Health Resources and Services Administration April 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is publishing this notice of petitions received under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (the Program), as required by Section 2112(b)(2) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended. While the Secretary of Health and Human Services is named as the respondent in all proceedings brought by the filing of petitions for compensation under the Program, the United States Court of Federal Claims is charged by statute with responsibility for considering and acting upon the petitions.

In accordance with the Awarding Agency Grants Management Manual (AAGAM) Chapter 1.03.103, the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) requests a class deviation to award low-cost extensions of up to 6 months or, when necessary, administrative supplements to minimize disruption of services for specific health center program service areas. Per the requirements for low-cost extensions outlined in the AAGAM Chapter 2.04.104B-4A.1.a.(5)(b), these extensions may not exceed 25 percent of the approved federal direct cost budget authorized for the budget period (exclusive of the additional funding requested) or $100,000. Likewise, per the requirements for administrative supplements outlined in the AAGAM Chapter 2.04.104B-4A.4.b, these supplements may not exceed 25 percent of the approved federal direct cost budget authorized for the budget period (exclusive of the additional funding) or $250,000, whichever is less. In each case, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is required to publish a notice in the Federal Register in advance of, or concurrent with, the awarding of the funds. BPHC is requesting a class deviation to the requirements for low- cost extensions to allow HRSA to award extensions that exceed 25 percent of the approved federal direct cost budget authorized for the budget period (exclusive of the additional funding requested) and/or $100,000 in cases where the grantee would not receive future continued support under the Health Center Program. Likewise, BPHC is requesting a class deviation to the requirements for administrative supplements to allow HRSA to award supplements that exceed 25 percent of the approved federal direct cost budget authorized for the budget period (exclusive of the additional funding) and/or $250,000 in cases where the award is to a currently funded grantee located in or adjacent to the service area of a grantee that will not receive continued support under the Health Center Program. BPHC is also requesting that the deviation allow for the publication of a consolidated notice in the Federal Register annually that summarizes the actions taken in the prior fiscal year. The sole purpose of these low-cost extensions or administrative supplements is to avoid a gap in the provision of critical health care services for a funded service area by providing a ``bridge'' until HRSA is able to make an award to an eligible applicant under a Service Area Competition (SAC) and/or to assure an orderly phase-out of Health Center Program activities by the current grantee. BPHC is not requesting that this class deviation cover single source replacement awards and will continue to request single case deviations for such non-competitive actions if necessary.

The Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, is announcing a decrease in user fees charged to individuals and entities authorized to request information from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). The new fee will be $3.00 for both continuous and one-time queries and $5.00 for self- queries.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces that the listing of entities and associated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores that will receive priority for the assignment of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholarship recipients serving as Corps members, as well as those serving under the Private Practice Option (``NHSC scholars'' collectively), during the period July 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015, is posted on the NHSC Web site at https://nhscjobs.hrsa.gov. The NHSC Jobs Center includes all sites that are approved for performance of service by NHSC scholars; however, note that entities on this list may or may not have current job vacancies.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is requesting nominations to fill eight vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD).

Funded in part by the Secretary's Minority AIDS Initiative Fund (SMAIF), as set forth in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, Public Law 113-76, H.R. 3547-376, a supplemental funding opportunity will be available in June 2014, for certain existing Health Center Program grantees funded under Section 330 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 254b). This supplemental funding opportunity is one facet of a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care (HRSA, BPHC), which will encourage collaboration between Health Center Program grantees in geographic areas of high HIV/AIDS unmet need among racial/ ethnic minorities and state health departments to increase and improve HIV service delivery within their primary care programs. Under Secretary's Minority AIDS Initiative Funding to Increase HIV Prevention and Care Service Delivery among Health Centers Serving High HIV Prevalence Jurisdictions (CDC-RFA-PS14-1410), CDC will fund approximately four state health departments through a competitive application process among nine state health departments (Alabama, California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, South Carolina, and Texas) that have been identified as eligible to apply for funding. State health department awardees must collaborate with Health Center Program grantees identified in their applications to increase and improve HIV service delivery among racial/ethnic minorities. Health Center Program grantees identified in awarded health department applications may subsequently apply for supplemental funding from HRSA for their participation in this collaboration. HRSA will award 12-24 supplemental awards ranging in amount from $250,000 to $500,000 to existing Health Center Program grantees identified by state health departments as collaborative partners in their applications for grant funding under Secretary's Minority AIDS Initiative Funding to Increase HIV Prevention and Care Service Delivery among Health Centers Serving High HIV Prevalence Jurisdictions (CDC- RFA-PS14-1410). This supplemental funding will support activities currently in scope of health center projects, including health center workforce development, infrastructure development, HIV service delivery across the HIV care continuum, and the development of sustainable partnerships with state health departments.