[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31952-31956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12726]
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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 79
FR 26258-26259 dated May 7, 2014).
This notice reflects organizational changes in the Health Resources
and Services Administration. Specifically, this notice: (1) Establishes
the Bureau of Health Workforce (RQ); (2) transfers all functions from
the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (RU) to the newly
established Bureau of Health Workforce (RQ); (3) abolishes the Bureau
of Clinician Recruitment and Service (RU); (4) transfers all functions
from the Bureau of Health Professions (RP) to the newly established
Bureau of Health Workforce (RQ); (5) abolishes the Bureau of Health
Professions (RP); (6) transfers the Nursing Education Partnership
Initiative and Medical Education Partnership Initiative function from
the HIV/AIDS Bureau, Office of the Associate Administrator (RV) to the
newly established Bureau of Health Workforce (RQ), and; (7) updates the
functional statement for the HIV/AIDS Bureau (RV).
Chapter RQ, Bureau of Health Workforce (RQ)
Section RQ, OO Mission
The Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) improves the health of the
nation's underserved communities and vulnerable populations by
developing, implementing, evaluating, and refining programs that
strengthen the nation's health care workforce. BHW programs
holistically support a diverse, culturally competent workforce by
addressing components including: Education and training; recruitment
and retention; financial support for students, faculty, and
practitioners, supporting institutions; data analysis, and evaluation
and coordination of global health workforce activities. These efforts
support development of a skilled health workforce serving in areas of
the nation with the greatest need.
Section RQ-10, Organization
Delete the organization for the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and
Service (RU) and the Bureau of Health Professions (RP) in their
entirety and replace with the following: The Bureau of Health Workforce
(RQ) is headed by the Associate Administrator, who reports directly to
the Administrator, Health Resources Services Administration. The Bureau
of Health Workforce (RQ) includes the following components:
(1) Office of the Associate Administrator (RQ);
(2) Division of Policy and Shortage Designation (RQ1);
(3) Division of Business Operations (RQ2);
(4) Division of External Affairs (RQ3);
(5) Office of Workforce Development and Analysis (RQA);
(6) Office of Global Health Affairs (RQA1);
(7) Division of Global Training and Development (RQA11);
(8) National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (RQA2);
(9) Division of Medicine and Dentistry (RQA3);
(10) Division of Nursing and Public Health (RQA4);
(11) Division of Practitioner Data Bank (RQA5);
(12) Office of Health Careers (RQB);
(13) Division of Participant Support and Compliance (RQB1);
(14) Division of Health Careers and Financial Support (RQB2);
(15) Division of National Health Service Corps (RQB3); and
(16) Division of Regional Operations (RQB4).
Section RQ-20, Functions
(1) Establish the functional statement for the Bureau of Health
Workforce (RQ); (2) delete the functional statement for the Bureau of
Clinician and Recruitment and Service (RU) in its entirety and transfer
the functions to the newly established Bureau of Health Workforce (RQ);
(3) delete the functional statement for the Bureau of Health
Professions (RP) in its entirety and transfer the functions to the
newly established Bureau of Health Workforce (RQ); (4) transfer the
Nursing Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI) and Medical Education
Partnership Initiative (MEPI) function from the HIV/AIDS Bureau (RV) to
the newly established Bureau of Health Workforce (RQ), and; (5) update
the functional statement for the HIV/AIDS Bureau (RV).
Office of the Associate Administrator (RQ)
The Office of the Associate Administrator provides overall
leadership, direction, coordination, and planning in support of the
BHW's programs designed to help meet the health professions workforce
needs of the nation and improve the health of the nation's underserved
communities and vulnerable populations. The office guides and directs
the bureau's workforce analysis efforts and provides guidance and
support for advisory councils. Additionally, the office provides
direction by coordinating the recruitment, education, training, and
retention of diverse health professionals in the healthcare system and
supporting communities' efforts to build more integrated and
sustainable systems of care. Specifically: (1) Directs and provides
policy guidance for workforce recruitment, student and faculty
assistance, training, and placement of health professionals to serve in
underserved areas; (2) leads workforce analysis efforts; (3) guides and
supports work of advisory councils; (4) provides leadership, and guides
bureau programs in recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce; (5)
establishes program goals, objectives, and priorities, and provides
oversight as to their execution; (6) maintains effective relationships
within HRSA and with other federal and nonfederal 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; (7) plans, directs, coordinates, and
evaluates bureau-wide
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management activities, i.e., budget, personnel, procurements,
delegations of authority, and responsibilities related to the awarding
of the BHW funds, and; (8) coordinates, reviews, and provides clearance
of correspondence and official documents entering and leaving the
bureau.
