Obligated service for mental health traineeships; interim rule--Public Health Service. Interim rule with request for comments

This rule adds a new Part 64a to Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations which: (1) governs the length and type of service payback required of individuals who have received clinical traineeships in psychology, psychiatry, social work, or nursing section 303 of the Public Health Service Act. as amended by section 803 of the Mental Health Systems Act; and (2) in connection with this payback obligation, imposes certain notice and other requirements upon institutions receiving training grants under section 303 of the Public Health Service Act.     

State offices of rural health grant program--HRSA. Notice of availability of funds

The Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announces that applications are being accepted for matching grants to States for the purpose of improving health care in rural areas through the continued operation of State Offices of Rural Health. This program is authorized by section 338J of the Public Health Service Act 42 U.S.C. 254r. Awards will be made from funds appropriated under Public Law 105-78 (HHS Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1998). Approximately $3.0 million will be available to support 50 grants in fiscal year (FY) 1998.     

Public Health Service--Grants for allied health projects. Final rule

These regulations set forth requirements for grants to: (a) Establish regional or State systems to assure that allied health and nursing personnel needs in the area are met by coordinating and managing allied health professions and nursing education and training within and among educational institutions and their clinical affiliates; (b) Establish or improve recruitment, training, and retraining programs for allied health personnel; and (c) Establish career ladders and advancement programs for practicing allied health personnel. These regulations implement section 796 of the Public Health Service Act.     

Grants to for-profit organizations; implementing amendments--Public Health Service. Final rule

This issuance amends 42 CFR Part 52 applicable to grants made for research projects under sections 301 and 356 of the Public Health Service Act to delete the prohibition on eligibility for research awards to entities that are organized or operated for profit. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register is a final rule which, among other things, amends 42 CFR Part 87 to allow for-profit organizations to apply for health research and demonstration grants under section 20 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and section 501 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act.     

Public Health Service--Health systems agency and state health planning and development agency reviews: certificate of need programs. Final regulation

These rules amend the Public Health Service regulations on health systems agency and State health planning and Development agency (State Agency) certificate of need reviews. These final regulations implement changes to Title XV of the Public Health Service Act made by the Health Planning and Resources Development Amendments of 1979 (Pub L. 96-79). Under the amended provisions of the Public Health Service Act, the planning agencies are required to review and determine the need for proposed capital expenditures, institutional health services and major medical equipment. These regulations set forth the minimum requirements for satisfactory certificate of need programs.     

Program grants for black lung clinics--PHS. Notice of proposed rulemaking

The Public Health Service proposed to revise the regulations governing the grants program for black lung clinics established under section 427(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The revision is in keeping with the Department of Health and Human Services' desire to remove as many programmatic burdens and restrictions from grantees as possible, while maintaining program integrity.     

Program grants for black lung clinics--PHS. Final rule

The Public Health Service hereby revises the regulations governing the grants program for black lung clinics established under section 427(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The revision is in keeping with the Department of Health and Human Services' desire to remove as many programmatic burdens and restrictions from grantees as possible, while maintaining program integrity.     

Grants to states for operation of qualified high risk pools. Final rule

This rule finalizes the interim final rule with comment period that was published on July 27, 2007, regarding extended funding for seed and operational grants for State High Risk Pools under the Public Health Service Act.     

High risk pools. Interim final rule with comment period. Interim final rule with comment period

This interim final rule with comment period will amend our regulations regarding grants to States for operation of qualified high risk pools to conform to provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and the State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act of 2006. Those provisions extended funding for seed and operational grants for State High Risk Pools and amended section 2745 of the Public Health Service Act.     

Public Health Service--Grants for traineeships in health administration, hospital administration, or health policy analysis and planning at public or nonprofit private educational institutions other than schools of public health. Final rule

This rule sets forth requirements for programs for Grants for Traineeships in Health Administration, Hospital Administration, or Health Policy Analysis and Planning at Public or Nonprofit Private Educational Institutions Other Than Schools of Public Health under Section 749 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C 294s).     

Availability of funds for home health services and training--HRSA

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces that funds are available for grants and loans for the development and expansion of home health programs and services. Public Law (Pub. L.) 98-139, the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act of 1984, signed on October 31, 1983, appropriates $5 million under section 339 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 255) to provide home health services and for the training of paraprofessionals to provide home health services. This notice contains information of interest to prospective applicants for such funding.     

