Health Resources and Services Administration February 13, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking comments from the public on its plan to institute a permanent deviation from a policy in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Grants Policy Directive (GPD) 3.01 governing indirect cost recovery for one of its grant programs. The GPD states ``HHS considers activities conducted by grantees that result in indirect charges a necessary and appropriate part of HHS grants, and HHS awarding offices must reimburse their share of these costs.'' Although HRSA typically reimburses grantees for their full share of administrative overhead represented in approved indirect cost rates (which can be up to 50 percent), the agency believes, in the case of its Poison Control Program, that full recovery of overhead expenditures would be detrimental to the poison control centers (PCCs) funded under the program because of the financial instability of PCCs. The purpose of the HRSA Poison Control Centers Stabilization and Enhancement Grant Program is to assist PCCs in achieving financial stability, preventing poisonings and providing treatment recommendations for poisonings. Limiting indirect costs is necessary because many PCCs are located within institutions such as universities and hospitals that have established indirect cost rates in the range of 30 to 50 percent. It is in the best interest of PCCs to limit the indirect cost recovery to 10 percent, leaving 90 percent of the grant funds to achieve the objectives of the grant program. This limitation would be applicable to all awardees of the Poison Control Center Stabilization and Enhancement Grant Programs.