[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 122 (Monday, June 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15538]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 27, 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
Final Funding Priorities for Cooperative Agreements for Area
Health Education Centers Program for Fiscal Year 1994
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces
the final funding priorities for fiscal year 1994, Cooperative
Agreements for the Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program
authorized under the authority of section 746 (a)(l), title VII of the
Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended by the Health Professions
Education Extension Amendments of 1992, dated October 13, 1992.
Purpose
Section 746(a)(1) of the PHS Act authorizes Federal assistance to
schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine which have cooperative
arrangements with one or more public or nonprofit private area health
education centers for the planning, development and operation of area
health education center programs.
Final Funding Priorities for FY 1994
Proposed funding priorities were published in the Federal Register
on February 17, 1994, at 59 FR 8000, for public comment. Several
comments were received from one respondent. Comments on aspects of the
proposed notice which were not specifically proposed for public comment
are not addressed in this notice.
The respondent suggested a change in the funding priority proposed
for applicants which demonstrate an increase in the percentage of
graduates who have entered a Primary Care Residency for the most recent
3-year period. The respondent suggested that this priority be expanded
to include awarding of the priority to applicants who have, during the
most recent 3-year period, maintained a percentage of graduates
entering a Primary Care Residency which substantially exceeds the
average for all U.S. medical schools. This addition to the proposed
funding priority would aid medical schools which may be maintaining a
high percentage, i.e., 50-60 percent, compared to medical schools which
may show a significant increase but start at a lower percentage, i.e.,
increase from 15 to 25 percent. It should be noted that an average
percentage for all U.S. medical schools (osteopathic and allopathic)
would most likely be lower than the 50-60 percent, example cited, and
would not encourage schools to focus their efforts on increasing their
percentage of graduates entering a Primary Care Residency. The second
comment was related to the funding priority proposed for applicants
which demonstrate an increase in the percentage of underrepresented
minorities for the most recent 3-year period. The respondent suggested
that for this priority the term ``minority'' should be used rather than
underrepresented minority. The intent of this funding priority is to
reward those applicants who show progress in reaching underrepresented
minority populations. It is understood that data necessary to establish
that specific populations or subpopulations are underrepresented in a
specific discipline may not be readily accessible, or may differ in
terms of data reported to medical school associations. Efforts were
made in the application materials to assist applicants by allowing data
to be presented in two ways, in a manner similar to that provided to
their medical school association, or to present student applicant data
related to the number and percent of minority population in the State
where the applicant is based. All of the data on minorities presented
by the applicants will be reviewed, recognizing that ``underrepresented
minorities'' is defined for all applicants to this program in the
Federal Register notice.
Therefore, the final funding priorities will be retained as
follows:
A funding priority be given to:
1. Applicants which demonstrate an increase in the percentage of
graduates who have entered a Primary Care (Family Medicine, General
Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics) Residency, for the most recent
3-year period.
2. Applicants which demonstrate an increase in the percentage of
underrepresented minority graduates for the most recent 3-year period.
Additional Information
If additional programmatic information is needed, please contact:
Mr. Lou Coccodrilli, Acting Chief, AHEC and Special Programs Branch,
Division of Medicine, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources
and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Parklawn Building, room
9A-05, Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: (301) 443-6817, FAX: (301)
443-8890.
This program is listed at 93.824 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance. It is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order
12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs (as implemented
through 45 CFR part 100).
This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting
Requirements.
Dated: June 22, 1994.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
M.D., M.P.H.T.M. Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-15538 Filed 6-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P
