[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8982-8983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4532]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
State Offices of Rural Health Grant Program
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration. HHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA), announces that applications are being
accepted for matching grants to States for the purpose of improving
health care in rural areas through the continued operation of State
Offices of Rural Health. This program is authorized by section 338J of
the Public Health Service Act 42 U.S.C. 254r. Awards will be made from
funds appropriated under Public Law 105-78 (HHS Appropriations Act for
Fiscal Year 1998). Approximately $3.0 million will be available to
support 50 grants in fiscal year (FY) 1998.
Background
This Federal-State partnership helps America's rural communities
rebuild their health care system by supporting initiatives and
partnerships in rural health development. Begun in 1991, the State
Office of Rural Health Grant Program has spurred the development of
State offices by providing matching funds for their creation and a
forum for exchanging information and strategies among States, providing
an institutional framework that links small rural communities with
State and Federal resources and developing long-term solutions to rural
health problems.
Other Award Information
Grant applications should be submitted for a five-year project
period. Funding will be for a single year. Continued funding is
contingent upon the availability of Federal funds and satisfactory
performance by the grantee. Only one grant application may be submitted
from each State. It must indicate approval by a senior official of the
State Health Department or their designee.
This is a renewal of an existing grant program that features a
single grantee from each of the 50 States. A list of these grantees may
be obtained by contacting Roberto Anson, Office of Rural Health Policy,
HRSA, at (301) 443-0835.
Requesting Applications
Call the HRSA Grants Application Center at 1-888-300-4772 to
request a grant application kit and program guidance for the State
Office of Rural Health Grant Program (Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) No. 93.913). Applications and guidance will be
available following publication of this notice.
The standard application form and general instructions for
completing applications (Form PHS-5161-1, OMB 0937-0189) have been
approved by the Office of Management and Budget.
Deadline for Submitting Applications
Application deadline for this program is March 23, 1998. The
application must be postmarked no later than March 23, 1998. Applicants
should submit the signed original and two copies of the application to
the: HRSA GRANTS APPLICATION CENTER, 40 West Gude Drive, Suite 100,
Rockville, MD 20850.
Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they
are either: (1) Received on or before the deadline date; or (2)
postmarked on or before the deadline date and received in time for
orderly processing. A legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier
or U.S. Postal Service will be accepted in lieu of a postmark. Private
metered postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
Late applications will be returned to the sender.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for technical or programmatic
information should be directed to Roberto Anson, Director, State
Offices of Rural Health Grant Program, Office of Rural Health Policy,
HRSA, (301) 443-0835.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Program Objectives
The purpose of the program is to improve health care in rural
areas. To receive a Federal grant, each State must agree that its State
Office of Rural Health will carry out at least the following
activities: (1) Establish and maintain a clearinghouse for collecting
and disseminating information on rural health care issues; (2)
coordinate the activities carried out in the State that relate to rural
health care, including providing coordination for the purpose of
avoiding duplication in such activities; (3) identify Federal, State
and non-governmental programs regarding rural health, and provide
technical assistance to public and nonprofit private entities regarding
participation in such programs; and (4) help develop rural health
policies through inter-organization collaborations and partnerships. In
addition to these required activities, State Offices of Rural Health
are encouraged to use Federal grant funds for activities that support,
but do not directly fund, the recruitment and retention of health
professionals to serve in rural areas. State Offices must also submit
an annual report regarding its performance, progress and activities.
Federal funds under this grant program may not be used to: (1)
Provide health care services; (2) purchase medical equipment, vehicles
or real property; or (3) conduct certificate of need activities. Also,
not more than 10% of grant funds may be expended on research.
Eligible Applicants
The fifty States.
The State (e.g., Department of Health, State University) can
conduct the required and any discretionary activities directly or
through grants or contracts to other public or nonprofit private
entities (e.g., University, Area Health Education Center). To encourage
States to commit their own resources, this program requires a match of
three non-Federal dollars for every one Federal dollar to support the
operation of their State Office of Rural Health.
Review Criteria
Grant applications will be evaluated on the basis of the following
criteria:
(1) The extent to which the application is responsive to the
requirements and purposes of this Federal-State partnership program;
(2) The extent to which the applicant has developed measurable
goals,
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objectives and timetable including performance and outcome measures;
(3) The extent to which the Office coordinates rural health
activities within the State and collaborates with other health
entities, especially the State Primary Care Organizations and Primary
Care Associations;
(4) The strength of the applicant's plans for administrative and
financial management of the Office; and
(5) The reasonableness of the budget proposed for the Office.
Executive Order 12372
The State Office of Rural Health Grant Program has been determined
to be a program which is subject to the provisions of Executive Order
12372 concerning intra-governmental review of Federal programs, as
implemented by 45 CFR part 100. Executive Order 12372 sets up a system
for State and local government review of proposed Federal assistance
applications. A current list of State Single Point of Contact (SPOCs),
including their names, addresses, and telephone numbers, is included in
the application kit. Not all States have SPOCs so this requirement only
applies to those States with SPOCs. Applicants should contact their
SPOCs as early as possible to alert them to the prospective application
and receive any necessary instructions on the State process. (See part
148, Intergovernmental Review of PHS Programs under Executive Order
12372 and 45 CFR part 100 for a description of the review process and
requirements.)
The OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.913.
Dated: February 13, 1998.
Claude Earl Fox,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-4532 Filed 2-20-98; 8:45 am]
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