96-15010. Block Grant Allocation Processes  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 117 (Monday, June 17, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 30625-30632]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-15010]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
    Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
    
    
    Block Grant Allocation Processes
    
    AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, HHS.
    
    ACTION: Notice and opportunity for public comment.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
    (SAMHSA) allocates funding to States and territories for the Community 
    Mental Health Services (CMHS) Block Grant and the Substance Abuse 
    Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant. This notice describes the 
    formulas which the law requires be used for distributing these funds 
    and the information used in making the calculations.
        This notice has five parts. Section I provides background 
    information on the allocation process. Section II describes the 
    legislation and the formulas applicable to the Community Mental Health 
    Services Block Grant. Section III describes the legislation and the 
    formulas applicable to the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment 
    Block Grant. Section IV provides detailed information on the sources of 
    data used in the calculations. Section V contains technical information 
    important in making the actual calculations.
    
    DATES: Written comments must be received by August 1, 1996. Any written 
    comments received will be taken into
    
    [[Page 30626]]
    
    consideration and will become a matter of public record.
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Nancy Pearce, Office 
    of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
    Administration, Room 16-105, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 
    Fax (301) 443-9847.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Pearce, Office of Applied 
    Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 
    Room 16-105, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone (301) 443-
    7978, Fax (301) 443-9847.
    
    I. Background
    
        The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 established a single Block 
    Grant for supporting alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health services, 
    the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Services (ADMS) Block Grant. 
    On July 10, 1992, the ADAMHA Reorganization Act was signed into law, 
    Public Law 102-321. This Act amended the Public Health Service Act and, 
    among other things, established two separate Block Grants to replace 
    the ADMS Block Grant. The Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) Block 
    Grant supports community mental health services; the Substance Abuse 
    Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant supports services for the 
    prevention and treatment of substance abuse. Public Law 102-321 also 
    contains eligibility criteria for receipt of funds under the Grants and 
    provides the formulas and methods for determining States and 
    territorial allotments of funds under each type of block Grant.
        Under the legislation, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of 
    Health and Human Services (DHHS), acting through the Director of 
    SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services and through the Center for 
    Substance Abuse Treatment, determines the allotments for States and 
    territories for both Block Grants and disburses federal funds to 
    eligible States and territories.
        In July, 1995, responsibility for calculating the amount of support 
    each State and territory receives in a given fiscal year was assigned 
    to the Office of Applied Studies in the Substance Abuse and Mental 
    Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The Center for Substance Abuse 
    Treatment and the Center for Mental Health Services manage the grants.
        SAMHSA is publishing this notice to inform the public about how 
    block grant allocations are calculated and provide an opportunity for 
    comment.
    
    II. Legislative Requirements and Allocation Process for Community 
    Mental Health Services (CMHS) Block Grant
    
    A. Legislative Requirements
    
        Sections 1911 through 1920 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act 
    establish the Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) Block Grant and 
    rules that must be followed in making these grants. Section 1920(a) of 
    the Act authorizes the appropriation of funds for the CMHS Block Grant; 
    the size of the appropriation is determined each year by the Congress. 
    Section 1920 of the Act also specifies that 5 percent of the amount 
    appropriated in a given year shall be used by the Department of Health 
    and Human Services (DHHS) to collect data on mental health services and 
    patients and conduct evaluations of programs to prevent and treat 
    mental health problems. The remaining 95 percent of any appropriation 
    for the CMHS Block Grant must be allocated to the States and 
    territories.
        Section 1918 of the PHS Act provides formulas for making these 
    allocations. Of the 95 percent of the appropriation available for 
    distribution 98.5 percent must be given to the States and 1.5 percent 
    must be distributed to the territories.
    
    B. State Allocations
    
        The amount of an allotment for an individual State is determined by 
    three factors: the Population at Risk, the Cost of Services Index, and 
    the Fiscal Capacity Index. The Population at Risk represents the 
    relative risk of mental health problems in a State. The Cost of 
    Services Index represents the relative costs of providing mental health 
    services in a State. The Fiscal Capacity Index represents the relative 
    ability of a State to pay for mental health services. The product of 
    these three terms establishes the need for a given State.
        Formulas for calculating Population at Risk and the Fiscal Capacity 
    Index are specified in Sections 1918(a)(5) and (6) of the PHS Act. The 
    Cost of Services Index formula is included by reference and derived 
    from a report entitled Adjusting the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental 
    Health Services Block Grant Allocations for Poverty Populations and 
    Cost of Service, dated March 30, 1990, prepared by Health Economics 
    Research.
        The law requires the estimate of the Population at Risk and the 
    Fiscal Capacity Index be revised each fiscal year. The Cost of Services 
    Index is revised every third fiscal year. Section 1918(a)(8) of the PHS 
    Act provides that the first determination of the Cost of Services Index 
    would be made on October 1, 1992. The same factor remained in effect 
    until FY 1995 when a new Index was developed. The Index will be 
    recalculated for FY 1998. DHHS is also directed by the legislation to 
    ``periodically make such refinements in the methodology * * *'' for the 
    calculation of the Cost of Services Index as are consistent with the 
    purpose of this adjustment of the allotments. (See Technical Note B, 
    Section V.)
    
    C. State Calculations for the Mental Health Block Grant
    
        The allocation for each State is calculated using equations 
    described below. For the purposes of explanation, the subscript ``I'' 
    is used to denote an individual State or the District of Columbia. The 
    symbol ``''is used to denote the summation over the 50 States 
    and the District of Columbia.
    
