[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65694-65698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26565]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 77
FR 48525-48526 dated August 14, 2012).
This notice reflects organizational changes to the Health Resources
and Services Administration. This notice updates the functional
statements for the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (RU) and
the Bureau of Health Professions (RP). Specifically, this notice: (1)
Transfers the functions associated with the Office of Shortage
Designation (RP2) from the Bureau of Health Professions (RP), to the
Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (RU); (2) changes the name
of the Office of Policy and Program Development (RU8) to the Division
of Policy and Shortage Designation (RU8); (3) updates the functional
statement for the Office of Policy and Program Development (RU8); (4)
updates the functional statement for the Bureau of Health Professions
and the Office of the Associate Administrator, Bureau of Health
Professions (RP); (5) changes the name of the Division of Workforce and
Performance Management (RPV) to the Office of Performance Measurement
(RP4); (6) changes the name of the National Center for Workforce
Analysis (RPW) to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
(RPW); (7) transfers the functions associated with the international
migration, domestic training, and utilization of foreign medical
graduates and U.S. citizens studying abroad from the Division of
Medicine and Dentistry (RPC) to the newly named National Center for
Health Workforce Analysis (RPW) and updates the functional statement
for the Division of Medicine and Dentistry (RPC); (8) transfers the
administration of grants, cooperative agreements and the clearance of
correspondence function from the Office of Administrative
[[Page 65695]]
Management Services (RP1) to the Office of Policy Coordination (RP3);
and (9) updates the functional statement for the Division of Public
Health and Interdisciplinary Education (RPF).
Chapter RU--Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service
Section RU-10, Organization
Delete in its entirety and replace with the following:
The Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (RU) is headed by
the Associate Administrator, who reports directly to the Administrator,
Health Resources and Services Administration. The Bureau of Clinician
Recruitment and Service includes the following components:
(1) Office of the Associate Administrator (RU);
(2) Office of Legal and Compliance (RU1);
(3) Division of National Health Service Corps (RU5);
(4) Division of Nursing and Public Health (RU6);
(5) Division of External Affairs (RU7);
(6) Division of Policy and Shortage Designation (RU8);
(7) Division of Program Operations (RU9);
(8) Division of Regional Operations (RU10); and
(9) Office of Business Operations (RU11).
Section RU-20, Functions
(1) Update the functional statement for the Office of Policy and
Program Development (RU8).
Division of Policy and Shortage Designation (RU8)
Serves as the focal point for the development of BCRS programs and
policies and directly supports national efforts to analyze and address
equitable distribution of health professionals for access to health
care for underserved populations. This Division: (1) Leads and
coordinates the analysis, development and drafting of policy impacting
BCRS programs; (2) coordinates program planning and tracking of
legislation and other information related to BCRS programs; (3) leads
and monitors the development of workforce projections relating to BCRS
programs; (4) provides oversight, processing and coordination for the
J1-visa program; (5) performs environmental scanning on issues that
affect BCRS programs and assesses the impact of programs on underserved
communities; (6) monitors BCRS activities in relation to HRSA's
Strategic Plan; (7) develops budget projections and justifications; (8)
serves as the Bureau's focal point for program information; (9) works
collaboratively with other components within HRSA and HHS, and with
other federal agencies, state and local governments, and other public
and private organizations on all issues affecting BCRS programs and
policies including health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) and
medically-underserved areas and populations; (10) directly supports
national efforts to analyze and address equitable distribution of
health professionals for access to health care for underserved
populations; (11) recommends HPSAs and medically-underserved areas and
populations (MUAs/MUPs); (12) approves designation requests and
finalizes designation policies and procedures for both current and
proposed designation criteria; (13) negotiates and approves state
designation agreements; and (14) oversees grants to state primary care
offices and conducts all business management aspects of the review,
negotiation, award, and administration of these grants.
Chapter RP--Bureau of Health Professions
Section RP-10, Organization
Delete in its entirety and replace with the following:
The Bureau of Health Professions (RP) is headed by the Associate
Administrator, who reports directly to the Administrator, Health
Resources and Services Administration. The Bureau of Health Professions
includes the following components:
(1) Office of the Associate Administrator (RP);
(2) Office of Administrative Management Services (RP1);
(3) Office of Policy Coordination (RP3);
(4) Office of Performance Measurement (RP4);
(5) Division of Public Health and Interdisciplinary Education
(RPF);
(6) Division of Medicine and Dentistry (RPC);
(7) Division of Nursing (RPB);
(8) Division of Practitioner Data Banks (RPG);
(9) Division of Student Loans and Scholarships (RPD); and
(10) National Center for Health Workforce Analysis.
