural substance 
abuse programs.
    This reorganization updates the organization, functions, and 
delegation of authority of FORHP (RH). Specifically this reorganization 
(1) establishes the Rural Strategic Initiatives Division; and (2) 
updates the functional statement for the Federal Office of Rural Health 
Policy (RH).

Chapter RH--Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

Section RH.10 Organization

    Delete the organization for FORHP (RH) in its entirety and replace 
with the following:
    The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is headed by the 
Associate Administrator, who reports directly to the Administrator, 
HRSA. FORHP includes the following components:

(1) Office of the Associate Administrator (RH)
(2) Hospital State Division (RH1);
(3) Community-Based Division (RH2);
(4) Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (RH4);
(5) Policy Research Division (RH5);
(6) Administrative Operations Division (RH6); and
(7) Rural Strategic Initiatives Division (RH7).

Section RH.20 Function

    Delete the functional statement for FORHP (RH) and in its entirety 
and replace with the following:

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (RH)

Office of the Associate Administrator (RH)

    The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is responsible 
for the overall leadership and management of the Office. FORHP serves 
as a focal point within HHS for rural health-related issues and as a 
principal source of advice to the Secretary for coordinating efforts to 
strengthen and improve the delivery of health services to populations 
in the nation's rural areas. FORHP provides leadership within HHS and 
with stakeholders in providing information and counsel related to 
access to, and financing and quality of, health care to rural 
populations. Specifically, the Office of the Associate Administrator 
(1) provides staff support to the National Advisory Committee on Rural 
Health and Human Services; (2) stimulates and coordinates interaction 
on rural health activities and programs in the agency, Department and 
with other federal agencies; (3) establishes and maintains a resource 
center for the collection and dissemination of the latest information 
and research findings related to the delivery of health services in 
rural areas; (4) ensures successful dissemination of appropriate 
information technology advances, such as telehealth or electronic 
health records systems; (5) monitors the health information

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technology policy and activities of other HHS components for useful 
application in rural areas; (6) provides overall direction and 
leadership over the management of nationwide community-based rural 
health grants programs; (7) provides overall direction and leadership 
over the management of a program of state grants which supports 
collaboration within state offices of rural health; (8) provides 
overall direction and leadership over the management of programs to 
advance the use of telehealth and coordination of health information 
technology; (9) provides overall direction and leadership over the 
Office's administrative and management functions; and (10) provides 
overall direction and leadership over the Office's new rural health 
program initiatives created as a result of agency, Department and/or 
administrative priorities.

Hospital State Division (RH1)

    The Hospital State Division serves as the focal point within FORHP 
to support rural hospital and state grant programs focused on rural 
populations. Specifically, the Hospital State Division is organized 
around the following primary issue areas: (1) Plans and manages a 
program of state grants which support collaboration within state 
offices of rural health; (2) works with states, state hospital 
associations, private associations, foundations, and other 
organizations to focus attention on, and promote solutions to, problems 
related to the delivery of health services in rural communities; and 
(3) provides coordinated technical assistance to grantees and rural 
communities.

Community-Based Division (RH2)

    The Community-Based Division serves as the focal point within FORHP 
to support rural community grant programs. Specifically, the Community-
Based Division is organized around the following primary issue areas: 
(1) Plans and manages several nationwide rural health grants programs; 
(2) supports programs on rural health, public health, and health status 
improvement; (3) funds public and private non-profit entities for the 
operation of clinics that provide diagnosis, treatment, and 
rehabilitation of active and retired coal miners and others with 
respiratory ailments (black lung) and other occupational related 
respiratory disease impairments; (4) funds radiation exposure screening 
and education programs that screen eligible individuals adversely 
affected by the mining, transport, and processing of uranium and the 
testing of nuclear weapons for cancer and other diseases; and (5) 
provides technical assistance to grantees and rural communities.

Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (RH4)

    The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth serves as the 
operational focal point for coordinating and advancing the use of 
telehealth technologies across all of HRSA's programs including, but 
not limited to, the provision of health care at a distance 
(telemedicine); distance-based learning to improve the knowledge of 
agency grantees, and others; and improved information dissemination to 
both consumers and providers about the latest developments in 
telemedicine. The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth carries out 
the following functions, specifically the Office (1) develops and 
coordinates telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant 
programs; (2) provides professional assistance and support in 
developing telehealth initiatives; and (3) administers grant programs 
to promulgate and evaluate the use of appropriate telehealth 
technologies among HRSA grantees and others.

Policy Research Division (RH5)

    The Policy Research Division serves as the focal point within FORHP 
to support health policy and research focused on rural populations. 
Specifically, the Policy Research Division (1) supports rural health 
research centers and keeps informed of research and demonstration 
projects funded by states and foundations in the field of rural health 
care delivery; (2) establishes and maintains a resource center for the 
collection and dissemination of the latest information and research 
findings related to the delivery of health services in rural areas; (3) 
maintains data and analytic capabilities to support office functions; 
(4) advises the agency, Administrator, and Department on the effects of 
current policies and proposed statutory, regulatory, administrative, 
and budgetary changes in the programs established under titles XVIII 
and XIX of the Social Security Act, on the financial viability of small 
rural hospitals and the ability of rural areas to attract and retain 
physicians and other health professionals; and (5) monitors rural 
hospital impact analyses developed by the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services whenever proposed regulations might have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small rural hospitals.

Administrative Operations Division (RH6)

    The Administrative Operations Division collaborates with FORHP 
leadership to plan, coordinate, and direct FORHP-wide administrative 
management activities. Specifically, the Administrative Operations 
Division (1) develops, executes, and monitors FORHP's budget; (2) 
provides guidance and coordination of human resources; (3) plans, 
coordinates, and manages FORHP's grant activities; (4) plans, 
coordinates, and manages FORHP's procurement activities; (5) 
coordinates the review and clearance of correspondence and official 
documents to and from FORHP; and (6) provides additional management 
support services including, but not limited to, timekeeping, supplies, 
equipment, space, records, and training.

Rural Strategic Initiatives Division (RH7)

    The Rural Strategic Initiatives Division serves as the focal point 
within FORHP to plan and coordinate new rural program initiatives 
created as a result of agency, Department, and/or Administration 
priorities. Specifically, the Rural Strategic Initiatives Division (1) 
plans and manages rural health substance-abuse grant programs; (2) 
leads and manages new rural health program initiatives that emerge as a 
result of agency, Department, or Administration priorities; (3) 
provides technical assistance to grantees and rural communities; and 
(4) evaluates new rural programs to determine the impact of the 
resources invested in rural communities.

Section RH.30 Delegation of Authority

    All delegations of authority and re-delegations of authority made 
to officials and employees of affected organizational components will 
continue in them or their successors pending further redelegation, if 
allowed, provided they are consistent with this reorganization.

Alex M Azar II,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-07153 Filed 4-3-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P