    General Equation:
    
    SALLOCi = 0.985*0.95*AMT*(Pi*Ci*Fi)/
    ((Pi*Ci*Fi))    (1)
    
    where:
    SALLOCi = State specific allotment of the block grant.
    AMT = appropriation for mental health and related services.
    Pi = State specific Population at Risk (calculated using 
    Equation 2).
    Ci = State specific Cost of Services Index (calculated using 
    Equation 3).
    Fi = State specific Fiscal Capacity Index (calculated using 
    Equation 8).
    
        The coefficients 0.985 and 0.95 are specified in the legislation. 
    The first coefficient (0.985) represents the proportion of the total 
    allocable funds available for distribution to the States and the 
    District of Columbia. The second coefficient (0.95) represents the 
    proportion of the total appropriation available for allocation to all 
    recipients--the States, the District of Columbia, and the territories.
    
    Equation for the State Population at Risk:
    
    Pi = 0.107*P18-24i+0.166*P25-44i+0.099*P45-
    64i+0.082*P65UPi    (2)
    
    where:
    P18-24i = State specific population aged 18 to 24.
    P25-44i = State specific population aged 25 to 44.
    P45-64i = State specific population aged 45 to 64.
    P65UPi = State specific population aged 65 and older.
    
        The coefficients 0.107, 0.166, 0.099, and 0.082 are specified in 
    the legislation. The population of each State by age group is obtained 
    from the Bureau of the Census, ``Resident Population of States, by 
    Single Year of Age,'' using the most current data available as of 
    October 1 of each year.
    
    Equation for the Cost of Services Index:
    
    
    [[Page 30627]]
    
    
    Ci = 0.9 if 0.75*Wi+0.15*Ri+0.10*Si < 0.9="" (3)="" 1.1="" if="">i+0.15*Ri+0.10*Si > 1.1 Ci = 
    0.75*Wi+0.15*Ri+0.10*Si otherwise
    
    where:
    Wi = State specific wage subindex (calculated using Equation 
    4).
    Ri = State specific rent subindex (calculated using Equation 
    5).
    Si = State specific supplies subindex.
    
        The coefficients 0.75, 0.15, and 0.10 are specified in the report 
    cited by the legislation, as is Si, which is equal to 1 for all 
    States and the District of Columbia. The boundary values of 0.9 and 1.1 
    are specified in the legislation.
    
    Equation for State Specific Wage Subindex:
    
    Wi = AVGSTHWi/AVGUSHW    (4)
    
    where:
    AVGSTHWi = average State specific hourly manufacturing wage 
    including overtime.
    AVGUSHW = average U.S. hourly manufacturing wage including overtime.
    
        The State and national wage data are obtained from the Bureau of 
    Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, ``Employment, 
    Hours and Earnings,'' using the most current data available as of 
    October 1 of each year.
    
    Equation for State Specific Rent Subindex:
    
    Ri = AVGSTRTi/AVGUSRT    (5)
    
    where:
    AVGSTRTi = weighted average State specific rent (calculated 
    using Equation 6).
    AVGUSRT = weighted average U.S. rent (calculated using Equation 7).
    
    Equation for Weighted Average State Specific Rent:
    
    AVGSTRTi = (POPij*RENTij)/(POPij)    
    (6)
    
    where:
    POPij = population of jth subarea of the State.
    RENTij = fair market rent of 4-bedroom dwelling in jth subarea 
    of the State.
    
        Each State is subdivided into ``J'' mutually exclusive subareas 
    that cover the State. If the State is not a New England State, 
    population source data PSOURCEij (obtained at the State, county, 
    subdivision and place levels from the Bureau of the Census, ``Census of 
    Population and Housing''), and rent source data RTSOURCEij 
    (obtained at the State, county, and SMSA levels from the Department of 
    Housing and Urban Development, ``Fair Market Rents...'') are used to 
    calculate POPij and RENTij on a county-level basis (after 
    addition of population of ``independent cities'' for HI, MD, MO, MT, 
    and VA). If State I is a New England State, SMSA codes (obtained from 
    the Office of Management and Budget, ``Revised Statistical Definitions 
    of Metropolitan Areas (MAs) and Guidance on Uses of MA Definitions'') 
    are matched to county subdivisions; the non-SMSA balances of county 
    populations (using data obtained from the Bureau of the Census, ``Non-
    metropolitan New England County Names and Codes'') are determined; 
    POPij and RENTij are calculated on a township-level basis by 
    assigning groups of FIPS codes (obtained from the Department of 
    Commerce, ``FIPS Publications'') to SMSAs; and POPij and 
    RENTij are matched and merged.
    
    Equation for the Weighted Average of the U.S. Rent:
    
    AVGUSRT = (POPij*RENTij)/
    (POPij)    (7)
    
    Equation for State Specific Fiscal Capacity Index:
    
    Fi = maximum of 0.4 and 1-(0.35*((AVGTTRi/Ci)/
    (AVGTTRi/Ci))/(Pi/Pi)), if 
    specific State variable is a State, otherwise; 1-
    (0.35*((AVGTPIi/Ci)/(AVGTPIi/Ci))/
    (Pi/Pi)) if the State variable is DC    (8)
    
    where:
    AVGTTRi = State specific 3-year average Total Taxable Resources 
    (calculated using Equation 9).
    AVGTPIi = State specific 3-year average Total Personal Income 
    (calculated using Equation 10).
    
        The boundary value of 0.4, constant of 1, and coefficient of 0.35 
    are specified in the legislation.
    
    Equation for State Specific 3-Year Average Total Taxable Resources:
    
    AVGTTRi = (TTR1i+TTR2i+TTR3i)/3    (9)
    
    where:
    TTR1i, TTR2i and TTR3i = State specific Total Taxable 
    Resources, 3 most recent years.
    
