[Federal Register: November 13, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 219)]
[Notices]
[Page 64357-64358]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13no03-65]
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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) (60 FR 56605, as amended November 6, 1995; as last amended at 68
FR 8515-8517, February 21, 2003). This notice is to announce the re-
titling of the Office of Special Programs to the Special Programs
Bureau and to amend the functional statement to include functions
relating to the National Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Program,
the Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act Program and the Trauma-
Emergency Medical Services Systems Program. Specifically, this notice
establishes the Division of Health Care Emergency Preparedness (RR5)
and the Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Office (RR6) in
the newly titled Special Programs Bureau (RR) as follows:
Special Programs Bureau (RR)
Provides the overall leadership and direction for the procurement,
allocation, and transplantation of human organs and bone marrow;
programmatic, financial and architectural/engineering support for
construction/renovation programs; operation of the Department's Vaccine
Injury Compensation Program and the State Planning Grants Program.
Specifically: (1) Administers the Organ Procurement and Transplantation
Network and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients to assure
compliance with Federal regulations and policies; (2) administers the
National Marrow Donor Program in matching volunteer unrelated marrow
donors for transplants and studying the effectiveness of unrelated
marrow donors for transplants and related treatment; (3) develops and
maintains a national program of grants and contracts to organ
procurement organizations and other entities to increase the
availability of various organs to transplant candidates; (4) manages
the national program for compliance with the Hill-Burton uncompensated
care requirement and other assurances; (5) directs and administers the
Section 242 hospital mortgage insurance program (through inter-agency
agreement with HUD) and HHS direct and guaranteed construction loan
repayment program; (6) directs and administers an earmarked grant
program for the construction/renovation/equipping of health care and
other facilities; (7) directs and administers the National Vaccine
Injury Compensation Program; (8) directs and administers the Smallpox
Emergency Personnel Protection Act Program; (9) directs and administers
the State Planning Grants Program; (10) directs and administers the
National Hospital Bioterrorism Preparedness Program; and (11) directs
and administers the Trauma-Emergency Medical Services Systems Program.
Division of Health Care Emergency Preparedness (RR5)
The Division of Health Care Emergency Preparedness (DHCEP)
facilitates the development of State, territorial and municipal
terrorism preparedness programs under grants and/or cooperative
agreements to improve the Nation's health care systems to respond to
any terrorism or other public health emergency event. Specifically, the
Division, together with other components of the Agency; (1) serves as
the national focus for leadership in and coordination of Federal,
State, local and non-governmental efforts to define the readiness needs
for any terrorism or other public health emergency event and to assist
in the development of programs that address the problems; (2) analyzes
or coordinates analysis of regional or national issues and problems and
recommends responses to those problems through research, training, or
other actions, as indicated; (3) develops, interprets, and disseminates
policies, regulations, standards, guidelines, new knowledge, and
program information for the various programs and services relevant to
terrorism and emergency preparedness; (4) provides technical assistance
and professional consultation to field and headquarters staffs, to
State and local health personnel, to other Federal agencies, and to
voluntary and professional organizations on all aspects of terrorism
preparedness planning efforts; (5) establishes and maintains
cooperative working relationships with voluntary, professional, and
other relevant entities and serves as a focal point for communications
to improve terrorism preparedness; (6) coordinates within this Agency
and with other Federal program efforts to extend and improve
comprehensive, coordinated services and promote integrated, state-based
systems of care for this program; (7) administers a program of
cooperative agreements and contracts to provide comprehensive
approaches to improve
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terrorism preparedness; (8) works collaboratively with the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the Department's Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness in
administering the National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program.
Further, HRSA has identified key stakeholders in other Federal
agencies, including the Department of Defense and Homeland Security as
well as key national professional organizations: (9) administers the
Trauma-Emergency Medical Services Systems Program; (10) promotes
coordination of terrorism preparedness under the Public Health Security
and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Section 319 of
the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) while supporting
activities related to countering potential terrorist threats to
civilian populations; (11) administers the Trauma-Emergency Medical
Services Systems Program within the authority of Title XII of the PHS
Act and provides leadership to facilitate the development of effective,
comprehensive and inclusive statewide trauma systems. The program
promotes trauma systems that are prepared and are responsive to
emergency and disaster situations, are coordinated with State Emergency
Management and disaster planning efforts. The Trauma-EMS Systems
Program works to accomplish these goals by providing national
leadership, performing nation system assessments, strategic planning
for priority initiatives, awarding grants to support State
infrastructure development, supporting the development of best
practices and models for State trauma systems planning and evaluation,
and coordinating related Federal activities.
Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Office (RR6)
The Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Office (SVICPO)
administers all statutory authorities related to the operation of the
Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act (SEPPA). Specifically the
SVICPO: (1) Evaluates petitions for compensation filed under the SEPPA
through medical review and assessment of compensability for all
completed claims; (2) processes awards for compensation made under the
SEPPA; (3) promulgates regulations to revise the Smallpox Vaccine
Injury Table; (4) develops and maintains all automated information
systems necessary for program implementation; (5) provides and
disseminates program information; and, (6) maintains a working
relationship with other Federal and private sector partners in the
administration and operation of the SEPPA.
Delegation of Authority
All delegations and redelegations of authorities to officers and
employees of the Health Resources and Services Administration which
were in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this action
will be continued in effect in them or their successors, pending
further redelegation, provided they are consistent with this action.
This document is effective upon the date of signature.
Dated: November 4, 2003.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-28374 Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
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