[Federal Register: November 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 220)]
[Notices]
[Page 66546-66547]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15no06-80]
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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; amended at 67 FR
46519, July 15, 2002; 68 FR 787-793, January 7, 2003, 68 FR 64357-
64358, November 13, 2003; at 69 FR 56433-56434, September 21, 2004; 70
FR 61293-61294, October 21, 2005; and last amended at 71 FR 46237-
46238, August 11, 2006).
This notice reflects changes to the organization and functions of
the Office of the Administrator (RA), Office of Rural Health Policy
(RH) and the Bureau of Primary Health Care (RC). Specifically, it moves
the Intergovernmental Affairs function within the Office of
Communication (RA6) from the Office of Administrator (OA) to the Office
of Rural Health Policy (RH). Additionally, it moves the Black Lung
Clinic Program and the Radiation Exposure Screening and Education
Program from the Bureau of Primary Health Care (RC) to the Office of
Rural Health Policy (RH).
Chapter RA--Office of the Administrator
Section RA-10, Organization
The Offices under the Immediate Office of the Administrator consist
of the following components:
(1) Immediate Office of the Administrator (RA);
(2) Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (RA2);
(3) Office of Planning and Evaluation (RA5);
(4) Office of Communications (RA6);
(5) Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (RA9);
(6) Office of Legislation (RAE);
(7) Office of Information Technology (RAG); and
(8) Office of International Health Affairs (RAH).
Section RA-20, Functions
Delete the functional statement for the Office of Communications
(RA6) in its entirety and replace it with the following:
Office of Communication (RA6)
Provides leadership and general policy and program direction for,
and conducts and coordinates communications and public affairs
activities of the Agency. Specifically: (1) 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; (2)
develops and implements national communications initiatives to inform
and educate the public, health care professionals, policy makers and
the media; (3) coordinates, researches, writes and prepares speeches
and audiovisual presentations for the HRSA Administrator and staff; (4)
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; (5) 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; (6) serves as
Communications and Public Affairs Officer for the Agency including
establishment and maintenance of productive relationships with the news
media; (7) coordinates the implementation of the Freedom of Information
Act for the Agency; and (8) manages audio visual and multimedia
activities in support of communications efforts through multiple media
formats.
Chapter RH--Office of Rural Health Policy
Section RH-10, Organization
The Office of Rural Health Policy is headed by the Associate
Administrator who reports directly to the Administrator, HRSA.
Specifically, this notice amends the functional statement by adding
responsibility for the Black Lung Clinic Program; Radiation Exposure
Screening and Education Program, and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Section RH -20, Functions
Delete the functional statement for the former Rural Health Policy
(RH) in its entirety and replace with the following:
The Office of Rural Health Policy (RH) serves as a focal point
within the Department and as a principal source of advice to the
Administrator and Secretary for coordinating efforts to strengthen and
improve the delivery of health services to populations in the Nation's
rural areas and border areas, providing leadership and interacting with
stakeholders in the delivery of health care to underserved and at risk
populations. Specifically, the Office of Rural Health Policy is
organized around the following primary issue areas:
Delivery of Health Services: (1) Collects and analyzes information
regarding the special problems of rural health care providers and
populations; (2) works with States, State hospital associations,
private associations, foundations, and other organizations to focus
attention on, and promote solutions to problems related to the delivery
of health services in rural communities; (3) provides staff support
[[Page 66547]]
to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services;
(4) stimulates and coordinates interaction on rural health activities
and programs in the Agency, Department and with other Federal agencies;
(5) supports rural health center research and keeps informed of
research and demonstration projects funded by States and foundations in
the field of rural health care delivery; (6) establishes and maintains
a resource center for the collection and dissemination of the latest
information and research findings related to the delivery of health
services in rural areas; (7) coordinates congressional and private
sector inquiries related to rural health; (8) advises the Agency,
Administrator and Department on the effects of current policies and
proposed statutory, regulatory, administrative, and budgetary changes
in the programs established under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social
Security Act on the financial viability of small rural hospitals, the
ability of rural areas to attract and retain physicians and other
health professionals; (9) oversees compliance by CMS with the
requirement that rural hospital impact analyses are developed whenever
proposed regulations might have a significant impact on a substantial
number of small rural hospitals; (10) supports specialized rural
programs on minority health, mental health, preventive health
education, oral health and occupational health and safety; (11) plans
and manages a nationwide rural health grants program; (12) plans and
manages a program of State grants which support collaboration within
State offices of rural health; (13) plans, directs, and coordinates the
Agency's border health activities; (14) funds public and private non-
profit entities for the operation of clinics that provide diagnosis,
treatment and rehabilitation of active and retired coal miners and
others with respiratory ailments (black lung) and other occupational
related respiratory disease impairments; and (15) funds radiation
exposure screening and education programs that screen eligible
individuals adversely affected by the mining, transport and processing
of uranium and the testing of nuclear weapons for cancer and other
diseases.
Intergovernmental Affairs: (1) Provides the Administrator with a
single point of contact on all activities related to important State
and local government, stakeholder association, and interest group
activities; (2) coordinates Agency cross-Bureau cooperative agreements
and activities with organizations such as the National Governors
Association, National Conference of State Legislature, Association of
State and Territorial Health Officials, National Association of
Counties and National Association of County and City Health Officials;
(3) interacts with various commissions such as the Delta Regional
Authority, Appalachian Regional Commission, Denali Commission and the
United States and Mexico Border Health Commission; and (4) serves as
primary liaison to Department intergovernmental staff.
Section RH-30, Delegation of Authority
All delegations 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 re-delegation. I hereby ratify and
affirm all actions taken by any HRSA official which involves the
exercise of these authorities prior to the effective date of this
delegation.
This reorganization is effective upon the date of signature.
Dated: October 31, 2006.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-19265 Filed 11-14-06; 8:45 am]
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