[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27613-27616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13153]
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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 (DHHS), Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) as most recently amended at 60 FR 56605, November 6, 1995 and
the Office of the Administrator as last amended (61 FR 65062-65 dated
December 10, 1996). This notice is to revise the functional statement
for the Office of the Administrator. We are also announcing several
significant administrative actions: Three centers will operate from the
Immediate Office of the Administrator: the Center for Managed Care, the
Center for Quality, and the Center for Public Health Practice. In
addition, to further strengthen certain important aspects of the
Agency's activities, three senior advisors will report to the
Administrator: Senior Advisor for International Health, Senior Advisor
for Special Initiatives, and Senior Advisor for Women's Health.
Although not part of the formal
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organizational structure, these centers and advisors provide a
flexible, interim mechanism for HRSA to focus significant projects and
crosscutting efforts. Should we find that permanent organizational
structures are necessary, we will establish such structures in future
notices. Finally, we are changing the title of the officials who manage
our four program bureaus from ``Bureau Director'' to ``Associate
Administrator'' to reflect their status as a critical part of the
corporate HRSA organization.
Section RA-00, Mission
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) directs
national health programs which improve the health of the Nation by
assuring quality health care to underserved, vulnerable and special-
need populations and by promoting appropriate health professions
workforce capacity and practice, particularly in primary care and
public health.
1. Make the following changes:
Section RA-10 Organization
The Office of the Administrator is headed by the Administrator,
Health Resources and Services Administration (OA) who reports directly
to the Secretary. The OA includes the following components:
(1) Office of the Administrator (R);
(2) Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (RA2);
(3) Office of Planning, Evaluation and Legislation (RA5);
(4) Office of Communications (RA6);
(5) Office of Minority Health (RA9); and
(6) AIDS Program Office (RAA)
A. Amend the functional statement for the Immediate Office of the
Administrator.
Immediate Office of the Administrator (RA)
Leads and directs programs and activities of the Agency and advises
the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services on policy
matters concerning them; (2) provides consultation and assistance to
senior Agency officials and others on clinical and health professional
issues; (3) serves as the Agency's focal point on efforts to strengthen
the practice of public health as it pertains to the HRSA mission; (4)
establishes and maintains communications with health organizations in
the public and private sectors to support the mission of HRSA; (5)
coordinates the Agency's international health activities; and (6)
manages the Agency's women's health activities.
Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (RA2)
Directs, coordinates, develops, and administers the Agency's equal
opportunity, and civil rights activities. Specifically: (1) Provides
advice, counsel, and recommendations to Agency personnel, including the
field offices on equal opportunity and civil rights and represents HRSA
in all EEO areas; (2) administers affirmative action programs designed
to ensure equality of opportunity in employment; (3) manages the civil
service complaints system and prepares final Agency decisions; (4)
manages the complaints system for Commissioned Corps personnel under
provisions of Public Health Service Personnel Instruction 6 and issues
proposed dispositions; (5) develops and directs implementation of the
requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and
the Americans With Disabilities Act, as they apply to recipients of
HRSA funds; (6) provides technical assistance and guidance to the
Agency on developing education and training programs regarding equal
opportunity and civil rights; (7) promotes the awarding of contracts
under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act which pertains to
minorities and women; (8) approves settlement agreements and attorney
fees; and (9) applies all applicable laws, guidelines, rules and
regulations in accordance with those of the Office of Equal Employment
Opportunity and Civil Rights at the Department.
Office of Planning, Evaluation and Legislation (RA5)
Serves as the Administrator's primary staff element and principal
source of advice on program planning, program evaluation, and
legislative affairs; (2) develops the long-range program plan for the
Agency; (3) develops the Agency's strategic plan encompassing its long-
range goals, objectives and priorities; (4) directs all activities
within the Agency which compare the costs of the Agency's programs with
their benefits; (5) develops and implements a comprehensive evaluation
program; (6) conducts policy analyses and develops policy positions in
programmatic areas for HRSA; (7) directs the legislative affairs of the
Agency, including the development of legislative proposals and a
legislative program; (8) develops and coordinates the Agency's health
services research plan; (9) directs performance measurement activities,
including technical assistance and standards development and
assessment; (10) coordinates the program data activities across the
Agency, including the design and management of program tracking and
surveillance; and (11) directs and coordinates disease prevention and
health promotion activities across the Agency.