        The total taxable resources by State data are obtained from the 
    Department of the Treasury, ``Total Taxable Resources by State, and are 
    updated annually for all three years used in the calculations.
    
    Equation for State Specific 3-Year Average Total Personal Income:
    
    AVGTPIi = (TPI1i+TPI2i+TPI3i)/3    (10)
    
    where:
    TPI1i, TPI2i and TPI3i = State specific Total 
    Personal Income, 3 most recent years.
    The total personal income by State data are obtained from the 
    Department of Commerce, Survey of Current Business, and are updated 
    annually for all three years used in the calculations.
    
    D. Territory Allocations
    
        The amount of an allotment for an individual territory is 
    determined by multiplying the appropriation amount for allotment to all 
    territories by the ratio of civilian population for an individual 
    territory to the civilian population of all territories. (See Technical 
    Note C, Section V.) Section 1918 of the PHS Act states that no 
    territory shall receive less than a minimum allotment of $50,000 each 
    fiscal year.
    
    E. Territory Calculations for Mental Health Block Grant
    
        The allocation for each territory is calculated using the equation 
    described below. For the purposes of explanation, the subscript ``I'' 
    is used to denote an individual territory, and the symbol ``'' 
    is used to denote the summation over all territories.
    
    TALLOCi=maximum of $50,000 and 0.015*0.95*AMT*PCCIVILi/
    PCCIVILi (11)
    
    where:
    PCCIVILi=Civilian population per most recent decennial census 
    for Territory I.
    
        The coefficients 0.015 and 0.95 are specified in the legislation. 
    They represent the proportion (0.015) of the total allocable funds to 
    be distributed among the territories and the proportion (0.95) of the 
    total appropriation to be allocated among the States, DC and the 
    territories. The appropriation amount is established by Congress. The 
    civilian population data is obtained from the Bureau of the Census, 
    ``Estimates of Resident Population of States, by Age.'' If the 
    Secretary determines that recent data on the civilian population of a 
    territory are not available for a fiscal year, the law authorizes DHHS 
    to estimate the population for the territory by modifying the most 
    recent data to reflect the average extent of change occurring during 
    the period in the population of all territories for which recent data 
    do exist. (See Technical Note C, Section V.) The boundary of $50,000 is 
    specified in the legislation.
    
    III. Legislative Requirements and Allocation Process for Substance 
    Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant
    
    A. Legislative Requirements
    
        Sections 1921 through 1935 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act 
    establish the SAPT Block Grant and the rules that must be followed in 
    making these grants. Section 1935(a) of the Act authorizes the 
    appropriation of funds for the substance abuse block grant. The size of 
    the appropriation is determined each year by the Congress. Section 
    1935(b) of the Act requires that 5 percent of the appropriated amount 
    in a given year shall be used by DHHS for data collection to determine 
    the incidence and prevalence of substance abuse and for technical 
    assistance and program evaluations relevant to substance abuse 
    treatment and prevention. The remaining 95 percent of the appropriation 
    must be allocated among the States and territories.
        Section 1933 of the PHS Act provides a formula for this allocation. 
    The law
    
    [[Page 30628]]
    
    specifies that 98.5 percent of the total allocation available for 
    distribution must be given to the States. The remaining 1.5 percent of 
    the total must be distributed to the territories.
        The law also provides for a direct federal allotment for Indian 
    tribes or tribal organizations that meet certain requirements. For any 
    tribe eligible to receive a direct allotment (See Technical Note E, 
    Section V.), the tribe's share of the relevant State's share is the 
    ratio of the tribe's FY 1991 allotment to that portion of the State 
    allotment actually spent on the authorized activities.
    
    B. State Allocations
    
        The amount of an allotment for a specific State is determined by 
    three factors: the Population at Risk, the Cost of Services Index, and 
    the Fiscal Capacity Index. The Population at Risk represents the 
    relative risk of substance abuse problems in a State. The Cost of 
    Services Index represents the relative costs of providing substance 
    abuse prevention and treatment services in a State. The Fiscal Capacity 
    Index represents the relative ability of the State to pay for substance 
    abuse related services. The product of these three terms establishes 
    the need for a given State.
        Formulas for calculating Population at Risk and the Fiscal Capacity 
    Index are specified in legislation. The Cost-of-Services Index formula 
    is not contained in the legislation, but is defined as a factor 
    ``determined according to the methodology presented in the report 
    entitled Adjusting the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Services 
    Block Grant Allocations for Poverty Populations and Cost of Service,'' 
    dated March 30, 1990, prepared by Health Economics Research.
        The law requires the estimates of the Population at Risk and the 
    Fiscal Capacity Index be revised each fiscal year. The Cost of Services 
    Index is revised every third fiscal year. Section 1918(a)(8) of the PHS 
    Act provides that the first determination of the Cost of Services Index 
    be made on October 1, 1992. The same factor remained in effect until FY 
    1995 when a new Index was developed. The Index will be recalculated for 
    FY 1998. DHHS is also directed by the legislation to ``* * * 
    periodically make such refinements in the methodology * * *'' for the 
    calculation of the Cost of Services Index as are consistent with the 
    purpose of this adjustment of the allotments. (See Technical Note B, 
    Section V.)
    
    C. State Calculations for the Substance Abuse Block Grant
    
        The allocation for each State is calculated using equations 
    described below. For the purposes of explanation, the subscript ``I'' 
    is used to denote an individual State or the District of Columbia, and 
    the symbol ``'' is used to denote the summation over the 50 
    States and the District of Columbia.
    
