[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61341-61343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24747]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation;
Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegations of Authority
Part A (Office of the Secretary), Statement of Organization,
Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) is being amended at Chapter AE, Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), as last amended
at 66 FR 2429 on January 11, 2001. This reorganization is to realign
the functions of ASPE to reflect the current structure and areas of
focus. The changes are as follows:
1. Delete Chapter AE, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning
and Evaluation, in Its Entirety And Replace With the Following
Section AE.00 Mission
The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation is the
principal advisor to the Secretary on policy development and provides
coordination and support for the Department's strategic and policy
planning, planning and development of legislation, program evaluation,
data gathering, policy-related research, and the Department's
regulatory program.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
advises the Secretary on policy issues associated with health, human
services, disability, aging, long-term care, science policy, data
resources, and other matters, such as economic policy. ASPE leads
special initiatives on behalf of the Secretary; provides direction for,
and coordinates, the Department's policy research, evaluation and data
gathering and related analyses; and manages cross-Department
activities, such as strategic and legislation planning. Integral to
this role, ASPE develops policy analyses--both short and long-term--and
related initiatives, conducts policy research and evaluation studies,
and reviews and estimates the costs and benefits of policies (including
regulations) and programs under consideration by the Department,
Congress and others. ASPE works with other HHS Assistant Secretaries
and agency heads on these matters.
Section AE.10 Organization
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
consists of the following components:
A. Immediate Office (AE).
B. Office of Health Policy (AEH).
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C. Office of Human Services Policy (AES).
D. Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy (AEW).
E. Office of Science and Data Policy (AEJ).
Section AE.20 Functions
A. The Immediate Office (AE)
The Immediate Office (IO) of the Assistant Secretary for Planning
and Evaluation provides executive direction, leadership, guidance and
support to ASPE components. The IO develops and guides implementation
of the Department's strategic plan, the development of the Department's
legislative and regulatory agenda in coordination with the Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Legislation and the Office of the Executive
Secretary, respectively, and the planning and coordination of policy-
related research and evaluation across the Department. Research and
evaluation planning and coordination for the Department is accomplished
by the Department's Research Coordination Council, chaired by the ASPE.
The Council is a planning and coordinating body of representatives from
the Department's operating divisions and other offices conducting
research, with support within ASPE by a staff group drawn from ASPE
offices. The IO manages planning and implementation of ASPE budgets,
evaluation and policy research agendas, workforce plans, executive
correspondence, regulation review, and internal control procedures. The
IO also provides information support services for ASPE and access by
the public to information about ASPE and the Department's evaluation
and policy research studies.
B. The Office of Health Policy (AEH)
The Office of Health Policy (HP) is responsible for policy
development and coordination and for the conduct and coordination of
research, evaluation, and data, on matters relating to health systems,
services, and financing. Functions include policy and long-range
planning; policy, economic, program and budget analysis; review of
regulations and development of legislation. Health policy matters
includes public health, health services and systems, health insurance,
health care financing, health care quality, consumer health information
in the public and private sectors, and the interaction among these
matters and sectors.
HP is responsible for developing and coordinating a health policy
research, information, and analytical program to gain information
concerning health services, systems and financing, and for providing
support tot he ASPE immediate Office for the Department's Research
Coordination Council. The Office works closely with other ASPE and HHS
offices on these matters, coordinates and shares information across
Federal agencies, and collaborates with the health policy and service
reserach community.
HP works closely with the Department's Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the
Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, and other HHS agencies. Within ASPE, the office
coordinates closely with Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care
Policy on matters concerning persons with disabilities and the elderly,
in particular those related to the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
1. The Division of Health Financing Policy (AEH1) is responsible
for policies and functions of the office concerning health care
financing and health care costs, principally Federal health care
financing related to the Department's Medicare program, including
matters concerning structural changes and modernization for the long-
term, such as drug benefits, coverage and eligibility, new technology,
and payments for services.
2. The Division of Public Health Systems (AEH2) is responsible for
the functions of the office related to public health programs and
policies. The division conducts analysis, studies and develops policies
concerning such matters as: the public health system; the design and
effectiveness of health promotion, disease prevention, and disease
control activities undertaken by both the public and private sectors;
the interaction between the medical services delivery system and
population-based public health services; and the structure, function,
capacity, practices, and interaction of public health entitles at all
levels of government.
3. The Division of Health Care For Low Income Populations (AEH3)
focuses on the financing an delivery of health care services for the
low-income population without private health insurance. The division is
responsible for the functions of the office with respect to the
Medicaid program, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and
other policies and programs to help low income individuals and families
have access to health care. This includes development of policies and
mechanisms that integrate the financing and delivery of health care to
this population. This division will collaborate with Health Care
Financing on issues effecting populations who are dually eligible for
Medicare and Medicaid and other cross-cutting areas.
4. The Division of Health Care Delivery Systems (AEH4) is
responsible for functions related to health services, health
organizations and health care delivery systems. The division's focus
includes consumer information such as patient's bill of rights,
incentives for private health insurance and health care, matters
concerning the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,
health care organization, and the interaction between public and
private health care and insurance.
C. The Office of Human Services Policy (AES)
The Office of Human Services Policy (HSP) is responsible for policy
development and coordination, and for the conduct and coordination of
research, evaluation, and data on matters relating to poverty, cash and
non-cash support for low-income working and non-working families,
welfare-to-work strategies, and services for families, children, and
youth. Functions include policy and long-range planning; policy,
program, economic and budget analysis; review of regulations; and
development of legislation. In particular, the office is responsible
for policies concerning families, child and youth development, support
for low-income families and their children, welfare, and the financing
and delivery of human services. The office works closely with agencies
that provide services to low-income populations, particularly the
Administration for Children and Families.
