[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63119-63120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21992]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


HRSA-Initiated Supplemental Funding to U13 Grant Program Award 
Recipient

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

ACTION: Notice of a supplemental award.

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SUMMARY: HRSA is providing approximately $4,900,000 in supplemental 
funding to the University of Kansas, Medical Center Research Institute, 
Inc. (U13HS33878), the sole award recipient under the Reimbursement of 
Travel and Subsistence Expenses toward Living Organ Donation Program, 
to provide increased financial support to living organ donors during 
the period of September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please send all written comments to 
Frank Holloman, Director, Division of Transplantation, Healthcare 
Systems Bureau, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 08W53A, Rockville, 
Maryland 20857; telephone (301) 443-7577; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 63120]]

    Intended Recipient of the Award: University of Kansas, Medical 
Research Institute, Inc.
    Amount of Award: $4,900,000.
    Project Period: September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021.
    CFDA Number: 93.134.

    Authority: Section 377of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 274f,).

    Justification: The Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses 
toward Living Organ Donation Program is authorized by section 377 of 
the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 274f). The 
purpose of the program is to provide means-tested reimbursement to 
living organ donors for travel and subsistence expenses and other 
incidental nonmedical expenses related to the transplant that the 
Secretary of HHS may authorize. HRSA currently administers this 
reimbursement program via a cooperative agreement with the University 
of Kansas, Medical Center Research Institute, Inc.
    On July 10, 2019, the President issued an Executive Order on 
Advancing American Kidney Health that provides increased support for 
living organ donors to further the goal of significantly increasing the 
supply of transplantable kidneys. In the Executive Order, the President 
directed HHS to propose a regulation to allow living donors to be 
reimbursed for related lost wages, child-care expenses, and elder-care 
expenses through HRSA's reimbursement program, and further directed HHS 
to raise the limit on the income of living donors eligible for 
reimbursement under the program. HRSA has taken the following actions 
pursuant to the Executive Order:
     On December 20, 2019, HRSA published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking in the Federal Register to amend 42 CFR part 121, the 
regulation that implements the reimbursement program. If finalized as 
proposed, HRSA's rule would expand the scope of reimbursable expenses 
for living organ donors to include lost wages, and child-care and 
elder-care expenses. HRSA expects to publish a final rule no later than 
November 2020.
     On March 31, 2020, HRSA published a Federal Register 
notice requesting public comment on proposed revisions to the Program's 
eligibility guidelines, including an increase in the income eligibility 
threshold from 300 to 350 percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines for 
eligible participants.
    The additional funding to the award recipient will support HRSA's 
initiatives to implement the President's Executive Order, which will 
ultimately allow for an increased number of potential donors to receive 
financial support while also increasing the number of transplantable 
organs.
    Activities funded under this supplement are consistent with the 
previously awarded funding opportunity (HRSA-19-047). In addition to 
continue providing reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses to 
qualified living organ donors, as required under the existing award, 
the award recipient will implement the reimbursement for these 
additional incidental non-medical expenses that the Secretary has 
authorized by regulation as also required under the existing award. 
Rather than conducting a new competition for the newly expanded 
program, HRSA has opted to supplement the existing award to expedite 
the expanded support of living organ donors and increase the number of 
transplant candidates who benefit from living organ donation. HRSA 
believes that it is more efficient and effective to have the 
Reimbursement Program administered by one awardee.

Thomas J. Engels,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-21992 Filed 10-5-20; 8:45 am]
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