Section RP-20, Functions
(1) Delete the functional statement for the Bureau of Health
Professions (RP) and replace in its entirety.
Bureau of Health Professions (RP)
The Bureau of Health Professions' programs are designed to improve
the health of the nation's underserved communities and vulnerable
populations by assuring a diverse, culturally competent workforce that
is ready to provide access to quality health care services. Bureau of
Health Professions' program components provide workforce studies,
including research analysis of alternative methodologies for areas of
need, training grants for health professions, financial support to
students, information to protect the public from unsafe health care
practitioners, and support for graduate medical education at the
nation's freestanding children's hospitals and teaching health centers.
The Health Professions Training Program awards grants to health
profession schools and training programs in every state. Grantees use
the funds to develop, expand, and enhance their efforts to train the
workforce America needs.
Office of the Associate Administrator (RP)
The Office of the Associate Administrator provides overall
leadership, direction, coordination, and planning in support of the
Bureau of Health Professions' programs to ensure alignment and support
of the Agency mission and strategic objectives. Specifically, the
Office of the Associate Administrator: (1) Directs and provides policy
guidance for workforce recruitment, student assistance, training, and
placement of health professionals to serve in underserved areas; (2)
establishes program goals and priorities, and provides oversight of
program quality and integrity in execution; (3) maintains effective
relationships within HRSA and with other federal and non-federal
agencies, state and local governments, and other public and private
organizations concerned with health workforce development and improving
access to health care for the nation's underserved; (4) plans, directs,
and coordinates Bureau-wide management and administrative activities;
(5) leads and guides Bureau programs in recruiting and retaining a
diverse workforce; and (6) coordinates, reviews, and provides clearance
of correspondence and official documents entering and leaving the
Bureau.
Office of Administrative Management Services (RP1)
The Office of Administrative Management Services collaborates with
[[Page 65696]]
the Bureau of Health Professions' leadership to plan, coordinate, and
direct Bureau-wide administrative management activities. Specifically:
(1) Plans and directs financial management activities including budget
formulation, presentation, and execution functions and supports linking
of the budget and planning processes; (2) provides human resource
services regarding all aspects of personnel management, workforce
planning, and the allocation and utilization of personnel resources;
(3) conducts all business management aspects of the review,
negotiation, award, and administration of contracts; (4) provides other
support services including the acquisition, management, and maintenance
of supplies, equipment, space, training, and travel, and (5) assumes
special projects or takes the lead on certain issues as tasked by the
Bureau Associate or Deputy Associate Administrator.
Office of Policy Coordination (RP3)
The Office of Policy Coordination serves as the focal point for
coordination and integration of Bureau policy development, analyses,
and evaluation. Specifically: (1) Coordinates Bureau-wide, cross-
cutting initiatives; (2) links Bureau policy activities to HRSA-wide
policy development, analyses, and evaluation; (3) serves as a key point
of contact to coordinate public relations and media communications, as
well as activities related to congressional inquiries, and other
stakeholder groups in conjunction with the Agency and Department; (4)
prepares policy analysis papers and other planning documents as
required; (5) analyzes issues arising from legislation, budget
proposals, regulatory actions and other program or policy actions; (6)
coordinates, reviews, and provides clearance of correspondence and
official documents entering and leaving the Bureau as needed; (7)
conducts all business management aspects of the review, negotiation,
award, and administration of grants and cooperative agreements; and (8)
assumes special projects or takes the lead on certain issues as tasked
by the Bureau Associate or Deputy Associate Administrator.
Office of Performance Measurement (RP4)
The Office of Performance Measurement serves as the Bureau focal
point for performance measurement coordination, reporting, evaluation,
and analysis. Specifically: (1) Leads, guides, and coordinates
performance measurement, performance reporting, and program evaluation
activities of the Bureau's Divisions and Offices; (2) coordinates and
guides the Bureau's efforts to use performance information to improve
program planning and implementation; (3) maintains effective
relationships within HRSA and with other federal and non-federal
agencies engaged in program evaluation; (4) promotes quality
improvement in health professions education through collaboration and
partnerships with national and international institutes and centers for
quality improvement; and (5) works collaboratively with the National
Center for Health Workforce Analysis.