1. The Division of Economic Support for Families (AES1) is
responsible for functions of the office related to low-income
populations. The division's principal areas of focus include: cash and
non-cash assistance for working and non-working families, welfare-to-
work strategies, cash and non-cash assistance for working and non-
working families, welfare-to-work strategies, child support
enforcement, and special populations (e.g., immigrants). The division
also monitors, analyzes, and maintain liaison with programs and
policies outside the Department that effect HHS issues, such as earned
income tax credits, food stamps, housing assistance, and
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education and workforce development programs.
2. The Division of Children and Youth Policy (AES2) is responsible
for functions of the office affecting children and youth. The principal
areas of focus include: healthy development of children and youth,
family support, human services for children, youth, and their families,
such as child welfare and child protection, at-risk youth, child care
and early childhood education, and violence prevention.
3, The Division of Data and Technical Analysis (AES3) is
responsible for the development, analysis, and coordination of
research, evaluation, and data gathering activities relating to
policies and programs concerning the low-income population. The
division provides support for policy development through data analysis,
modeling, cost and impact analyses, and the enhancement of national,
state, and local data sources for analyzing and tracking issues. The
division also is responsible for the annual update of the HHS poverty
guidelines. The division also maintains cognizance of data collection
activities of the Federal statistical system and coordinates with the
Office of Science and Data Policy, as appropriate.
D. The Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy (AEW)
The Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy (DALTCP)
is responsible for the development of financing and service
organization and delivery policy on matters related to disability,
aging, and long-term care. Functions includes policy and long-range
planning; planning, policy and program analysis; review of regulations
and development of legislation; and the conduct, coordination and
dissemination of research, evaluation, and data. The office works
closely with other ASPE offices, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, the Administration on Aging, and other HHS components.
Activities related to the Older American Act are carried out in
coordination with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Aging.
1. The Division of Disability and Aging Policy (AEW1) is
responsible for the functions of the office as they concern persons
with disabilities and older Americans. The division is responsible for
supporting the development and coordination of crosscutting policies
and data collection within the Department and in other Federal agencies
whose actions affect the health, economic and social well-being of
persons with disabilities and elderly populations. The division is
responsible for measuring and evaluating the impact of all programs
authorized by the Older Americans Act. The division assesses the
interaction among health, disability, and the economic well-being of
persons of all ages with disabilities, including identifying the
prevalence of disability and disabling conditions, socio-demographic
characteristics, service use, income, employment, and program
participation patterns. The division also is responsible for
coordinating the development of data and policies that are responsive
to the characteristics, circumstances and needs of disabled
populations.
2. The Division of Long-Term Care Policy (AEW3) is responsible for
the functions of the office as they concern policies and programs that
address the long-term care and personal assistance needs of people of
all ages with chronic disabilities. The division develops and
coordinates a comprehensive research, information, and analytical
program to gain basic information to achieve the Department's
objectives in the areas of long-term care and disability service and
financing. The division is the focal point for policy development and
analysis related to the disability, aging, and long-term care services
components of Medicare and Medicaid, including nursing facility
services, community residential services, personal assistance services,
home health and rehabilitation services, and the integration of acute,
post-acute, and long-term care services.
E. The Office of Science and Data Policy (AEJ)
The Office of Science and Data Policy (SDP) is responsible for
guiding and coordinating the development of science and data policy
throughout the Department. SDP establishes and leads broadly
representative, multi-office working groups to develop policy
initiatives related to complex science, technology or data issues that
cut across the mission of organizations within the Department.
SDP is the ASPE lead on issues that are heavily science-based,
including public health issues that involve complex or rapidly evolving
science and technology, such as genetics, xenotrasplantion, stem cell
research, cloning, and bioterrorism. SDP guides and coordinates the
incorporation of science-policy considerations within the Department's
regulatory and legislative proposals, congressional testimony, press
releases and other public documents describing major Department
Initiatives. SDP provides critque and advice regarding the science
policy content of such document and, in selected instances, initiates
their development.
SDP is responsible for data development and coordination within the
Department and serves as the focal point for Department-wide data
policy. It provides leadership and staff support to the Department's
Data Council--the principal internal forum and advisory body to the
Secretary on data policy issues, including data strategy, data
standards, informatics, and privacy issues. SDP provides direction and
oversight to, and the Executive Director for, the National Committee on
Vital and Health Statistics, the statutory public advisory body to the
Secretary on health data, statistics, privacy, informatics and national
health information policy. SDP also prices support to the ASPE and
Office of the Secretary leadership on a variety of Department-wide data
planning and informatic issues, as well as data issues in support of
performance measurement. SDP also directs a program of policy research,
evaluation and analysis in these areas and provides several cross-
cutting data policy services across ASPE.
SDP also is responsible for creating and maintaining effective
communications and liaison with scientific, technical and data
communities and agencies outside the Department regarding science and
data policy issues. This includes liaison with the Office of Science
and Technology activities; and government/private sector collaborations
related to sciences policy.
II. Delegations of Authority
All delegations and redelegations of authority made to officials
and employees of affected organizational components will continue in
them or their successors pending further redelegation, provided they
are consistent with this reorganization.
Dated: September 20, 2002.
Ed Sontag,
Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 02-24747 Filed 9-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-04-M