[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 200 (Monday, October 18, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63846-63847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26079]


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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 (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration 
(HRSA) (60 FR 56605, as amended November 6, 1995; as last amended at 75 
FR 61157-61160 dated October 4, 2010).
    This notice reflects organizational changes in the Health Resources 
and Services Administration. This notice updates the functional 
statement for the Office of Special Health Affairs (RA1). Specifically, 
this notice establishes the Office of Emergency Preparedness and 
Continuity of Operations (RA15) within the Office of Special Health 
Affairs (RA1).

Chapter RA1--Office of Special Health Affairs

Section RA1-10, Organization

    Delete in its entirety and replace with the following:
    The Office is headed by the Director, Office of Special Health 
Affairs (RA1), who reports directly to the Administrator, Health 
Resources and Services Administration. Office of Special Health Affairs 
includes the following components:
    (1) Office of the Director (RA1);
    (2) Office of Health Equity (RA11);
    (3) Office of Global Health Affairs (RA12);
    (4) Office of Strategic Priorities (RA13);
    (5) Office of Health Information Technology and Quality (RA14); and
    (6) Office of Emergency Preparedness and Continuity of Operations 
(RA15).

Section RA1-20, Functions

    (1) Delete the functional statement for the Office of the Director 
(RA1) and replace in its entirety; and (2) establish the Office of 
Emergency Preparedness and Continuity of Operations (RA15).

Office of the Director (RA1)

    Provides overall leadership, direction, coordination, and planning 
in the support of the Agency's cross-cutting health programs. 
Specifically: (1) Plans and directs activities to advance health equity 
and improve minority health and eliminate health disparities; (2) 
develops strategies to maximize HRSA's participation in efforts to 
improve health care for vulnerable populations worldwide; (3) provides 
leadership and direction to improve the delivery and quality of oral 
and behavioral health care and other Agency strategic priority health 
concerns; (4) provides leadership and direction in the development of 
policies on health information technology and quality; (5) provides 
support for the Department's Medical Claims Review Panel; and (6) 
coordinates HRSA activities related to emergency preparedness planning, 
policy, and continuity of operations and Government.

Office of Health Equity (RA11)

    Serves as the principal advisor and coordinator to the Agency for 
the special needs of minority and disadvantaged populations, including: 
(1) Provides leadership and direction to address HHS and HRSA Strategic 
Plan goals and objectives related to improving minority health and 
eliminating health disparities; (2) establishes and manages an Agency-
wide data collection system for minority health activities and 
initiatives including the White House Initiatives for Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities, Educational Excellence for Hispanic 
Americans, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Asian Americans and 
Pacific Islanders, and departmental initiatives; (3) implements 
activities to increase the availability of data to monitor the impact 
of Agency programs in improving minority health and eliminating health 
disparities; (4) participates in the formulation of HRSA's goals, 
policies, legislative proposals, priorities, and strategies as

[[Page 63847]]

they affect health professional organizations and institutions of 
higher education and others involved in or concerned with the delivery 
of culturally-appropriate, quality health services to minorities and 
disadvantaged populations; (5) consults with Federal agencies and other 
public and private sector agencies and organizations to collaborate in 
addressing health equity, including enhancing cultural competence in 
health service providers; (6) establishes short-term and long-range 
objectives; and (7) participates in the focus of activities and 
objectives in assuring equity in access to resources and health careers 
for minorities and the disadvantaged.

Office of Global Health Affairs (RA12)

    Serves as the principal advisor to the Agency on global health 
issues. Specifically: (1) Provides leadership, coordination, and 
advancement of global health activities relating to health care 
services for vulnerable and at-risk populations and for training 
programs for health professionals; (2) provides support for the 
Agency's International Visitors Program; and (3) provides leadership 
within HRSA for the support of global health and coordinates policy 
development with the Office of Global Health Affairs (OGHA) and other 
departmental agencies.

Office of Strategic Priorities (RA13)

    Serves as the principal advisor to the Administrator on major 
health priorities including, but not limited to oral and mental health. 
Specifically: (1) Provides leadership and coordination to improve oral 
and behavioral health infrastructure, delivery, and systems of care; 
(2) establishes short-term and long-term goals and objectives to 
improve the quality of oral and behavioral health care; (3) 
collaborates with other departmental and Federal agencies to promote 
oral and behavioral health by building public-private partnerships; (4) 
coordinates oral and behavioral health activities across HRSA programs; 
and (5) establishes program goals, objectives and priorities to improve 
oral and behavioral health status and outcomes to eliminate 
disparities.

Office of Health Information Technology and Quality (RA14)

    Serves as the principal advisor and coordinator to the Agency for 
health information technology and quality. Specifically: (1) Provides 
support, policy direction, and leadership for HRSA's health quality 
efforts; (2) serves as the focal point for developing policy to promote 
the coordination and advancement of health information technology, 
including telehealth to HRSA's programs, including the use of 
electronic health record systems; (3) develops an Agency-wide health 
information technology and telehealth strategy for HRSA; (4) assists 
HRSA components in program-level health information technology and 
health quality efforts; (5) ensures successful dissemination of 
appropriate information technology advances, such as electronic health 
records systems, to HRSA programs; (6) works collaboratively with 
States, foundations, national organizations, private sector providers, 
as well as departmental agencies and other Federal departments in order 
to promote the adoption of health information technology and health 
quality policy; (7) ensures the health information technology policy 
and activities of HRSA are coordinated with those of other HHS 
components; (8) assesses the impact of health information technology 
and quality initiatives in the community, especially for the uninsured, 
underserved, and special needs populations; (9) translates 
technological advances in health information technology to HRSA's 
programs; (10) provides guidance in using the results of the medical 
claims review process to HRSA programs to improve quality; and (11) 
provides support for the Department's Medical Claims Review Panel.

Office of Emergency Preparedness and Continuity of Operations (RA15)

    (1) Coordinates HRSA activities related to emergency preparedness 
planning and policy; (2) oversees the HRSA Emergency Operations Center; 
(3) serves as HRSA's liaison to HHS and interagency partners on 
emergency preparedness matters; (4) coordinates HRSA continuity of 
operations and continuity of Government activities and maintains HRSA's 
Alternate Operating Facilities; (5) provides guidance on workforce 
health protection issues for emergencies and disasters; (6) ensures 
HRSA's commissioned corps is ready to respond to public health 
challenges and emergencies identified by the Secretary; and (7) in 
conjunction with the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment, ensures 
the readiness and deployment capability of officers assigned to HRSA.

Section RA-30, Delegations of Authority

    All delegations of authority and re-delegations of authority made 
to HRSA officials that were in effect immediately prior to this 
reorganization, and that are consistent with this reorganization, shall 
continue in effect pending further re-delegation.
    This reorganization is upon date of signature.

    Dated: October 8, 2010.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-26079 Filed 10-15-10; 8:45 am]
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