Division of Public Health and Interdisciplinary Education (RPF)
The Division of Public Health and Interdisciplinary Education
serves as the Bureau's lead for increasing the public health and
behavioral health workforce, promoting interdisciplinary health
professions issues and programs, including geriatric training, and
increasing the diversity of the health professions workforce.
Specifically: (1) Provides grants and technical assistance to expand
and enhance training critical to the current and future public health
workforce, supports academic-community partnerships, expands and
improves the quality of health professions interdisciplinary and inter-
professional education, expands health career opportunities for diverse
and disadvantaged populations and supports and guides the career
development in geriatric specialties; (2) evaluates programmatic data
and promotes the dissemination and application of findings arising from
supported programs; (3) collaborates within the Bureau to conduct,
support, or obtain analytical studies to determine the present and
future supply requirements of the healthcare workforce in the areas
addressed by the Division of Public Health and Interdisciplinary
Education's programs; (4) provides leadership and staff support for the
Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages; and
(5) represents the Bureau, Agency, and federal government, as
designated, on national committees, and maintains effective
relationships within HRSA and with other federal and non-federal
agencies, state and local governmental agencies, and other public and
private organizations concerned with public health and behavioral
health workforce development, and improving access to health care for
the nation's underserved.
Division of Medicine and Dentistry (RPC)
The Division of Medicine and Dentistry serves as the Bureau's lead
in support and evaluation of medical and dental personnel development
and utilization including (a) primary care physicians, (b) dentists,
(c) dental hygienists, and (d) physician assistants to provide health
care in underserved areas. Specifically: (1) Administers grants to
educational institutions for the development, improvement, and
operation of educational programs for primary care physicians (pre-
doctoral, residency) and physician assistants, including support for
community-based training and funding for faculty development to teach
in primary care specialties training; (2) provides technical assistance
and consultation to grantee institutions and other governmental and
private organizations on the operation of these educational programs
which includes funding for the nation's free standing children's
hospitals to support graduate medical education; (3) evaluates
programmatic data and promotes the dissemination and application of
findings arising from supported programs; (4) collaborates within the
Bureau to conduct, support, or obtain analytical studies to determine
the present and future supply and requirements of physicians, dentists,
dental hygienists and physician assistants by specialty, geographic
location, and for state planning efforts; (5) encourages community-
based training opportunities for primary care providers, particularly
in underserved areas; (6) provides leadership and staff support for the
Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry
and for the Council on Graduate Medical Education; and (7) represents
the Bureau, Agency, and federal government, as designated, on national
committees maintaining effective relationships within HRSA and with
other federal and non-federal agencies, state and local governments,
and other public and private organizations concerned with health
personnel development and improving access to health care for the
nation's underserved.
Division of Nursing (RPB)
The Division of Nursing serves as the Bureau's leader for nursing
education and practice, including increasing the diversity of the
nursing workforce to improve access to health care in underserved
areas. Specifically: (1) Provides grants and technical assistance for
schools of nursing in the development and improvement of
[[Page 65697]]
education for nursing or specialized training in primary care to
enhance training opportunities and competencies critical to the current
and future nursing workforce; (2) addresses nursing workforce shortages
through projects that focus on expanding enrollment in baccalaureate
programs, developing internship and residency programs, or providing
education in new technologies, including distance learning, nurse
practice projects that focus on establishing/expanding practice
arrangements in non-institutional settings, providing care for
underserved populations and other high-risk groups, skill-building in
managed care, quality improvement and other skills needed in existing
and emerging organized health care systems, or developing cultural
competencies; (3) develops, supports, recommends, coordinates and
evaluates health resources and health career opportunities for diverse
and disadvantaged populations; (4) promotes the involvement of states
and communities in developing and administering nursing programs and
assists states and communities in improving access to nursing services
and educational programs; (5) facilitates coordination of nursing-
related issues with other governmental agencies and consults with them
on national or international nursing workforce planning and development
issues; (6) evaluates programmatic data and promotes the dissemination
and application of findings arising from supported programs; (7)
collaborates within the Bureau to conduct, support, or obtain
analytical studies to determine the present and future supply and the
requirements of the nursing workforce; (8) leads initiatives in the
area of international nursing information exchange and nursing
workforce planning and development; (9) the Director, on behalf of the
Secretary, serves as the Chair of the National Advisory Council on
Nurse Education and Practice, and provides staff support; and (10)
represents the Bureau, Agency, and federal government, as designated,
on national committees and maintains effective relationships within
HRSA, with external health professional groups, with other federal and
non-federal agencies, state and local governments, and other public and
private organizations with a common interest in the nation's capacity
to deliver nursing services.