    General Equation:
    
    SALLOCi=0.985*0.95*AMT*(Pi*Ci*Fi)/
    ((Pi*Ci*Fi))    (12)
    
    where:
    SALLOCi=State specific allotment of the block grant.
    AMT=appropriation for substance abuse and related services.
    Pi=State specific Population at Risk Index (calculated using 
    Equation 13).
    Ci=State specific Cost of Services Index (calculated using 
    Equation 15).
    Fi=State specific Fiscal Capacity Index (calculated using 
    Equation 20).
    
        The coefficients 0.985 and 0.95 are specified in the law. The first 
    coefficient (0.985) represents the proportion of the total allocable 
    funds available for distribution to the States and the District of 
    Columbia. The second coefficient (0.95) represents the proportion of 
    the total appropriation available for allocation to all recipients--the 
    States, the District of Columbia, and the territories.
    
    Equation for the State Population at Risk:
    
    Pi=0.5*(P18-24i+UP18-24i)/((P18-
    24i+UP18-24i))+0.5*(P25-64i/P25-64i)    
    (13)
    
    where:
    P18-24i=State specific population aged 18 to 24.
    UP18-24i=State specific urban population aged 18 to 24 
    (calculated using Equation 14).
    P25-64i=State specific population aged 25 to 64.
    
        The coefficients 0.5 are specified in the legislation. The State 
    population by age group is obtained from the Bureau of the Census, 
    ``Resident Population of States, by Single Year of Age,'' using the 
    most current data available as of October 1 of each year.
    
    Equation for the State Specific Urban Population:
    
    UP18-24i=P18-24i*UPC18-24i/PC18-24i    (14)
    
    where:
    UPC18-24i=State specific urban population aged 18 to 24 (per 
    most recent decennial census).
    PC18-24i=State specific population aged 18 to 24 (per most 
    recent decennial census).
    
        Both sets of decennial census-based population data are obtained 
    from the Bureau of the Census, Census of Population and Housing, 1990: 
    Summary Tape File 1C. (See Technical Note D, Section V.)
    
    Equation for the Cost of Services Index:
    
    Ci=0.9 if 0.75*Wi+0.15*Ri+0.10*Si<0.9 (15)="" 1.1="" if="">i+0.15*Ri+0.10*Si>1.1
    Ci=0.75*Wi+0.15*Ri+0.10*Si otherwise.
    
    where:
    Wi=State specific wage subindex (calculated using Equation 16).
    Ri=State specific rent subindex (calculated using Equation 17).
    Si=State specific supplies subindex.
    
        The coefficients 0.75, 0.15, and 0.10 are specified in the article 
    cited by the legislation, as is Si, which is equal to 1 for all 
    States and the District of Columbia. The boundary values of 0.9 and 1.1 
    are specified in the legislation.
    
    Equation for State Specific Wage Subindex:
    
    Wi=AVGSTHWi/AVGUSHW    (16)
    
    where:
    AVGSTHWi=average State specific hourly manufacturing wage 
    including overtime.
    
    AVGUSHW=average U.S. hourly manufacturing wage including overtime.
    
        The State and national wage data are obtained from the Bureau of 
    Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, ``Employment, 
    Hours and Earnings,'' using the most current data available as of 
    October 1 of each year.
    
    Equation for Weighted Average State Specific Rent Subindex:
    
    Ri=AVGSTRTi/AVGUSRT    (17)
    
    where:
    AVGSTRTi=weighted average State specific rent (calculated using 
    Equation 18).
    AVGUSRT=weighted average U.S. rent (calculated using Equation 19).
    
    Equation for Weighted Average State Specific Rent:
    
    AVGSTRTi=(POPij*RENTij)/
    (POPij) (18)
    where:
    POPij=population of jth subarea of State I.
    RENTij=fair market rent of 4-bedroom dwelling in jth subarea of 
    State I.
    
        Each State is subdivided into ``J'' mutually exclusive subareas 
    that cover the State. If State I is not a New England State, population 
    source data PSOURCEij (obtained at the State, county, subdivision 
    and place levels from the Bureau of the Census, ``Census of Population 
    and Housing''), and rent source data RTSOURCEij (obtained at the 
    State, county, and SMSA levels from the Department of Housing and Urban 
    Development, ``Fair Market Rents * * *'') are used to calculate 
    POPij and RENTij on a county-level basis (after addition of 
    population of ``independent cities'' for HI, MD, MO, MT, and VA). If 
    State I is a New England State, SMSA codes (obtained from the Office of 
    Management and Budget, ``Revised Statistical Definitions of 
    Metropolitan
    
    [[Page 30629]]
    
    Areas (MAs) and Guidance on Uses of MA Definitions'') are matched to 
    county subdivisions; the non-SMSA balances of county populations (using 
    data obtained from the Bureau of the Census, ``Non-metropolitan New 
    England County Names and Codes'') are determined; POPij and 
    RENTij are calculated on a township-level basis by assigning 
    groups of FIPS codes (obtained from the Department of Commerce, ``FIPS 
    Publications'') to SMSAs; and POPij and RENTij are matched 
    and merged.
    
    Equation for Weighted Average of the U.S. Rent:
    
    AVGUSRT=(POPij*RENTij)/
    (POPij)    (19)
    Equation for State Specific Fiscal Capacity Index:
    Fi=maximum of 0.4 and 1-(0.35*((AVGTTRi/Ci)/
    (AVGTTRi/Ci))/(Pi/Pi)), if 
    specific State is a State, otherwise 1-(0.35*((AVGTPIi/
    Ci)/(AVGTPIi/Ci))/(Pi/
    Pi)) if the State variable is DC    (20)
    
    where:
    AVGTTRi=State specific 3-year average Total Taxable Resources 
    (calculated using Equation 21).
    AVGTPIi=State specific 3-year average Total Personal Income 
    (calculated using Equation 22).
    
