[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51184-51185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20389]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Class Deviation From Competition Requirements for 
Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) will award program 
expansion supplemental awards to the current Small Health Care Provider

[[Page 51185]]

Quality Improvement (Quality) program grantees. The program expansion 
supplemental funds will allow current Quality program grantees: To 
provide education to those new to health care coverage about health 
care benefits to which they have access; to raise awareness about the 
importance of receiving routine primary care and regular preventive 
services; and to expand outreach and enrollment activities for the next 
Affordable Care Act's (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace open 
enrollment period (November 15, 2014-February 15, 2015). The goals of 
this supplemental funding are to (1) increase the number of newly 
insured individuals educated about the benefits and primary care and 
preventive services to which they now have access, (2) increase the 
number of uninsured individuals educated about their coverage options, 
and (3) increase the number of uninsured individuals enrolled into the 
Health Insurance Marketplaces or other available sources of insurance, 
such as Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Intended Recipient of the Award: Current Quality program grantees 
(Quantity: 29).
    Amount of Non-Competitive Awards: $25,000/award
    Period of Supplemental Funding: September 15, 2014-July 31, 2015.

CFDA Number: 93.912

    Authority: Public Health Service Act, Section 330A (g) (42 
U.S.C. 254c(g)), as amended.

    Justification: The fiscal year (FY) 2014 Quality ACA OEE grantees 
are uniquely qualified for the outreach, enrollment and education work 
required in this supplement. First, the supplemental funding aligns 
with the Quality program. The objectives of the Quality program 
include: Improved health outcomes; enhanced chronic disease management; 
and better engagement of patients and their caregivers. These 
objectives are consistent with the activities proposed under this 
supplemental funding opportunity, which includes helping individuals 
better understand their health coverage, raising awareness about the 
importance of receiving routine primary care, and increasing the use of 
regular preventive services. Second, Quality program grantees are 
encouraged to maximize funding by billing for third party reimbursement 
for covered services. Educating and enrolling eligible individuals into 
health insurance coverage would help Quality program grantees achieve 
this goal. Third, these grantees know the rural communities they serve 
and have the capacity to provide the services needed for outreach, 
enrollment, and education in time for the next open enrollment period 
for ACA which begins on November 15, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Ferrero, MPH Community Based 
Division, Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 17W21-B, Rockville, Maryland 
20857, By phone: 301-443-3999, or email: [email protected].

    Dated: August 21, 2014.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-20389 Filed 8-26-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P