Executive Office (RQ)
The Executive Office collaborates with the BHW leadership to plan,
coordinate, and direct bureau-wide administrative management
activities. Specifically: (1) Executes the bureau's budget; (2)
provides human resource services regarding all aspects of personnel
management, workforce planning, and the allocation and utilization of
personnel resources; (3) coordinates the business management functions
for the bureau's grants programs; (4) plans, directs, and coordinates
bureau-wide administrative management activities, i.e., budget,
personnel, procurements, delegations of authority, and responsibilities
related to the awarding of the BHW funds; (5) provides additional
support services including the acquisition, management, and maintenance
of supplies, equipment, space, training, and travel, and; (6) assumes
special projects or takes the lead on certain issues as tasked by the
bureau's leadership.
Division of Policy and Shortage Designation (RQ1)
The Division of Policy and Shortage Designation serves as the focal
point for the development of the BHW programs and policies.
Specifically: (1) Leads and coordinates the analysis, development, and
drafting of policies impacting bureau programs; (2) coordinates program
planning, and tracking of legislation and other information related to
BHW's programs; (3) directly supports national efforts to analyze and
address equitable distribution of health professionals for access to
health care for underserved populations; (4) recommends health
professional shortage areas and medically-underserved areas and
populations; (5) approves designation requests and finalizes
designation policies and procedures for both current and proposed
designation criteria; (6) negotiates and approves state designation
agreements; (7) oversees grants to state primary care offices and
conducts all business management aspects of the review, negotiation,
award, and administration of these grants; (8) provides oversight,
processing, and coordination for the J1-visa program; (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 issues affecting the BHW's programs and
policies; (10) performs environmental scanning on issues that affect
the BHW's programs and assesses the impact of programs on underserved
communities; (11) monitors BHW's activities in relation to HRSA's
strategic plan; (12) develops budget projections and justifications,
and; (13) serves as the bureau's focal point for program information.
Division of Business Operations (RQ2)
The Division of Business Operations serves as the focal point for
the bureau's data management systems, reports, data analysis, and
automation of business processes to support the administration of the
BHW programs. Specifically: (1) Provides leadership for implementing
the BHW's systems development, enhancement, and administration; (2)
designs and implements data systems to assess and improve program
performance; (3) provides user support and training to facilitate the
effectiveness of the bureau's information systems and deliver excellent
customer service to internal and external stake holders, and; (4)
ensures that data management systems and other tools continue to evolve
to support changes to program policy, process, and data throughout the
bureau.
Division of External Affairs (RQ3)
The Division of External Affairs provides communication and public
affairs expertise to the bureau and serves as the focal point for the
development of all external messaging and dissemination of public
information, promotional materials, brochures, speeches, and articles,
in consultation with HRSA's Office of Communications. Specifically the
division: (1) Leads, coordinates, and conducts outreach and engagement
strategies for various audiences including students, clinicians, health
care sites, and critical shortage facilities, as well as workforce
grantees and applicants; (2) coordinates and conducts all bureau
webinars and trainings for clinicians, grantees, sites, and applicants;
(3) establishes and manages partner collaborations with national
organizations, as well as National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
Ambassadors and Alumni; (4) performs marketplace analysis to better
understand information needs of various audiences; (5) coordinates
requests for bureau speakers, and develops and implements communication
initiatives on the bureau's programs; (6) oversees and coordinates the
bureau's committee management activities; (7) coordinates, researches,
writes, and prepares speeches and audiovisual presentations for the
Associate Administrator and leadership, and; (8) maintains
responsibility for all communication functions including, but not
limited to, the bureau's Web site, external newsletters, social media,
and response to media inquiries.
Office of Workforce Development and Analysis (RQA)
The Office of Workforce Development and Analysis (OWDA) serves as
the focal point for health workforce analysis and data collection, and
the coordination, direction, and oversight of the BHW's programs that
provide grants to institutions and organizations in support of the
recruitment, education, training, and retention of a diverse,
culturally competent health care workforce that increases access to
care for the nation's vulnerable and underserved populations.
