Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 14, 1996 / Notices 24311

This information is needed to determine

if an agency or therapist is in

compliance with published health and

safety requirements. Respondents are

outpatient clinics, rehabilitation

agencies, public health agencies, and

therapists in independent practice.

Frequency: On occasion; Affected

Public: Business or other for-profit;

Number of Respondents: 9,634; Total

Annual Responses: 9,634; Total Annual

Hours Requested: 26,397.

3. Type of Information Collection

Request: New collection; Title of

Information Collection: Medicare

Disproportionate Share Adjustment

Procedure and Criteria; Form No.: HCFA

R–194; Use: Regulation sets up an

alternative process for hospitals that

choose to have their disproportionate

share adjustment statistics calculated

based on their cost reporting periods

rather than the Federal fiscal year.

Frequency: On occasion; Affected

Public: Business or other for-profit, and

Not-for-profit institutions; Number of

Respondents: 100; Total Annual

Responses: 100; Total Annual Hours

Requested: 100.

To request copies of the proposed

paperwork collections referenced above,

call the Reports Clearance Office on

(410) 786–1326. Written comments and

recommendations for the proposed

information collections should be sent

within 60 days of this notice directly to

the HCFA Paperwork Clearance Office

designated at the following address:

HCFA, Office of Financial and Human

Resources, Management Planning and

Analysis Staff, Attention: Louis Blank,

Room C2–26–17, 7500 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244–

1850.

Dated: May 7, 1996.

Kathleen B. Larson,

Director, Management Planning and Analysis

Staff, Office of Financial and Human

Resources.

[FR Doc. 96–11997 Filed 5–13–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120–03–P

Office of the Secretary

Statement of Organization, Functions

and Delegations of Authority

Part A (Office of the Secretary), of the

Statement of Organization, Functions,

and Delegations of Authority for the

Department of Health and Human

Services, Chapter AA ‘‘Office of the

Secretary’’ as last amended at 60 FR

52403, dated October 6, 1995; Chapter

ABC ‘‘Office of the Deputy Under

Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs’’

as last amended at 46 FR 3284, dated

January 14, 1981; and Chapter AD

‘‘Office of the Regional Director’’ as last

amended at 55 FR 5072, dated February

13, 1990 is being revised. Also, Chapter

HD ‘‘Public Health Service Regional

Offices’’ as last amended at 60 FR

48164, dated September 18, 1995 is

being deleted in its entirety.

Part A is being amended to reflect the

role and responsibility of the Office for

Intergovernmental Affairs and to place

the Regional Health Administrators

within the Office of the Regional

Directors. The specific amendments are:

I. Make the following changes to

Chapter AA ‘‘Office of the Secretary,’’

paragraph AA.10 Organization: Delete

the Office of the Deputy Under

Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs

and insert the Office for

Intergovernmental Affairs.

II. Delete Chapter ABC in its entirety

and replace with the following:

ABC.00 Mission. The Director of the

Office for Intergovernmental Affairs

(IGA) serves as the principal advisor

and Assistant to the Secretary and

Deputy Secretary on intergovernmental

affairs, with the responsibility for

facilitating the coordination and

implementation of Administration and

Secretarial initiatives as they pertain to

intergovernmental affairs at the

headquarters, regional, State, tribal,

local and community levels. The

Director for Intergovernmental Affairs is

the central point of reference in the

Department for issues, problems and

questions involving these matters. The

Director for Intergovernmental Affairs

provides leadership, coordination,

evaluation, and administrative direction

to the Regional Director; also provides

general guidance and direction to the

Office of Veterans Affairs and Military

Liaison; and to special initiatives, such

as, Human Service Transportation

Coordination and the National Rural

Development Partnership. As directed

the Director provides coordination

services for functions and activities of

the Deputy Secretary.

ABC.10 Organization. the Office for

Intergovernmental Affairs is under the

direction and control of the Director for

Intergovernmental Affairs, who reports

directly to the Secretary and Deputy

Secretary.