Division of Practitioner Data Banks (RPG)
The Division of Practitioner Data Banks coordinates with the
Department and other federal entities, state licensing boards,
national, state, and local professional organizations, to promote
quality assurance efforts and deter fraud and abuse by administering
the National Practitioner Data Bank and the Healthcare Integrity and
Protection Data Bank. Specifically: (1) Monitors adverse licensure
information on all licensed health care practitioners and health care
entities; (2) develops, proposes, and monitors efforts for (a)
credential assessment, granting of privileges, monitoring and
evaluating programs for physicians, dentists, other health care
professionals including quality assurance, (b) professional review of
specified medical events in the health care system including quality
assurance, and (c) risk management and utilization reviews; (3)
encourages and supports evaluation and demonstration projects and
research concerning quality assurance, medical liability and
malpractice; (4) ensures integrity of data collection following all
disclosure procedures without fail; (5) conducts and supports research
based on the National Practitioner Data Bank and Healthcare Integrity
and Protection Data Bank information; (6) maintains active consultative
relations with professional organizations, societies and federal
agencies involved with the National Practitioner Data Bank and
Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank; (7) works with the
Secretary's office to provide technical assistance to states
undertaking malpractice reform; and (8) maintains effective relations
with the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Inspector
General, and HHS concerning practitioner licensing and data bank
issues.
Division of Student Loans and Scholarships (RPD)
The Division of Student Loans and Scholarships serves as the focal
point for overseeing federal loan and scholarship programs supporting
health professionals. Specifically: (1) Monitors and assesses
educational and financial institutions with respect to capabilities and
management of federal support for students and the tracking of
obligatory service requirements; (2) develops and conducts training
activities for staff of educational and financial institutions; (3)
coordinates financial aspects of programs with educational
institutions; (4) develops program data needs and reporting
requirements; and (5) maintains effective relationships within HRSA and
with other federal and non-federal agencies, state and local
governments, and other public and private organizations concerning
student assistance.
National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (RPW)
The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis provides
leadership in the development and dissemination of accurate and timely
data for analysis and research regarding the nation's health workforce
in order to inform those making decisions for policymakers and to
support goals related to the nation's health professionals' workforce.
Specifically: (1) Develops the capacity to directly collect health
professions workforce data to quantify and measure supply, demand,
distribution, shortages and surpluses at the national level, for
selected disciplines and selected states and regions; (2) collaborates
and conducts studies to assess and monitor factors, such as policy
actions likely to impact future supply, demand, distribution and/or use
of health professionals; (3) develops and coordinates the Bureaus' data
collection and modeling on health professions' workforce in conjunction
with other entities involved in data collection and analysis; (4)
maintains effective relationships, conducts data collection and
assesses quality within HRSA staff, other federal and non-federal
agencies, and organizations on the health professions workforce; (5)
produces reports and disseminates data on the health professions
workforce within HRSA to other federal and non-federal agencies, state
and local governments, other public and private organizations, and the
public concerned with health personnel development and improving access
to health care for the nation's underserved; (6) provides guidance to
state partnerships conducting comprehensive workforce data collection
on the health care workforce which will support better coordination and
implementation for workforce planning and analysis at the state level;
(7) supports and conducts programs with respect to activities
associated with the international migration, domestic training, and
utilization of foreign medical graduates and U.S. citizens studying
abroad; and (8) works collaboratively with the Office of Performance
Measurement.
Section R-30, Delegations of Authority
All delegations of authority and re-delegations of authority made
to HRSA officials that were in effect immediately prior to this
reorganization, and that are consistent with this reorganization, shall
continue in effect pending further re-delegation.
This reorganization is effective upon date of signature.
[[Page 65698]]
Dated: October 24, 2012.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-26565 Filed 10-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P