Specifically: (1) Directs policy guidance for the bureau's grants to
institutions and organizations for the recruitment, retention, and
training of a diverse health professions workforce and faculty; (2)
directs the bureau's health professions workforce data collection and
analysis efforts in support of the BHW's programs, and provides
oversight for the evaluation of grantee performance and program
outcomes; (3) establishes program goals, objectives, and priorities and
provides oversight to their execution; (4) maintains effective
relationships within HRSA and with other federal and non-federal
partners concerned with health workforce development and improving
access to health care for the nation's underserved; (5) plans, directs,
coordinates, and evaluates office-wide management activities, i.e.,
budget, personnel, procurements, and awarding of funds; (6)
coordinates, reviews, and provides clearance of correspondence and
official documents entering and leaving the office; (7) guides and
supports work of advisory councils, and; (8) 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.
[[Page 31954]]
Office of Global Health Affairs (RQA1)
The Office of Global Health Affairs serves as the principal advisor
to the Office of Workforce Development and Analysis Director and the
Associate Administrator on global health issues. Specifically: (1)
Provides leadership, coordination, and advancement of global health
activities relating to health care services for vulnerable and at-risk
populations and for HRSA training programs; (2) provides support for
the agency's International Visitors Program; (3) provides management
and oversight of international programs aimed at improving quality and
innovation in health professions education, retention, training,
faculty development and applied research systems; (3) provides
leadership within HRSA for the support of global health and coordinates
policy development with the HHS Office of Global Health Affairs and
other departmental agencies, and; (4) 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.
Division of Global Training and Development (RQA11)
The Division of Global Training and Development is responsible for
developing policy recommendations and implementing international
programs to improve targeted health professions, education, and
training; promote retention; and develop faculty and applied research
systems. The division oversees grants and cooperative agreements for
international workforce development efforts and is responsible for
monitoring progress, performance, and compliance with established
policies and procedures.
National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (RQA2)
The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis is the focal
point for the coordination and management of the bureau's health
professions workforce data collection, analysis, and evaluation
efforts. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis leads and
monitors the development of workforce projections relating to the BHW
programs and acts as a national resource for such information and data.
Division of Medicine and Dentistry (RQA3)
The Division of Medicine and Dentistry serves as the bureau's lead
for the program administration and oversight of medical and dental
programs. Specifically: (1) Administers grants to educational
institutions and other eligible organizations for the development,
improvement, and operation of educational programs for primary care
physicians (pre-doctoral, residency), physician assistants, dentists
and dental hygienists, 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; (3)
evaluates programmatic data and promotes the dissemination and
application of findings arising from supported programs; (4)
collaborates within the bureau to identify and support 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; Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary
Community-Based Linkages, 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 and Public Health (RQA4)
The Division of Nursing and Public Health serves as the bureau's
lead for the administration and oversight of nursing, behavioral and
public health programs. Specifically: (1) Administers grants and
provides technical assistance to educational institutions and other
eligible entities in support of nursing education, practice, retention,
diversity, and faculty development; (2) administers grants and provides
technical assistance to educational institutions and other eligible
entities in support of behavioral and public health education and
practice; (3) addresses nursing workforce shortages through projects
that focus on expanding enrollment in baccalaureate programs, and
develops internships, residency programs, and other training mechanisms
to improve the preparation of nurses, and behavioral and public health
professionals, providing care for underserved populations; (4)
collaborates within the bureau to identify and support analytical
studies to determine the present and future supply and requirements for
nurses, and behavioral and public health professionals; (5) evaluates
programmatic data and promotes the dissemination and application of
findings arising from supported programs; (6) provides staff support,
and the Director, on behalf of the Secretary, serves as the Chair of
the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice, 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 Practitioner Data Bank (RQA5)
The Division of Practitioner Data Bank 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 (NPDB). Specifically, the division:
(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, (b) professional peer review to promote an
evaluation of the competence, professional conduct, or the quality and
appropriateness of patient care provided by health care practitioners,
and (c) risk management and utilization reviews; (3) encourages and
supports evaluation and demonstration projects and research using NPDB
data on medical malpractice payments and adverse actions taken against
practitioners' licenses, clinical privileges, professional society
memberships, and eligibility to participate in Medicare/Medicaid; (4)
ensures integrity of data collection, follows all disclosure procedures
without fail; (5) conducts and supports research based on the NPDB
data; (6) maintains active consultative relations with professional
organizations,
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societies, and federal agencies involved with the NPDB; (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 the Inspector
General, and HHS concerning practitioner licensing and data bank
issues.
