[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 58398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8420]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services


Notice of Supplemental Grant Award to Bucks County Health 
Improvement Project, Inc. for a Project Entitled, ``Increasing Access 
to Health Care for Bucks County Residents''

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Supplemental Grant Award.

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    Funding Amount: $500,000. There will be an additional supplement of 
$500,000 to this grant in FY 2007.

SUMMARY: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has awarded a 
supplemental grant entitled ``Increasing Access to Health Care for 
Bucks County Residents'' to the Bucks County Health Improvement 
Project, Inc., 1201 Langhorne-Newton Road, Langhorne, PA 19047. The 
project period is September 10, 2002 through September 9, 2008. The 
Bucks County Health Improvement Project (BCHIP) proposes to provide 3 
ongoing major programs, which were initiated under the parent grant. 
These include continuation and expansion of: The adult health clinic 
which has served over 3,274 patients having 9,200 visits; the dental 
program for needy children and adults; and the Cardiovascular Risk 
Reduction program. Through these programs, BCHIP provides health and 
dental services for vulnerable populations, including under-insured and 
recent immigrants.
    These BCHIP health services for the indigent and uninsured have 
helped meet fundamental physical, dental, and mental health needs for 
residents, including immigrant groups, who are otherwise without 
resources for needed care. There is concern that without additional 
supplemental funding, provision of these vital health care services in 
Bucks County would be at risk. An additional 2 years of funding will 
permit BCHIP to follow-on with several of their major, demonstrated 
successful programs delivering community care and outreach to targeted 
groups with serious unmet needs.
    Furthermore, the BCHIP consortium of public and private hospitals 
and outpatient health and dental providers has collaborated over the 
past 15 years to develop an impressively efficient administrative 
framework for the donation, provision and coverage of a wide array of 
health services for the medically indigent. Additional funding will 
further foster the improvement and expansion of their model for 
administering health care through multiple programs to the needy. Over 
the past 2 years, BCHIP leaders have been sharing their administrative 
model and experience with other health U.S. organizations and 
communities, including a ``Communities Joined in Action'' conference in 
New Orleans and quarterly Pennsylvania State Health Improvement Plan 
(SHIP) meetings. They plan to continue to offer guidance to providers 
and health organizations gleaned from their expanding, ongoing service 
programs under requested supplemental funding.
    This award is made based on the authority granted by section 1110 
of the Social Security Act, which authorizes appropriations each fiscal 
year for grants to pay for part of the cost of research or 
demonstration projects that will improve the administration and 
effectiveness of programs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Renee Mentnech, Director, Research and 
Evaluation Group, Office of Research, Development, and Information, 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mail Stop C3-21-28, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244, (410) 786-6692, or Judith L. 
Norris, Grants Officer, Office of Acquisitions and Grants Management, 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Mail Stop C2-21-15, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244, (410) 786-5130.

    Authority: (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 
93.779 (CMS) Research, Demonstrations and Evaluations) Section 1110 
of the Social Security Act.

    Dated: September 19, 2006.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 06-8420 Filed 9-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P