[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 133 (Thursday, July 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 37336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15023]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Intent To Award One Single-Source Supplement for Current Senior 
Medicare Patrol National Resource Center (SMPNRC) Grantee

ACTION: Announcing the intent to award one single-source supplement for 
current Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center (SMPNRC) 
grantee.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announces the 
intent to award one administrative supplement in the form of 
cooperative agreement to existing SMP National Resource Center (SMPNRC) 
grantee to support the expansion and enhancement of virtual capacity 
for the SMP program. This effort will benefit the SMPNRC, and the 54 
SMP project grantees which are located in each state, the District of 
Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The purpose 
of the existing SMPNRC grantee's work is to support SMP projects 
nationally in empowering and assisting Medicare beneficiaries, their 
families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care 
fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education. 
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel and 
congregation limitations and public health concerns, it has been 
identified that focus on expansion of virtual capacity is crucial at 
this time. The administrative supplement to the SMNPRC for FY 2021 will 
be distributed according to identified need and will total $405,312.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or comments 
regarding this program supplement, contact Marissa Whitehouse, U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community 
Living, Center for Integrated Programs, Office of Healthcare 
Information and Counseling; telephone (202) 795-7425; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Program Name: Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center.
    Recipient: One current grantee.

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                                                             FY21 ACL
                                                           recommended
                    Current grantee                         supplement
                                                              amount
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Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging....................     $405,312.00
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    Period of Performance: The award will be issued for the Fiscal Year 
2021 project period of September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022.
    Total Award Amount: $405,312 total in FY 2021.
    Award Type: Cooperative Agreement.
    Statutory Authority: The statutory authority is contained in the 
HIPAA of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-191).
    Basis for Award: Upon request for access to FY 2021 HCFAC Wedge 
funding, the Department granted approval for ACL's Office of Healthcare 
Information & Counseling to access $2 million in additional, one-time 
funding. This funding is intended to expand and enhance the virtual 
capacity of the existing SMP program and will be used in a number of 
ways to support the virtual expansion and capabilities of the SMP 
program efforts nationally. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and 
related travel and congregation limitations and public health concerns, 
it has been identified that focus on expansion of virtual capacity is 
crucial at this time.
    The current SMPNRC is funded to support the SMP project mission for 
the period of September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2025. Much work has 
already been completed and further tasks are currently being 
accomplished. It would be unnecessarily time consuming and disruptive 
to the SMP program, and the beneficiaries being served, for ACL to 
establish a new grantee to focus on this intended virtual expansion of 
the program since the intent of this funding is to expand the current 
program's efforts. This administrative supplement will allow the SMPNRC 
grantee to expand their current capacity to work virtually at the 
national level to empower Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and 
caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, 
and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education. The existing 
SMPNRC is uniquely placed to continue and expand this work. Efforts 
supported through this funding will include development of marketing 
and outreach materials, targeted SMP project grantee resources, and 
continued progress toward a new public-facing program-specific phone 
application.
    The SMPNRC was created in 2003 to provide training, support, and 
technical assistance to SMP projects nationwide. The goal of this 
Center is to provide professional expertise, training, and technical 
support to maximize the effectiveness of the SMP projects in Medicare 
fraud prevention outreach and education. The SMPNRC ensures a fully 
consolidated, national approach to reaching Medicare beneficiaries with 
the SMP message and forges national visibility for the program. The 
SMPNRC provides technical assistance through online training 
(webinars), workshops, and the SMP networking opportunities. The 
current grantee is closely monitored and is successfully meeting all 
programmatic goals under the existing grant.
    The current grantee is closely monitored and is successfully 
meeting all programmatic goals under the current SMPNRC grant.

    Dated: July 12, 2021.
Alison Barkoff,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, Administration 
for Community Living.
[FR Doc. 2021-15023 Filed 7-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P