 |
 |
| 93.256 STATE PLANNING GRANTS HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR THE UNINSURED |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Public Law 108-447. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To support States in the development of plans to provide access to health insurance coverage for all citizens. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| The State Planning Grants (SPG) Program provides 3 types of grants. The first type is a 1-year grant for States which have never received SPG funds to develop plans for providing access to affordable health insurance coverage to all citizens. Each State will design an approach that would ensure every citizen in that State has access to affordable health insurance benefits similar in scope to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan, Medicaid, benefits offered to State employees, or other similar health plans. At the conclusion of the grant, each State will submit a report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services that identifies the characteristics of the uninsured within its State and proposals for providing them with affordable health insurance coverage. Together, these reports will provide additional data about the characteristics of the uninsured generally and potential models for other States seeking to provide comprehensive coverage. The second and third types are Limited Competition Pilot Project Planning and Planning funds which are available to existing and former SPG Program grantees. Limited Competition Pilot Project Planning 1-year grants are to support the design and planning of a pilot project to expand health insurance coverage to a significant uninsured population within the State. Limited Competition Planning 1-year grants are for States that have received SPG Program grant funds and need additional resources to complete or expand upon the activities already initiated with previous grant funds. (2) Funding provided through this program may not be used to substitute for or duplicate funds currently supporting similar activities. In addition, grant funds may not be used to support construction, renovation, or modernization costs. Grant funds may support costs such as: a) Project staff salaries; b) consultants; c) project-related travel; d) project evaluation; e) limited equipment and software purchases or leases; and f) coordinating and conducting project-related meetings. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| The Governor of each State or Territory that has not previously received a The Governor of each State or Territory that has not previously received a State Planning Grant is invited to apply for a New grant. The Governor can designate an individual or agency authorized to prepare the State's application on behalf of the State. Only a State entity can be the official recipient of a grant. Only one application per State is permitted. For Limited Competition Pilot Project Planning Grants, eligible applicants are any public State entity that has previously received a SPG Program grant. Only a State entity, nominated by the Governor, can be the official recipient of a Pilot Project Planning grant. Only one application per State is accepted. All SPG Program applicants that propose a pilot planning project must include letters of support from the Governor and the State legislature for the pilot project. Letters of support are to be provided from the leaders of both the House and Senate legislative bodies, or equivalent representative(s). For Limited Competition Planning Grants, eligible applicants are any public State entity that has previously received a SPG Program grant. Only one application per State is accepted. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| New and Limited Competition Planning grant funding will assist States to develop models for providing access to health insurance coverage for all citizens of the State. Limited Competition Pilot Project Planning grant funding will assist States in the design and planning of a pilot project of an option or options on which consensus has been developed and will expand health insurance coverage to a significant uninsured population within the State. These grants will also have the potential to be broadly applicable to other States working on expansion options for their uninsured. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Applicants should review the individual HRSA Guidance documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| Grant applications and required forms for this program can be obtained from Grants.gov. Please visit the Grants.gov Web site at www.grants.gov to both find and apply for all Federal grant opportunities. All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee which will make funding recommendations to the Associate Administrator for the Healthcare Systems Bureau. The Associate Administrator has the authority to make final selections for awards. |
| Award Procedure |
| Each of the applications will undergo an eligibility and conformance review by Federal staff at the State Planning Grants Program Office. Applications that have passed the eligibility and conformance review will be assigned to members of an Objective Review Committee (ORC) that will review them based on the evaluation criteria listed in the application guidance. The results of the ORC reviews will be shared with the HRSA Administrator who will make the final decisions. |
| Deadlines |
| www.hrsa.gov. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| The time required for the applications to be approved or disapproved is projected to be 90 days. |
| Appeals |
| None. |
| Renewals |
| None. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Funds are available to grantees on an as needed basis throughout the budget period and payments are made through the DHHS Payment Management System. |
| Reports |
| Reports are to be provided as outlined in the grant conditions. |
| Audits |
| In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. |
| Records |
| All records must be maintained until expiration of 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions remain following the 3-uear period, such as those raised as a result of an audit or an on-going enforcement action, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. |
| Account Identification |
| 75-0350-0-1-550. |
| Obligations |
| (Grants) FY 07 est not available; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not available. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| None. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| Through FY 05, 52 States, Territories, and the District of Columbia have received SPG Program funds. Of these, 50 conducted household surveys, 29 conducted employer surveys, 34 conducted consumer focus groups, 37 conducted employer focus groups, and 26 States have participated in the Multi-State Integrated Database System, funded for state grantee analysis of data collected. All grantees submit annual reports on their progress in studying the uninsured and developing plans for expanded insurance coverage. In FY 08, this program is not anticipating funding, therefore no notable accomplishments are anticipated. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR Part 92 for State, local and tribal governments and 45 CFR Part 74 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofit organizations and commercial organizations, as applicable. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Joyce G. Somsak, Director, State Planning Grants Program, Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Service Administration, Room 11-05, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-0938. Fax: (301) 443-8196. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Grants Management Office: Rick Goodman, Director, Division of Grants Management Operations, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11A-16. Health Services Branch: (301) 443-2385; Research and Training Branch: (301) 443-3099; Government and Special Focus Branch: (301) 443-3288. |
| Web Site Address |
| www.hrsa.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| The State Planning Grants Program grants awarded in FY 04, and those which will be awarded in FY 05 are available at: www/hrsa/gov/osp under "State Planning Grants Program." |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Please see program guidance. |
|
General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
|