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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 236 (Monday, December 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 97629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28748]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

Notice of Availability of Draft Health Center Program Scope 
Policy Manual Guidance

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: HRSA requests public comments on the Draft Health Center 
Program Scope of Project Manual (draft Scope Policy Manual). The draft 
Scope Policy Manual provides updated policy guidance on what 
constitutes the Health Center Program scope of project under the Public 
Health Service Act (PHS Act).

DATES: Submit comments no later than February 7, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Electronic comments should be submitted through the HRSA 
Bureau of Primary Health Care Contact Form (https://hrsa.my.site.com/support/s/), by selecting ``Comment on Draft Policy'' under the 
``Policy'' section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Joseph, Office of Policy and 
Program Development Director, Bureau of Primary Health Care, HRSA, at 
[email protected] and 301-594-4300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft Scope Policy Manual (https://bphc.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bphc/compliance/draft-health-center-program-scope-project-manual) updates Health Center Program scope of 
project policy guidance for all health centers that apply for and 
receive federal award (https://bphc.hrsa.gov/compliance/compliance-manual/glossary#federal-award) funds under the Health Center Program 
subrecipient organization (sections 1861(aa)(4)(A)(ii) and 
1905(l)(2)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act; https://bphc.hrsa.gov/compliance/compliance-manual/glossary#subrecipient), and Health Center 
Program look-alikes (sections 1861(aa)(4)(B) and 1905(l)(2)(B) of the 
Social Security Act; (https://bphc.hrsa.gov/compliance/compliance-manual/glossary#look-alike).
    The draft Scope Policy Manual proposes new policy and clarifies 
existing policy in key areas. Through the draft Scope Policy Manual, 
HRSA updates the Health Center Program scope of project policy to 
consolidate scope of project-related policy into a single policy 
document to assist health centers in understanding scope of project, 
statutory language and the Health Center Program Compliance Manual 
(https://bphc.hrsa.gov/compliance/compliance-manual).
    The draft Scope Policy Manual does not include scope of project 
process-related instructions. Instructions for documenting and updating 
scope of project will continue to be available on the Health Center 
Program Scope of Project web page (https://bphc.hrsa.gov/compliance/scope-project).
    HRSA proposes that the final Scope Policy Manual supersede the 
following previously issued scope of project Policy Information Notices 
(PINs):

 PIN 2007-09: Service Area Overlap: Policy and Process
 PIN 2008-01: Defining Scope of Project and Policy for 
Requesting Changes
 PIN 2009-02: Specialty Services and Health Centers' Scope of 
Project
 PIN 2009-05: Policy for Special Populations-Only Grantees 
Requesting a Change in Scope to Add a New Target Population

    HRSA provides grants to eligible applicants under section 330 of 
the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 254b) to support the delivery of preventive and 
primary care services to the nation's underserved individuals and 
families. HRSA also designates eligible applicants as Health Center 
Program look-alikes. Look-alikes do not receive Health Center Program 
funding but must meet the Health Center Program statutory and 
regulatory requirements. Nearly 1,400 Health Center Program-funded 
health centers and more than 100 Health Center Program look-alike 
organizations operate more than 15,000 service delivery sites that 
provide care to more than 30.5 million patients in every U.S. state, 
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the 
Pacific Basin. Note that for the purposes of this document, the term 
``health center'' refers to entities that receive a federal award under 
section 330 of the PHS Act, as well as subrecipients and organizations 
designated as look-alikes, unless otherwise stated.

Carole Johnson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024-28748 Filed 12-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P
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