[Federal Register: October 5, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 192)]
[Notices]
[Page 59601-59602]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05oc04-62]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
National Indian Health Board
AGENCY: Indian Health Services, HHS.
ACTION: Notice to supplement the single-source cooperative agreement
with the National Indian Health Board.
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SUMMARY: The Indian Health Service (IHS) announces a supplement to the
single-source cooperative agreement award to the National Indian Health
Board (NIHB) for costs in providing advice and technical assistance to
federally recognized Tribes in the area of health care policy analysis
and program development. Under the original cooperative agreement
published in the Federal Register, 69 FR 11447, on March 10, 2004, the
NIHB provides advice, consultation, and health care advocacy to the IHS
based on Tribal input through a broad-based consumer network involving
the Area Health Boards or Health Board representatives from each of the
12 IHS Areas. In addition, the NIHB communicates with Tribes and Tribal
organizations concerning health issues, disseminates health care
information, improves and expands access for American Indians and
Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal Governments to all available programs in
the Department of Health and Human services (HHS), and coordinates the
Tribal consultation activities associated with formulating the IHS
annual budget request. The program supplement to the single-source
cooperative agreement is for $622,730 of one time funding for use
during the current budget period in effect from 03/15/2004 to 12/31/
2004. The annual funding levels of this single-source cooperative
agreement is approximately $230,000, subject to the availability of
appropriations.
Justification for Program Expansion Supplement
The program expansion supplement is issued under the authority of
the Public Health Service Act, Section 301(a), and is included under
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 93.933. This
supplemental funding is related to the original goals of the
cooperative agreement and does represent an expansion of activities
within the present scope of work. The Federal Register notice for the
sole-source cooperative agreement award can be found in 69 FR 11447,
published on March 10, 2004. The specific objectives and justifications
for this program supplement are as follows:
1. Assistance to States, Tribal Governments, and the HHS Policy
Academy to address the needs of young AI/AN adults with disabilities.
Assistance on this joint initiative of the Office of Disability,
HHS and the IHS will result in the development of an action plan to
address the needs of young AI/AN adults with disabilities who are
between 16-30 years of age. It is necessary that the HHS Office of
Disabilities and the States have access to the expertise and experience
of the NIHB in order to meet the culturally diverse needs if AI/AN
youth with disabilities. The involvement of NIHB in the Policy Academy
will ensure that the HHS Office of Disabilities and the States are kept
informed of the AI/AN consumer perspective throughout all activities.
This task is consistent with the NIHB goal of improving access for AI/
AN people to the programs of HHS.
2. Assistance to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) for outreach and education within the AI/AN community.
Funding has been transferred through an Intra-Agency agreement
between CMS and the IHS to supplement the NIHB cooperative agreement.
The NIHB will be tasked with implementing outreach and education
activities specific to AI/AN beneficiaries regarding the Medicare-
approved drug discount card and the transitional assistance program,
both of which are authorized under the provisions of the Medicare
Modernization Act. The CMS support for this initiative is in
recognition of NIHB's capability to systematically disseminate
pertinent and timely health care information to AI/AN Tribal
Governments and Health Boards. The NIHB's dissemination activity is
funded within the organization's present scope of work. This effort is
also consistent with the NIHB goal of expanding access by AI/ANs to
other programs of the HHS.
3. Assistance to the CMS in the development of a strategic plan for
AI/ANs.
In recognition of the NIHB's status as the only national Indian
organization that is representative of Tribal Governments and has
expertise in AI/AN health issues, the CMS has transferred funds through
a second Intra-Agency Agreement between CMS
[[Page 59602]]
and the IHS. The purpose of the agreement is to support NIHB assistance
to the Agency in developing a strategic plan to improve CMS' services
to eligible AI/AN beneficiaries. This is consistent with goals in the
scope of work in which NIHB seeks to establish relationships with
Federal agencies to service as a health advocate for AI/AN people and
expand services to them from other HHS agencies.
4. Assistance in the implementation of the IHS Director's Health
Promotion/Disease Prevention (HP/DP) Initiative.
The Director, IHS, has announced this initiative in conjunction
with President Bush's ``Healthier U.S. Initiative'' and HHS Secretary
Thompson's ``Steps to a Healthier U.S.'' to reduce health disparities
among AI/AN people. This initiative is a strategic approach to
strengthening prevention efforts to improve the health and wellness of
AI/AN families through expanded collaboration with Federal and non-
Federal partners. The IHS will support this prevention effort, in part,
through a partnership with NIHB in promoting physical activity in AI/AN
communities under a program called ``Just Move it.'' The NIHB will
assist the IHS in managing this particular HP/DP Initiative by hosting
a Web site for Tribal communities to become ``Just Move It'' partners,
marketing this effort to Tribes, etc. These activities are consistent
with the NIHB goals of systematically disseminating pertinent and
timely health care information to AI/AN communities and establishing
relationships with other organizations to serve as advocates for
improved Indian health.
5. Assistance to the IHS in the evaluation of the current
relationships between schools of public health and AI/AN communities.
In order to determine the current relationships between schools of
public health and AI/AN communities, the NIHB will assist the IHS in
developing a baseline report of research activities and existing
partnerships. The NIHB will serve in an advisory capacity to the IHS
and the Association of Schools of Public Health on this initiative. The
organization has the expertise and experience to provide technical
assistance on issues related to working in Indian Country such as
infrastructure, Tribal Government protocols, cultural and legal aspects
of sovereignty, and the appropriateness of products and deliverables.
The objective of this effort will result in recommendations on
improving the public health infrastructure in AI/AN communities. The
purpose of this report is consistent with the NIHB goals of developing
relationships with other organizations and professional groups in order
to serve as an advocate for improved AI/AN health care.
Justification for Single Source
This project has been awarded on a non-competitive, single-source
basis. The NIHB is the only national AI/AN organization with health
expertise that represents the interest of all federally recognized
Tribes.
Use of Cooperative Agreement
The program supplement to the original cooperative agreement has
been awarded because of anticipated substantial programmatic
involvement by IHS staff in the project. The substantial programmatic
involvement includes the following:
(1) The IHS staff will have approval over the hiring of key
personnel as defined by regulation or provision in the cooperative
agreement.
(2) The IHS will provide technical assistance to the NIHB as
requested and attend and participate in all NIHB board meetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Douglas Black, Director, Office of
Tribal Programs, Office of the Director, Indian Health Service, 801
Thompson Avenue, Reyes Building, Suite 220 Rockville, Maryland 20852,
(301) 443-1104. For grants information, contact Ms. Sylvia Ryan, Grants
Management Specialist, Division of Grants Policy, 12300 Twinbrook
Parkway, Suite 100, Rockville, Maryland 20852, (301) 443-5204.
Dated: September 28, 2004.
Charles W. Grim,
Assistant Surgeon General, Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 04-22333 Filed 10-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-16-M