        The boundary value of 0.4, constant of 1, and coefficient of 0.35 
    are specified in the legislation.
    
    Equation for State Specific 3-Year Average Total Taxable Resources:
    
    AVGTTRi=(TTR1i+TTR2i+TTR3i)/3    (21)
    where:
    TTR1i, TTR2i and TTR3i=State specific Total Taxable 
    Resources, 3 most recent years.
    
        The total taxable resources by State data are obtained from the 
    Department of the Treasury, ``Total Taxable Resource by State,'' and 
    are updated annually for all three years used in the calculations.
    Equation for State Specific 3-Year Average Total Personal Income:
    
    AVGTPIi=(TPI1i+TPI2i+TPI3i)/3    (22)
    where:
    TPI1i, TPI2i and TPI3i=State specific Total Personal 
    Income, 3 most recent years.
    
        The total personal income by State data are obtained from the 
    Department of Commerce, ``Survey of Current Business,'' and are updated 
    annually for all three years used in the calculations.
    
    D. Territory Allocations
    
        The amount of an allotment for an individual territory is 
    determined by multiplying the appropriation amount for allotment to all 
    territories by the ratio of civilian population for an individual 
    territory to the civilian population of all territories. (See Technical 
    Note C, Section V.) Section 1933 of the PHS Act specifies that no 
    territory shall receive less than a minimum allotment of $50,000 each 
    fiscal year.
    
    E. Territory Calculations for Substance Abuse Block Grant
    
        The allocation for each territory is calculated using the equation 
    described below. For the purposes of explanation, the subscript ``I'' 
    is used to denote an individual territory, and the symbol ``'' 
    is used to denote the summation over all territories.
    
    TALLOCi=maximum of $50,000 and
    
    0.015*0.95*AMT*PCCIVILi/PCCIVILi    (23)
    
    where:
    PCCIVILi=Civilian population per most recent decennial census 
    for Territory I.
    
        The coefficients 0.015 and 0.95 are specified in the legislation. 
    The first coefficient (0.015) represents the proportion of the total 
    allocable funds to be distributed among the territories. The second 
    coefficient (0.95) represent the proportion of the total appropriation 
    to be allocated among the States, DC and the territories. The Congress 
    establishes the level of the appropriation each fiscal year. The 
    civilian population data is obtained from the Bureau of the Census, 
    ``Estimates of Resident Population of States, by Age.'' If the 
    Secretary determines that recent data on the civilian population of a 
    territory are not available for a fiscal year, the law authorizes DHHS 
    to estimate the population for the territory by modifying the most 
    recent data to reflect the average extent of change occurring during 
    the period in the population of all territories for which recent data 
    do exist. (See Technical Note C, Section V.) The boundary of $50,000 is 
    specified in the legislation.
    
    F. Allocations to Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations
    
        The Red Lake Band of the Chippewa Indians in Minnesota receives a 
    direct allocation, as provided under Section 1933(d) of the PHS Act. 
    (See Technical Note E, Section V.) Therefore, the substance abuse block 
    grant allocation for the State of Minnesota is apportioned between the 
    Red Lake Band of Chippewas and the remainder of the State as provided 
    in the law and described in the following equations.
    
    Equation for Allotment of Funds to the Red Lake Indians:
    
    RLIALLOC=SALLOCMN*0.0240535  (24)
    
    where:
    RLIALLOC=allotment for Red Lake Indians.
    
    SALLOCMN=Minnesota State allotment (calculated using Equation 
    12).
    
        The coefficient 0.0240535 reflects FY 1991 funding, as specified by 
    Section 1933(d) of the PHS Act.
    
    Equation for the Allotment for the Remainder of Minnesota:
    
    MNRALLOC=SALLOCMN-RLIALLOC  (25)
    
    where:
    MNRALLOC=allotment for the remainder of Minnesota.
    
    IV. Data Elements and Sources
    
        The following table presents a list of data elements used in the 
    allocation formulas. It identifies the agency that develops the data, 
    the frequency with which that source agency updates the data, and 
    includes some technical notes about the data as they are used in the 
    allocation formulas. The table also shows the years of the data used in 
    the FY 1996 allocations.
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Data element and update                                              
     frequency by source agency        Data source              Notes       
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Taxable Resources       U.S. Department of    1. Calculations are 
     (TTR), by State--Annual.      the Treasury,         made specifically  
                                   Office of Economic    for these block    
                                   Policy. Unpublished   grants, and        
                                   data, dated August    provided to SAMHSA 
                                   24, 1994.             on diskette.       
                                                        2. Annual estimates 
                                                         include revision of
                                                         estimates for the  
                                                         two prior years.   
                                                         Therefore, all     
                                                         three years of data
                                                         are replaced each  
                                                         year.              
                                                        3. The data used in 
                                                         the calculations   
                                                         consist of the     
                                                         source data as     
                                                         received truncated 
                                                         to three           
                                                         significant decimal
                                                         places             
                                                        4. FY 1996          
                                                         allocations use 3- 
                                                         year average of    
                                                         data for 1991,     
                                                         1992, 1993.        
                                                        5. Used in Fiscal   
                                                         Capacity Index.    
    