Office of Health Careers (RQB)
The Office of Health Careers is the focal point for the
coordination, direction, and oversight of BHW's loan repayment, loan,
scholarship, and health careers pipeline programs that provide direct
financial support to individuals and grantee institutions in support of
the bureau's goals of recruiting and retaining a diverse and culturally
competent health care workforce to serve underserved communities and
vulnerable populations. Specifically: (1) Directs policy guidance for
BHW loan repayment, loan, scholarship, and pipeline programs to
eligible students, health professionals, faculty, and grantee
institutions; (2) establishes program goals, objectives, and priorities
and provides oversight to their execution; (3) maintains effective
relationships within HRSA and with other federal and non-federal
partners concerned with health workforce development and improving
access to health care for the nation's underserved; (4) plans, directs,
coordinates, and evaluates office-wide management activities, i.e.,
budget, personnel, procurements, and awarding of funds; (5)
coordinates, reviews, and provides clearance of correspondence and
official documents entering and leaving the office; (6) guides and
supports work of advisory councils, 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 Participant Support and Compliance (RQB1)
The Division of Participant Support and Compliance serves as the
organizational focal point for the bureau's centralized, comprehensive
customer service function to support individual program participants.
Provides regular and ongoing communication, technical assistance, and
support to program participants through the period of obligated service
and closeout. Specifically: (1) Manages the staff and daily operations
of the bureau's centralized customer service function; (2) initiates
contact with and monitors program participants throughout their
service; (3) manages clinician support, site transfers, in-service
reviews; (4) provides oversight and approval of the default,
suspension, and waiver processes; (5) oversees the approval process and
response for exception requests, congressional inquiries, contract
terminations, and voids; (6) manages the six-month verification
process; (7) conducts closeout activities for each program participant
and issues completion certificates; (8) manages the monthly payroll for
NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program participants, and; (9) maintains
program participants' case files in the bureau's management information
system.
Division of Health Careers and Financial Support (RQB2)
The Division of Health Careers and Financial Support serves as the
point of contact for responding to inquiries; disseminating program
information; providing technical assistance; administering grants, and;
processing applications and awards pertaining to health workforce
scholarship, loan, loan repayment, and pipeline development programs.
Specifically: (1) Reviews, ranks, and selects participants and grantees
for NURSE Corps, Faculty Loan Repayment Program, Native Hawaiian Health
Scholarship Program, and other discretionary grant programs that
provide scholarships, loans, and loan repayment to students, health
professionals and faculty; (2) verifies and processes loan and lender
related payments in prescribed manner and maintains current information
on NURSE Corps and other scholarship, loan, and loan repayment
applications and awards through automated BHW information systems; (3)
manages NURSE Corps scholar in-school activities; (4) facilitates NURSE
Corps scholar placement, and; (5) administers grants and provides
technical assistance to educational institutions and other eligible
entities for the development of a diverse and culturally competent
health workforce.
Division of National Health Service Corps (RQB3)
The Division of National Health Service Corps serves as the point
of contact for responding to inquiries, disseminating program
information, providing technical assistance, and processing
applications and awards pertaining to the NHSC scholarship and loan
repayment programs. Specifically: (1) Reviews, ranks, and selects
participants for the scholarship and loan repayment programs; (2)
verifies and processes loan and lender related payments in prescribed
manner and maintains current information on scholarship and loan
repayment applications and awards through automated BHW information
systems; (3) manages scholar in-school activities, and; (4) administers
the NHSC State Loan Repayment Program.
Division of Regional Operations (RQB4)
The Division of Regional Operations serves as the regional
component of the BHW, cutting across divisions and working with the
bureau programs that fund participants to serve in Health Professions
Shortage Areas. Specifically, the Regional Offices support the bureau
by: (1) Providing support for the recruitment and retention of primary
health care providers in Health Professions Shortage Areas; (2)
coordinating with state and regional level partners and stakeholders,
and health professions schools in support of the BHW programs and
initiatives; (3) reviewing and approving/disapproving NHSC site
applications and recertification's; (4) completing NHSC site visits and
providing technical assistance to sites, and; (5) managing the scholar
placement process.