Office of Communications (RA6)
Provides leadership and general policy and program direction for,
and conducts and coordinates communications and public affairs
activities of the Agency; (2) serves as focal point for coordination of
Agency communications activities with those of other health agencies
within the Department of Health and Human Services and with field,
State, local, voluntary and professional organizations; (3) develops
and implements national communications initiatives to inform and
educate the public, health care professionals, policy makers and the
media; (4) researches, writes and prepares speeches and audiovisual
presentations for the Administrator; (5) provides communication and
public affairs expertise and staff advice and support to the
Administrator in program and policy formulations and execution
consistent with policy direction established by the Assistant Secretary
for Public Affairs; (6) develops and implements policies and procedures
related to external media relations and internal employee
communications including those for the development, review, processing,
quality control, and dissemination of Agency communications materials,
including exhibits and those disseminated electronically; (7) serves as
Communications and Public Affairs Officer for the Agency including
establishment and maintenance of productive relationships with
communications media; and (8) coordinates the implementation of the
Freedom of Information Act for the Agency.
Office of Minority Health (RA9)
Serves as the principal advisor and coordinator to the agency for
special needs of minority and disadvantaged populations, including
advice on committee membership; (2) establishes short-term and long-
range objectives for health activities addressing minority and
disadvantaged populations; (3) participates in the organization and the
planning of specific activities to meet minority health needs and
collaborates with the Agency budget officials to assure an appropriate
share of funds is devoted to minority health programs; (4) consults
with public and private sector
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agencies and organizations to assure minority health issues are
addressed; (5) participates in the focus of activities and objectives
in assuring equity in access to resources and health careers for
minorities and the disadvantaged; (6) establishes and manages an
agencywide data collection system for minority health activities and
initiatives including White House initiatives, Historically Black
Colleges and Universities, Educational Excellence for Hispanic
Americans, and Departmental initiatives; (7) reviews inter/intra-Agency
agreements related to racial/ethnic minority and disadvantaged
populations; (8) participates in the formulation of HRSA's goals,
policies, legislative proposals, priorities, and strategies, as they
affect professional organizations and institutions of higher education
(medical, public health, etc.) involved in or concerned with the
delivery of health services to minorities and disadvantaged
populations; and (9) links HRSA minority and disadvantaged program
efforts to potential partners at the Federal, State and local levels
and provides agencywide expertise on the development of culturally
appropriate programs and materials.
AIDS Program Office (RAA)
Coordinates all AIDS-related activities within the Agency; (2)
advises the Administrator on policy, clinical, and educational issues
pertaining to the administration of HRSA's AIDS program; (3) keeps the
Administrator informed of any difficulties arising within or outside
HRSA that might adversely affect the Agency's ability to carry out its
AIDS responsibilities; (4) coordinates the formulation of an overall
strategy and policy for the HRSA AIDS programs; (5) working with the
Office of Planning, Evaluation and Legislation, coordinates the
preparation of HRSA's AIDS-related programmatic, budgetary and
legislative proposals; (6) monitors and analyzes AIDS-related policy
and legislative developments for their impact on HRSA's AIDS
activities; (7) reviews AIDS-related program activities to determine
their consistency with established policies; (8) coordinates HRSA's
comments on AIDS-related reports, position papers, legislative
proposals including requests from other agencies; (9) represents the
Agency and the Department at AIDS-related meetings, conferences, task
forces etc.; (10) plans and carries out special AIDS-related
assignments for the Administrator.
2. Abolish the Office of Public Health Affairs (RA8), and
incorporate its functions into the Immediate Office of the
Administrator (RA).
3. Amend the functional statement for the Office of Management and
Program Support; abolish the Office of Policy and Information
Coordination (RA3) and reestablish it as the Division of Policy, Review
and Coordination (RS7) by inserting its functional statement after the
Office of Information Resources Management (RS6) in the Office of
Management and Program Support.