    [[Page 30630]]
    
                                                                            
    Total Personal Income (TPI),  U.S. Department of    1. Final estimates  
     by State--Annual.             Commerce, Bureau of   are typically      
                                   Economic Analysis.    published in       
                                   Survey of Current     August, including  
                                   Business: Press       revision of        
                                   release BEA 94-36     estimates for the  
                                   dated August 23,      two prior years.   
                                   1994, Table 3--       Therefore, all     
                                   Total Personal        three years of data
                                   Income, by State      are replaced each  
                                   and Region, 1989-93.  year.              
                                                        2. FY 1996          
                                                         allocations use 3- 
                                                         year average of    
                                                         data for 1991,     
                                                         1992, 1993.        
                                                        3. Used in Fiscal   
                                                         Capacity Index.    
    Estimates of Resident         U.S. Department of    1. The only Bureau  
     Population of States, by      Commerce, Bureau of   of the Census      
     Age--Annual.                  the Census.           release of         
                                   Unpublished           population         
                                   estimates by the      estimates by single
                                   Population            year of age (needed
                                   Division,             to create age      
                                   Population            groupings for      
                                   Distribution Branch.  population at risk 
                                                         in each block      
                                                         grant) is in early 
                                                         March for July 1 of
                                                         the previous year. 
                                                         Data for July 1,   
                                                         1993 were only     
                                                         released on        
                                                         diskette by the    
                                                         Population         
                                                         Distribution       
                                                         Branch, Population 
                                                         Division, 301-457- 
                                                         2385. Cost is $20. 
                                                         Data for subsequent
                                                         years are available
                                                         on the Internet;   
                                                         estimates on the   
                                                         Internet are those 
                                                         for the most recent
                                                         year available.    
                                                        2. FY 1996          
                                                         allocations use    
                                                         estimates for July 
                                                         1, 1993.           
                                                        3. Used to determine
                                                         Population at Risk.
    Population age 18-24 and 18-  U.S. Department of    1. Urbanized        
     24 living in urbanized        Commerce, Bureau of   population is used 
     areas, by State--Decennial.   the Census. Census    only in the        
                                   of Population and     substance abuse    
                                   Housing, 1990:        block grant.       
                                   Summary Tape File                        
                                   1C.                                      
                                                        2. The Bureau of the
                                                         Census does not    
                                                         make inter-censal  
                                                         estimates of the   
                                                         urbanized          
                                                         population.        
                                                         Therefore, data    
                                                         from the 1990      
                                                         census are used    
                                                         until data from the
                                                         2000 census are    
                                                         available.         
                                                        3. Used to determine
                                                         Population at Risk.
    Population by county--        U.S. Department of    1. County population
     Decennial.                    Commerce, Bureau of   is used in         
                                   the Census. Census    conjunction with   
                                   of Population and     Fair Market Rent in
                                   Housing, 1990:        the Cost of        
                                   Summary Tape File     Services Index.    
                                   1C.                                      
                                                        2. In order to have 
                                                         population data for
                                                         the specific       
                                                         geographic area    
                                                         configurations used
                                                         in the FMR files,  
                                                         it is necessary to 
                                                         use data available 
                                                         only from the      
                                                         decennial census.  
                                                         1990 data were used
                                                         for FY 1996        
                                                         allocations.       
                                                        3. Used in Cost of  
                                                         Services Index     
    Civilian population of the    U.S. Department of    1. Each press       
     U.S. territories--Varies.     Commerce, Bureau of   release also       
                                   the Census,           included data for  
                                   Population            1980, except for   
                                   Division. 1990 data   Puerto Rico. 1980  
                                   released in press     data for Puerto    
                                   releases, as          Rico are from      
                                   follows: American     report PC 80-1-A53,
                                   Samoa, CB 91-242 (7/  Table 2, page 53-10
                                   24/91); Guam, CB 91-  (12/84).           
                                   276 (9/13/91);                           
                                   Northern Mariana                         
                                   Islands, CB 91-243                       
                                   (7/24/91); Palau,                        
                                   CB 91-244 (7/24/                         
                                   91); Puerto Rico CB                      
                                   91-275 (9/13/91);                        
                                   Virgin Islands CB                        
                                   91-263 (8/23/91).                        
                                                        2. The Bureau of the
                                                         Census no longer   
                                                         collects data for  
                                                         the Federated      
                                                         States of          
                                                         Micronesia and the 
                                                         Republic of the    
                                                         Marshall Islands.  
                                                         See Technical Note 
                                                         C in Section V.    
                                                        3. Inter-censal     
                                                         estimates are made 
                                                         only for Puerto    
                                                         Rico.              
    Average hourly manufacturing  U.S. Department of    1. Data include     
     wage, by State--Annual.       Labor, Bureau of      overtime.          
                                   Labor Statistics,                        
                                   Current Employment                       
                                   Statistics Survey,                       
                                   ``Employment and                         
                                   Earnings,'' May                          
                                   1994. Table 2, p.                        
                                   162--(Annualized)                        
                                   Average Hourly                           
                                   Earnings, by State,                      
                                   1993.                                    
                                                        2. FY 1996          
                                                         allocations use    
                                                         1993 data.         
                                                        3. Used in Cost of  
                                                         Services Index.    
    U.S. average manufacturing    U.S. Department of    1. Data include     
     wage--Annual.                 Labor, Bureau of      overtime.          
                                   Labor Statistics.                        
                                   Current Employment                       
                                   Statistics Survey,                       
                                   ``Employment and                         
                                   Earnings,'' May                          
                                   1994. Table B-2, p.                      
                                   52--National                             
                                   (Annualized)                             
                                   Average Hourly                           
                                   Earnings for 1993.                       
                                                        2. FY 1996          
                                                         allocation uses    
                                                         data for 1993.     
                                                        3. Used in Cost of  
                                                         Services Index.    
    Four Bedroom Fair Market      ``Section 8 Housing   1. HUD is required  
     Rent (FMR)--Annual.           Assistance Payments   by law to establish
                                   Program; Fair         FMRs annually and  
                                   Market Rent           to publish proposed
                                   Schedules for Use     and final FMR's in 
                                   in the Rental         the Federal        
                                   Certificate           Register.          
                                   Program, Loan                            
                                   Management and                           
                                   Property                                 
                                   Disposition                              
                                   Programs; Moderate                       
                                   Rehabilitation                           
                                   Program and Rental                       
                                   Voucher Program (24                      
                                   CFR Part 888)                            
                                   issued by the                            
                                   Department of                            
                                   Housing and Urban                        
                                   Development, Office                      
                                   of the Secretary.                        
                                   Federal Register,                        
                                   September 28, 1994,                      
                                   Part IV; Vol 59,                         
                                   No. 187, pp. 49494-                      
                                   49553..                                  
    