Grants for various health professions projects--PHS. Final regulations

These regulations govern grants to public or nonprofit private entities for various health professions projects authorized under section 788(b) of the Public Health Service Act. The specific types of health professions projects for which support will be available will be announced from time to time in the Federal Register.     

Hill-Burton health facilities; review--HRSA. Notice of review

This notice announces a review of institutions and organizations which have received grants under the Hill-Burton Program (Title VI of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 291 et seq.) for the construction or modernization of hospitals or other health facilities.     

Health systems agency and state health planning and development agency reviews; certificate of need programs--PHS

The Assistant Secretary for Health, with the approval of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, amends the regulations governing certificate of need reviews by State health planning and development agencies (State Agencies) and health systems agencies (HSAs). The amendments accomplish two tasks: (1) To implement amendments to the Public Health Service Act made by the Health Programs Extension Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-538) and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Pub. L. 97-35), and (2) to reduce Federal regulatory burdens. Under the provisions of Title XV of the Public Health Service Act, the planning agencies are required to administer certificate of need programs consistent with the Department's regulations, under which they review and determine the need for proposed capital expenditures, institutional health services and major medical equipment. These regulations change the requirements for satisfactory certificate of need programs.     

Health systems agency and state health planning and development agency reviews; certificate of need programs--PHS. Notice of proposed rulemaking

The Assistant Secretary for Health, with the approval of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, proposes to amend the regulations governing certificates of need reviews by State health planning and development agencies (State Agencies) and health systems agencies (HSAs). The proposed amendments would accomplish two tasks: (1) Implement amendments to the Public Health Service Act made by the Health Programs Extension Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-538) and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Pub. L. 97-35) and (2) reduce Federal regulatory burdens. Under the provisions of Title XV of the Public Health Service Act, the planning agencies are required to administer certificate of need programs consistent with the Secretary's regulations, under which they review and determine the need for proposed capital expenditures, institutional health services and major medical equipment. These regulations set forth proposed changes to the requirements for satisfactory certificate of need programs. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments and recommendations concerning these proposed rules as well as suggestions for alternative methods of implementing any of the provisions of the amendments that affect the requirements for certificate of need programs.     

Public Health Service--Special project grants for graduate programs in public health. Final rule

This rule sets forth requirements for programs for Special Project Grants for Graduate Programs in Public Health under section 792 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295h-1).     

Consultation with state and local officiaLs prior to awarding community health center grants--PHS. Notice

Section 1923 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 300y-2) requires that if a State does not apply for a Primary Care Block Grant under section 1924 of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 300y-3), or does not qualify for such a grant, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will use those funds not allotted to States participating in the block grant to make grants under section 330 of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 254c) to individual community health centers (CHCs). Section 1923 also requires that the Secretary consult with the chief executive officer of the State and with appropriate local officials before making such grants for community health centers in a State. This notice describes the manner in which the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will fulfill the requirement for consultation. In addition, it solicits comments from local officials regarding CHCs in their areas.     

Rate increase disclosure and review. Final rule with comment period

This final rule with comment period implements requirements for health insurance issuers regarding disclosure and review of unreasonable premium increases under section 2794 of the Public Health Service Act. The final rule establishes a rate review program to ensure that all rate increases that meet or exceed a specified threshold are reviewed by a State or CMS to determine whether they are unreasonable and that certain rate information be made public.     

Medical facility construction and modernization; requirements for provision of services to persons unable to pay--PHS. Final rule

This document revises the rules currently governing how certain health care facilities, assisted under Titles VI and XVI of the Public Health Service Act, fulfill the assurance, given in their applications for assistance, that they would provide a reasonable volume of services to persons unable to pay. Public comment on the current rules and operational experience with them indicated the need to revise the current requirements with respect to nursing homes, many of which are unable under current requirements to meet their obligation to provide such services. The rules below should permit qualified facilities to satisfy their uncompensated services assurance.     

Health maintenance organizations--PHS. Final regulations

This rule amends the Public Health Service regulations on qualification of health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Changes are made in the procedural requirements for entities to obtain qualification as federally qualified HMOs. These changes include requirements relating to Freedom of Information requests and deletion of the fair hearing provision. Adoption of these amendments will update the requirements for HMOs seeking Federal qualification.