Office of Management and Program Support (RS)
Provides agencywide leadership, program direction, and coordination
to all phases of management; (2) provides management expertise and
staff advice and support to the Administrator in program and policy
formulation and execution; (3) plans, directs, and coordinates the
Agency's activities in the areas of administrative management,
financial management, human resources management, debt management,
information resources management, grants and contracts management,
procurement, real and personal property accountability and management,
and administrative services; (4) directs and coordinates the
development of policy and regulations; (5) oversees the development of
annual operating objectives and coordinates HRSA work planning and
appraisals; (6) serves as the Agency's focal point for field programs
and activities except those field functions of the Division of Federal
Occupational Health; (7) administers the Agency's Executive Secretariat
and Committee Management functions; (8) coordinates the Department's
tort claims panel and associated activities; and (9) administers the
Agency's internal controls and integrity activities.
Division of Policy Review and Coordination (RS7)
Advises the Administrator and other key Agency officials on policy
issues and assists in the identification and resolution of policy
issues and problems; (2) establishes and maintains review and tracking
mechanisms and systems that provide agencywide coordination and
clearance of policies, regulations and guidelines; (3) contributes to
the analysis, development and implementation of agencywide programs and
policies through coordination with relevant Agency program components
and other related sources; (4) plans, organizes and directs the
Agency's Executive Secretariat with primary responsibility for
preparation and management of written policy and other routine
communications to and from the Administrator; (5) coordinates the
preparation of proposed rules and regulations relating to Agency
programs and coordinates Agency review and comment on other Department
regulations that may affect the Agency's programs; and (6) oversees and
coordinates the committee management system of the Agency.
4. Amend the Office of Field Coordination by establishing the HRSA
Field structure.
Office of Field Coordination (RS5)
Serves as the Agency's focal point for Field programs and
activities. Specifically: (1) oversees and manages HRSA activities in
the field; (2) advises the Administrator on appropriate resource
allocation for field activities; (3) at the direction of the
Administrator, assists in the implementation and evaluation of HRSA
programs in the field through coordination of activities, and assessing
the effectiveness of programs to identify opportunities for improving
policies and service delivery systems; (4) develops and implements
activities in the field designed to improve customer service and
relationships; (5) at the direction of the Administrator, develops and
coordinates the field implementation of special program initiatives
which involve multiple HRSA field components and/or multiple HRSA
programs; (6) serves as field liaison to the Administrator, Associate
Administrators, State and local health officials as well as private and
professional organizations; (7) acts as liaison to provide
administrative and financial support services to HRSA field components;
and (8) exercises line management authority as delegated.
5. Under Part R, Health Resources and Services Administration,
establish a new chapter HRSA Field Offices RSD, to read as follows:
Section RSD-00 Mission--The HRSA Field Offices support HRSA's
mission by providing direct support to HRSA's program operations and
carrying out crosscutting priorities and activities.
Section RSD-10 Organization. The Health Resources and Services
Administration Field Offices consist of:
HRSA Field Offices (RSDI--RSDX).
The ten HRSA Field Offices will be organizationally configured in 5
clusters.
Section RSD-20 Functions. The Field Offices carry out the following
responsibilities: administer HRSA field health programs and activities
to assure a coordinated field effort in support of national health
policies and State and local needs within the region; (2) assess
regional health requirements, assuring integration of HRSA health
programs, and addressing crosscutting program issues and initiatives to
achieve
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program goals; (3) provide a HRSA focal point for responding to the
needs of State and local governments, community agencies, and others
involved in the planning or provision of general health; (4) support
intergovernmental activities and respond to health issues of State and
local concerns; (5) administer health activities and programs to
provide for prevention of health problems; and (6) assure access to and
quality of general health services.
Section R-30 Delegations of Authority. All delegations and
redelegations of authority which were in effect immediately prior to
the effective date hereof, have been continued in effect in them or
their successors pending further redelegation.
This reorganization is effective upon date of signature.
Dated: May 15, 1997.
Claude Earl Fox,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-13153 Filed 5-19-97; 8:45 am]
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