Objectives: To improve the delivery of health care services to residents in areas critically short of health personnel by the assignment of primary care providers in designated health professional shortage areas.
93.258 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Applications for assignment of Corps personnel may be made by any public or nonprofit private health or health-related organization in designated areas. The potential beneficiary community must be closely involved with such an application.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Ultimate program beneficiaries are the residents of areas which receive Corps assignees. All persons are eligible to receive health services on an equal basis.
Credentials/Documentation: Recommendations should be sought from State Health Planning and Development Agency as well as from health professional societies in the area concerned.
93.258 APPLICATION & AWARD PROCESS:
Preapplication Coordination: All parties to the application, including professional societies, provider groups, consumer groups and any other parties, should be involved in the development of the application. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure: Information, guidelines and application forms may be obtained from the appropriate DHHS Regional Office. Assistance from the Corps is available to designated areas and communities in making application for health manpower. Applications are subject to review pursuant to 45 CFR, Part 100.
Award Procedure: Decisions to assign personnel and to make loans, will be made by the Secretary depending on the number of applications, availability of personnel and funds, and the recommendations of the appropriate DHHS Regional Office.
Deadlines: None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Not applicable.
Appeals: Not applicable.
Renewals: Assignments may be renewed if evaluation indicates necessity to do so. Renewals or extensions are not available for loans.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals: (1) The greatest degree of health professional shortage; (2) willingness of community to assist and cooperate with the Corps; (3) comments of health professional societies; (4) The need and demand for personnel in the area; (5) appropriate and efficient use of NHSC personnel; (6) unsuccessful area efforts to secure health manpower; (7) reasonable prospect of sound fiscal management by the entity with respect to Corps members assigned to such entity; and (8) other factors which impact on the accessibility of health care.
Examples of Funded Projects: Assignments are made to community/migrant health centers, NHSC free-standing sites and other systems of community-based primary care.
Range & Average of Financial Assistance: $10,000 to $50,000; $10,000.
93.258 RELATED PROGRAMS:
93.258 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
For fiscal year 1995, 2,062 health
personnel served 1,205 sites. The estimate for fiscal years 1996 and
1997 is 2,265 health personnel served.
93.258 FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:
Federal Agency:
HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Type of Assistance:
Direct Payments for Specified Use.
Obligations:
(Direct Payments) FY 95 $41,979,000; FY 96 est
$39,000,000; and FY 97 est $39,000,000. (NOTE: Proposed for
consolidation into the Health Profession Task Force Development
Initiative Performance Partnership in FY 96.)
Budget Account Number:
75-0350-0-1-550.
Authorization:
Public Health Service Act, Sections 333 and 335
(c), as amended, Public Law 100-177, 42 U.S.C. 254f and 254h.
Regulations, Guidelines, & Literature:
42 CFR 23. Application
forms are obtained at no cost from the DHHS Regional Office. PHS Grants
Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000, (Rev.) April 1,
1994.
Regional or Local Office:
Regional Health Administrator, or
National Health Service Corps Regional Program Consultant of the
appropriate HHS Regional Offices (see Appendix IV of the Catalog for a
listing of regional offices).
Headquarters Office:
Program Contact: Director, National Health
Service Corps, Health Resources and Services Administration, Public
Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, 4350 East-West
Highway, 8th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: (301) 594-4130.
Grants Management Contact: Office of Grants Management, Bureau of
Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration,
Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, 4350
East-West Highway, 11th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: (301)
594-4235. Use the same numbers for FTS.
93.258 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula & Matching Requirements:
This program is not a grant
program and has no statutory formula. There are no set matching
requirements. The Secretary considers willingness of the community to
support the program and work with assignees. Assistance provided by the
community or other agency might involve facilities, other personnel,
administrative services, supplies and equipment, or forms of in-kind
services.
Length & Time Phasing of Assistance:
Personnel are normally
assigned for a period of 2 years. The majority of assignments are made
in July of each year, but may be made at anytime during the fiscal year
depending on availability of health manpower.
Uses & Use Restrictions:
Health personnel are assigned to areas
designated as having shortages of such personnel. Emphasis is placed on
health personnel who provide primary medical or dental care, such as
osteopathic general practitioners, internists, pediatricians, family
practitioners, mental health providers, nurse practitioners, certified
nurse midwives, physician assistants, or dentists. Persons receiving
services shall be charged to recover the value of services provided. No
charge or a reduced charge may be made for a person who is determined
unable to pay the regular charge. Scope of services provided by the
National Health Service Corps (Corps) will depend on the nature of
shortages in that area; not all Corps field projects will offer all
services. Communities may apply for designation as a health professional
shortage area and assignment of Corps personnel. Designation and
assignment, however, are at the discretion of the Secretary. Assignment
of personnel will be based in part on availability of service personnel
to provide requested services.
93.258 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Quarterly and annual reports covering fees collected;
number and types of services rendered; number and age of persons served;
number and types of personnel staffing; and other financial information
about the project are required in accordance with program guidelines.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No.
A-128, "Audits of State and Local Governments," State and local
governments that receive financial assistance of $100,000 or more within
the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year. State
and local governments that receive between $25,000 and $100,000 within
the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made in accordance with
Circular No. A-128, or in accordance with Federal laws and regulations
governing the programs in which they participate.
Records:
HHS and the Comptroller General of the United States or
any of their authorized representatives, shall have the right of access
to any books, documents, papers, or other records of a grantee,
subgrantee, contractor, or subcontractor, which are pertinent to the
NHSC assignee or loan received, in order to make audits, examinations,
excerpts and transcripts. Recipients are required to maintain grant
accounting records 3 years after the end of a budget period. If any
litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the
records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the
records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution
of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular
3-year period, whichever is later.
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