    [[Page 30631]]
    
                                                                            
                                                        2. The typical cycle
                                                         is a Notice of     
                                                         Proposed Rule      
                                                         Making published in
                                                         late April or early
                                                         May, with the Final
                                                         Rule published in  
                                                         the last two weeks 
                                                         of September for an
                                                         October 1 effective
                                                         date.              
                                                        3. Used in Cost of  
                                                         Services Index.    
    Metropolitan Area             ``Section 8 Housing   1. The Federal      
     Definitions for FMR--         Assistance Payments   Register notice    
     Annual, at a minimum.         Program; Fair         fully documents how
                                   Market Rent           ``housing market   
                                   Schedules for Use     areas'' are defined
                                   in the Rental         and how            
                                   Certificate           Metropolitan Area  
                                   Program, Loan         definitions are    
                                   Management and        used. For non-     
                                   Property              metropolitan areas,
                                   Disposition           counties are used. 
                                   Programs; Moderate    In New England,    
                                   Rehabilitation        town definitions   
                                   Program and Rental    are used.          
                                   Voucher Program (24                      
                                   CFR Part 888)                            
                                   issued by the                            
                                   Department of                            
                                   Housing and Urban                        
                                   Development, Office                      
                                   of the Secretary.                        
                                   Federal Register,                        
                                   April 6, 1994, Part                      
                                   XII, Vol 59, No.                         
                                   66, pp. 16408-16484.                     
                                                        2. Used in Cost of  
                                                         Services Index     
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    
    V. Technical Notes
    
    A. Establishment of Cutoff Date for ``Most Recent Data''
    
        The legislation for both block grants refers to use of the most 
    recent available data in calculating the allotments for each State and 
    territory. Section 1918(a)(5)(B) states that ``With respect to data on 
    population that is necessary for purposes of making a determination 
    under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use the most recent data 
    that is available from the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to the 
    decennial census and pursuant to reasonable estimates by such Secretary 
    of changes occurring in the data in the ensuing period.'' Section 
    1918(a)(6)(B)(I) requires use of ``the most recent 3-year arithmetic 
    mean of the total taxable resources of the State, as determined by the 
    Secretary of the Treasury.'' Section 1918(a)(6)(D)(ii) requires ``the 
    most recent 3-year arithmetic mean of total personal income in such 
    District [the District of Columbia], as determined by the Secretary of 
    Commerce.''
        When the legislation for the two block grants was first 
    implemented, SAMHSA staff tried to update population and other data 
    whenever new estimates of the block grant allotments were required. 
    This caused considerable confusion because projections of specific 
    State allotments under the two Block Grant programs were changing 
    constantly. Specific State allotment projections for various 
    appropriation levels must be provided to Congress early in the budget 
    consideration process; and changing estimates complicate the decision 
    making process.
        Given the time constraints and the need for consistent estimates 
    for the budget process, SAMHSA now bases all calculations on the latest 
    data available by the beginning of each fiscal year (October 1). For 
    example, allotments for FY 1997, determined during FY 1996, employ 
    those data available as of October 1, 1995. This approach was adopted 
    for all allotment determinations beginning with those for FY 1996. 
    Congress was notified of the change in approach in February, 1995.
    
    B. Wage Data Set for Cost of Services Index
    
        The Cost of Services Index is discussed on page 13 of the report 
    cited in Section 1918(a)(8)(B) of the Act. According to that report ``* 
    * * the ideal cost-of-service measure would be data on the cost of 
    providing a standard set of substance abuse and mental health services 
    in each State.'' The report also notes such data are not available. The 
    report reviews several potential sources of wage data, and proposes the 
    use of non-manufacturing wage data from the decennial Census of 
    Population and Housing. At the time of the 1990 report, the only census 
    information available was 1980. Those data referred to earnings in 
    1979. A copy of the unpublished report is available on request from the 
    `Information Contact' listed at the beginning of this notice.
        When SAMHSA began to assemble information to make the first block 
    grant allotment computations, the non-manufacturing wages data from the 
    1990 census were not yet available and the 1979 data were out-of-date. 
    After consultation with the Comptroller General, as required by the PHS 
    Act, SAMSHA decided to use manufacturing wage data collected annually 
    by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through the Current Employment 
    Statistics Program for developing estimates for the Cost of Services 
    Index.
        There are several advantages to using manufacturing wage data. (1) 
    Timeliness. The BLS data are collected continuously on a monthly basis. 
    In contrast, the most recent non-manufacturing data were collected in 
    1989 during the decennial census and are not subject to post-census 
    updates in the years between censuses. (2) Reliability. Hours and 
    earnings manufacturing data are based on the actual records of gross 
    payrolls and corresponding paid hours of employment maintained by 
    economic establishments for a variety of tax and accounting purposes. 
    Non-manufacturing decennial census data are based on individual self-
    report. (3) Scope. Manufacturing wage data are collected on a monthly 
    basis from a large sample of manufacturing establishments from which 
    valid estimates of wages at the State level can be made. According to 
    the BLS ``Manual on Series Available and Estimating Methods, Current 
    Employment Statistics Program, March 1994,'' published in March 1995, 
    the sample contains over 61,000 manufacturing establishments. Non-
    manufacturing data are collected from a 1-in-6 sample of households in 
    the decennial census, only a portion of which report non-manufacturing 
    wage data. (4) Suitability. Because the sampling point for the BLS 
    Current Employment Statistics Program is the economic establishment, 
    i.e., the point at which economic activity is generated, the resulting 
    manufacturing wage data are better suited to providing information on 
    the geographic distribution of employment and its impact on the demand 
    for labor as measured by wage rates.
        BLS collects its data from a survey conducted in cooperation with 
    State Employment Security Agencies, which obtain the data from a sample 
    of employers who are able to report the actual weekly wage data from 
    their records of payments. By contrast, the household survey method 
    used in the decennial census to obtain non-manufacturing wage data 
    places primary emphasis on the employment status of individuals and 
    other demographic
    