Chapter RV, HIV/AIDS Bureau (RV)
Section RV-20, Functions
(1) Delete the functional statement for the HIV/AIDS Bureau, Office
of the Associate Administrator (RV) and replace in its entirety; (2)
delete the functional statement for the HIV/AIDS Bureau, Division of
HIV/AIDS Training and Capacity Development (RV7) and replace in its
entirety.
Office of the Associate Administrator (RV)
The Office of the Associate Administrator provides leadership and
direction for the HIV/AIDS programs and activities of the Bureau and
oversees its relationship with other national health programs.
Specifically: (1) Promotes the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS
Strategy within the Agency and among Agency-funded programs; (2)
coordinates the formulation of an overall strategy and policy for
programs established by Title XXVI of the PHS Act as amended by the
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, Pub. L. 111-87;
(3) coordinates the internal functions of the Bureau and its
relationships with
[[Page 31956]]
other Agency Bureaus and Offices; (4) establishes HIV/AIDS program
objectives, alternatives, and policy positions consistent with broad
Administration guidelines; (5) provides leadership for and oversight of
the Bureau's budgetary development and implementation processes; (6)
provides clinical leadership to Ryan White-funded programs and global
HIV/AIDS programs; (7) oversees the implementation of the training and
systems strengthening for the Global HIV/AIDS Program as part of the
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief; (8) serves as a principal
contact and advisor to the Department and other parties on matters
pertaining to the planning and development of HIV/AIDS-related health
delivery systems; (9) reviews HIV/AIDS related program activities to
determine their consistency with established policies; (10) develops
and oversees operating policies and procedures for the Bureau; (11)
oversees and directs the planning, implementation, and evaluation of
special studies related to HIV/AIDS and public health within the
Bureau; (12) prioritizes technical assistance needs in consultation
with each division/office; (13) plans, develops, implements and
evaluates the Bureau's organizational and staff development, and staff
training activities inclusive of guiding action steps addressing annual
Employee Viewpoint Survey results; (14) plans, implements, and
evaluates the Bureau's national Technical Assistance conference calls,
TARGET Web site, Webex trainings and other distance learning
modalities; (15) represents the Agency in HIV/AIDS related conferences,
consultations, and meetings with other Operating Divisions, Office of
the Assistance Secretary for Health, the Department of State, and the
White House; (16) coordinates the development and distribution of all
Bureau communication activities, materials and products internally and
externally; (17) provides leadership for and oversees Bureau's grants
processes, and; (18) oversees Bureau Executive Secretariat functions
and coordinates HRSA responses and comments on HIV/AIDS-related
reports, position papers, guidance documents, correspondence, and
related issues, including Freedom of Information Act requests.
Division of HIV/AIDS Training and Capacity Development (RV7)
The Division of HIV/AIDS Training and Capacity Development provides
national leadership and manages the implementation of Part F under
Title XXVI of the PHS Act as amended by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS
Treatment Extension Act of 2009, Pub. L. 111-87 (the Ryan White HIV/
AIDS Program), including the Special Projects of National Significance
and the AIDS Education and Training Centers Programs. The Special
Projects of National Significance Program develops innovative models of
HIV care and the AIDS Education and Training Centers Program increases
the number of health care providers who are educated and motivated to
counsel, diagnose, treat, and medically manage people with HIV disease
and to help prevent high-risk behaviors that lead to HIV transmission.
The division also implements the training and systems strengthening
functions of the Global HIV/AIDS Program as part of the President's
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This includes strengthening
health systems for delivery of prevention, care and treatment services
for people living with HIV/AIDS in PEPFAR funded countries. The
division will translate lessons learned from both the Global HIV/AIDS
Programs and Special Projects of National Significance projects to the
Part A, B, C, D, and F grantee community. In collaboration with the
Division of Policy and Data, the division assesses effectiveness of
technical assistance efforts/initiatives, identifies new technical
assistance needs and priority areas, and participates in the bureau-
wide technical assistance workgroup.
Section RV-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.
Dated: May 27, 2014.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-12726 Filed 6-2-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P