ABC.20 Functions. The Director for

Intergovernmental Affairs undertakes a

variety of assignments for the Secretary

and Deputy Secretary on critical

intergovernmental problems which are

beyond the authority of the Regional

Director or which cross program/

agency/departmental lines.

Advises on State, tribal and local

impact of proposed Departmental action

whether in legislation, regulation, or

administrative decision. Serves as the

point of contact between the Regional

Directors (RDs) and the Secretary and

Deputy Secretary. Responds to

Secretarial initiatives having regional,

State and local implications by directing

the RDs to take specific actions.

Ensures a full and timely opportunity

for the RDs to contribute to the

planning, development and

implementation of Departmental policy.

In consultation with OPDIV heads

ensures the resolution of policy issues

involving intergovernmental concerns of

operating divisions and the regional

offices. Resolves intergovernmental

problems and situations that cut across

the OPDIVs in headquarters and in the

regions. Formulates and recommends

Departmental policies on the delivery of

services to States and communities.

Serves as a focal point for coordinated

HHS efforts to deal with community

problems as a whole. Has primary

responsibility to ensure consistency of

approach, administration, and action of

programs within HHS as they impact on

state and local governments.

Represents the Secretary and Deputy

Secretary with officials of other Federal

agencies, officials of State, tribal and

local governments, and nongovernmental organizations including

national associations which represent

State and local general purpose

governments and relevant subdivisions

in functions which cut across program

lines. Develops strategies to strengthen

intergovernmental relationships and

collaborates with Governors, their key

officials, county and city officials, on

national goals and programs in health

and human services. Serves as liaison

with the White House on

intergovernmental matters and concerns

through the Assistant to the President

for Intergovernmental Affairs.

Under the Direction of the Director for

Intergovernmental Affairs, the Office of

Veterans Affairs and Military Liaison

provides advice and counsel and

appropriate information and liaison to

the White House, the Secretary, and

veteran’s and military organizations and

associations; develops initiatives within

the Department to improve services to

veterans and the military; and focuses

health and human resources on the

needs of all veterans and military

families as part of a Health and Human

Services/Department of Veterans

Affairs/Department of Defense initiative

to better serve their health and human

service needs. Provides coordinative

support relating to sick, disabled and

disadvantaged veterans/military for

research targeted toward specific areas.

As directed, the Director IGA

coordinates program and management

functions and activities that the Deputy
24312 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 14, 1996 / Notices

Secretary is responsible for. The

Director IGA represents the Department

in special initiatives, such as the Human

Services Transportation Coordination

and the National Rural Development

Partnership initiatives.

III. Delete Chapter AD in its entirety

and replace with the following:

AD.00 Mission. The Regional

Director serves as the direct personal

representative of the Secretary with the

responsibility for carrying out the

Secretary’s policies in the Region. The

Regional Director provides leadership

for the Secretary’s special initiatives and

coordination of the complex activities of

the Region.

AD.10 Organization. The Office of

the Regional Director is under the

direction and control of the Regional

Director, who reports directly to the

Secretary and Deputy Secretary through

the Director for Intergovernmental

Affairs, and consists of the following:

Regional Director AD(1–X)

Regional Health Administrator ADA(1–

X)

AD.20 Function. A. The Regional

Director serves as the Secretary’s

representative in direct official dealings

with State, tribal and local government

organizations, non-government officials

and their respective representative

organizations. Establishes and maintains

effective relationships with Governors,

mayors, county officials, and other key

State and local officials; furnishes

advice and assistance and strives to

develop a mutually beneficial FederalState-local partnership; provides

guidance and coordination to the efforts

of all regional staff members on the

priorities, emphasis, and merits of

various programs based on the

expression of needs and analyses by

Governors, mayors, and other key

officials. In consultation with the Office

of the Assistant Secretary for

Legislation, provides a central focus in

the Region for department relations with

Congressional delegations and

individual members of Congress.

Promotes general public understanding

of programs, policies, and objectives of

the Department; participates in

developing and carrying out a regionwide public information program; and

provides regional clearance on official

public communiques.