    [[Page 30632]]
    
    characteristics of the labor force. To obtain its estimates, Census 
    divides the total annual income due to wages reported by households by 
    52 to derive a weekly figure. The data are then divided by the reported 
    number of hours worked during the census week to derive a wage value. 
    The resulting estimate is not precise. Therefore, the BLS manufacturing 
    wage data are used in computing the allotments under the block grants. 
    The appropriate Congressional committees were informed of this 
    approach.
    
    C. Population Estimates for Territories
    
        For both the mental health and the substance abuse block grants the 
    law provides that the Secretary shall estimate the civilian population 
    of a territory current if data on the civilian population of the 
    territory does not exist. These estimates are developed by modifying 
    the population estimates for the territories for which recent data do 
    not exist by the average increase or decrease in the population of all 
    territories for which there are recent data.
        Data are available from the 1990 census for American Samoa, Guam, 
    the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico and the Virgin 
    Islands. For the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the 
    Marshall Islands the latest data on population are from 1980. The 
    Census Bureau no longer has responsibility for collecting data from 
    these two territories, which signed Compacts of Free Association with 
    the United States in 1988. The 1990 population estimates for the 
    Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands 
    were derived by applying the average percent change between 1980 and 
    1990 for the other territories to their 1980 populations. This 
    determination was made as follows:
    
    Territory Populations for Which the Bureau of the Census--Collected Data
                  in 1980 and 1990 and Percent Change 1980-1990             
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1980         1990       Percent  
                Territory               Population   Population     change  
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    American Samoa...................       32,297       46,773        +44.8
    Guam.............................      105,979      133,152        +25.6
    Northern Mariana Islands.........       16,780       43,345       +158.3
    Palau............................       12,116       15,122        +24.8
    Puerto Rico......................    3,196,520    3,522,037        +10.2
    Virgin Islands...................       96,569      101,809         +5.4
                                                   --------------           
          Average Increase...........  ...........  ...........        +44.9
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
          1990 Estimated Populations of Territories for Which the Bureau of the Census No Longer Collects Data      
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  1990 Estimated    
                                                                                              population (using 44.9
                                                                       1980 Population as        percent average    
                               Territory                                   enumerated          territory population 
                                                                                               increase from above  
                                                                                                      table)        
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Federated States of Micronesia................................                   73,087                  105,903
    Republic of the Marshall Islands..............................                   30,873                   44,735
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        The Bureau of the Census has made post-1990 decennial census 
    estimates only for Puerto Rico. With post-1990 estimates available only 
    for Puerto Rico, the only way to adjust the population estimates for 
    the other territories is to assume that the percentage change in the 
    population of each is similar to the percentage change in Puerto Rico. 
    Since the distribution of funding for each territory is proportional to 
    its contribution to the total population of the territories, any 
    adjustment based only on the change for Puerto Rico would not alter the 
    allocation of funds. Therefore, the territory population data and 
    estimates for 1990 continue to be used for allocation purposes.
    
    D. Population in Urbanized Areas for Substance Abuse Block Grant
    
        The formula for the SAPT block grant adjusts for the population at 
    risk for substance abuse using the State population between 18-24 years 
    of age living in urbanized areas and the total U.S. population between 
    18-24 years living in urbanized areas. The Bureau of the Census does 
    not make inter-censal estimates of the population living in urbanized 
    areas. Therefore, the estimates of this population group are derived 
    from the 1990 census.
    
    E. Indian Tribes Receiving Direct Allotments Under the Substance Abuse 
    Block Grant
    
        Section 1933(d) of the Act provides for separate grants for 
    substance abuse prevention and treatment to Indian tribes or tribal 
    organizations. Several categorical grant programs for which a number of 
    tribes had been direct recipients were folded into the former ADMS 
    block grant when it was established in 1981. The Red Lake Band of the 
    Chippewa Indians in Minnesota was the only tribe or tribal organization 
    still receiving ADMS block grant funds at the time the SAPT Block Grant 
    was established in 1992 and is therefore the only Indian tribe 
    currently eligible for direct receipt of funds. This group continues to 
    receive a direct allotment under the SAPT Block Grant. The funding 
    level for the Red Lake Indians, as determined by SAMSHA based on FY 
    1991 funding levels, is 0.0240535 of the total amount of the Minnesota 
    annual allocation.
    
        Dated: June 7, 1996.
    Richard Kopanda,
    Executive Officer, SAMHSA.
    [FR Doc. 96-15010 Filed 6-14-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4162-20-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/17/1996
Department:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice and opportunity for public comment.
Document Number:
96-15010
Dates:
Written comments must be received by August 1, 1996. Any written comments received will be taken into consideration and will become a matter of public record.
Pages:
30625-30632 (8 pages)
PDF File:
96-15010.pdf