Assesses the effectiveness of

Department activities and makes reports

and recommendations to the Secretary,

Deputy Secretary, Director of

Intergovernmental Affairs, and other

Departmental officials concerning the

application or improvement of policies

and service delivery systems. Serves as

coordinator, facilitator, and expediter in

solving cross-cutting issues to assure

effective, efficient, and responsible

actions in the interest of total service to

the public. Advises the Secretary on the

potential effect of proposed Department

action, whether legislative, regulatory,

or administrative decision. Provides

input into policy decisions and strategy

regarding the concerns and interests of

State and local governments and nongovernment organizations as derived

from their key officials. In conjunction

with the Regional Health

Administrators, develops plans for

emergency preparedness and directs all

Departmental activities necessary to

ensure continuity of essential functions

within the Region in case of an

emergency due to enemy action or

natural disaster.

B. The Regional Health Administrator

ADA(1–X)—Reports to the Secretary’s

Regional Director, receives professional

guidance from the Assistant Secretary

for Health, Director, Office of Public

Health and Science (OPHS) programs.

The Regional Health Administrator and

associated staff are a component of the

U.S. Public Health Service, along with

the OPHS and PHS Operating Divisions.

Participates in policy development

and implementation; directs and

coordinates regionally based programs

of OPHS, including the offices of

Emergency Preparedness, Minority

Health, Women’s Health, and

Population Affairs. Develops regional

goals and objectives consistent with the

needs of the population and in

conformity with national health

priorities and objectives and

Departmental plans and programs.

Serves as the principal official in the

assigned area of jurisdiction to provide

oversight and coordination for Public

Health Service programs. Solicits and

provides input from regional, State, and

local health, mental health and

substance abuse professional

organizations to assist the Regional

Director, the Assistant Secretary for

Health, Director, OPHS, Director IGA

and PHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs)

in the formulation, development,

analysis, and evaluation of PHS OPDIV

field programs and cross cutting

Departmental initiatives in public

health.

IV. Under Part H, delete Chapter HD

in its entirety.

Dated: April 11, 1996.

John J. Callahan,

Assistant Secretary for Management and

Budget.

[FR Doc. 96–11946 Filed 5–13–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4150–04–M

Agency for Health Care Policy and

Research

Meeting of the National Advisory

Council for Health Care Policy,

Research, and Evaluation

AGENCY: Agency for Health Care Policy

and Research.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: In accordance with section

10(a) of the Federal Advisory Committee

Act, this notice announces a meeting of

the National Advisory Council for

Health Care Policy, Research, and

Evaluation.

DATES: The meeting will be open to the

public on Thursday, May 30, 1996, from

9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. A closed portion

of the Council will meet from 4:00 p.m.

to 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert

Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deborah L. Queenan, Executive

Secretary of the Advisory Council at the

Agency for Health Care Policy and

Research, 2101 East Jefferson Street,

Suite 603, Rockville, Maryland 20852,

(301) 594–1459.

In addition, if sign language

interpretation or other reasonable

accommodation for a disability is

needed, please contact Linda Reeves,

the Assistant Administrator for Equal

Opportunity, AHCPR, on (301) 594–

6665 no later than May 23, 1996.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Purpose

Section 921 of the Public Health

Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299c) establishes

the National Advisory Council for

Health Care Policy, Research, and

Evaluation. The Council provides

advice to the Secretary and the

Administrator, Agency for Health Care

Policy and Research (AHCPR), on

matters related to AHCPR activities to

enhance the quality, appropriateness,

and effectiveness of health care services

and access to such services through

scientific research and the promotion of

improvements in clinical practice and

in the organization, financing, and

delivery of health care services.

The Council is composed of public

members appointed by the Secretary.

These members are: Robert A. Berenson,

M.D.; F. Marian Bishop, Ph.D.; Linda

Burnes Bolton, Dr. P.H.; John W.

Danaher, M.D.; Helen Darling, M.A.;

Nancy J. Kaufman, M.S.; William S.

Kiser, M.D.; Robert M. Krughoff; Risa J.

Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D.; W. David Leak,

M.D.; Harold S. Luft, Ph.D.; Barbara J.