FEDERAL AGENCY:

HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Public Health Service Act, Section 330(i), Public Law 104-299.

To improve minority access to primary care services and reduce infant mortality by enabling grantees, directly or through contracts, to provide to residents primary health services, including health screening, and health counseling and education services.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Applications should be designed to improve the availability, accessibility and provision of primary health care services, including comprehensive perinatal care, to residents of public housing. Funds may not be used for inpatient services, or to make cash payments to intended recipients of services.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Eligible applicants are public and nonprofit private entities which have the capacity to effectively administer a grant and are located near a public housing site.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Residents of Public Housing. Non-residents of public housing may benefit if grantee chooses to provide comparable services, as permitted in legislation.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. For others, costs will be determined in accordance with DHHS Regulations, at 45 CFR Parts 74, and 92. Grantees must provide satisfactory assurances and agreements as required by law.

Pre-application Coordination:   The preapplication coordination is not required. 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/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. The single point of contact for the State may be obtained from the Office of Grants Management, Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC), HRSA, 11th Floor, 4350 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814. Telephone: (301) 594-4235. This program is subject to the requirements of the Public Health System Impact Statement.

Application Procedure:   Application forms are available from the HRSA Grants Application Center, 40 West Gude Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, 1-888-300-4772. All applicants must prepare Form, PHS 5161, Application for Federal Assistance (non-construction), fully documenting the need for and the proposed amount of the grant. This program is subject to the grants administration provisions of DHHS Regulations at 45 CFR, Part 92 (for State and local governments) and 45 CFR, Part 74 (for nonprofit private organizations), as appropriate. Applications are subject to review pursuant to 45 CFR 100.

Award Procedure:   Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of experts in the provision of health services to residents of public housing. After selection for funding by the Director, BPHC, grant awards will be made by the Office of Grants Management, BPHC.

Deadlines:   Contact HRSA Field Office for deadline date.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   None.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula for the amount of the grant. The amount is negotiated based on costs of the proposed grant activities.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Grants may be made for up to 5-year project periods. Continued support, beyond the first year, is contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of Federal funds.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Grantees are required to submit to the Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) an annual report that describes the utilization costs of services provided under the grant, and provide such other information as the Secretary determines appropriate. Financial status reports are required no later than 90 days after the end of each budget period. Final financial status and progress reports are due 90 days after the end of a project period.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials.

Records:   DHHS 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 DHHS grant, in order to make audits, examinations, excerpts and transcripts. Grantees 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.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-0350-0-1-550.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $900,934; FY 02 est $1,200,000; and FY 03 est $1,200,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
From $140,000 to $400,000. Average: $270,000.

Support of 29 previously funded grantees and one new grantee was provided in fiscal year 2001. It is estimated that 4 to 6 grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2002. In fiscal year 2003, between 4 to 6 awards will be made. In fiscal year 2001 and 2002, the program served over 54,000 clients. In fiscal year 2003, the program will serve approximately 65,000 clients. Major health conditions included hypertension, asthma, behavioral health issues, and diabetes. More than 85 percent of residents of public housing select local Public Housing Primary Care programs as their provider of choice. Residents of public housing are actively involved in the design of services and governance of programs. They also are routinely trained and employed in the programs as outreach workers and case managers.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Grants to State and local governments will be administered according to DHHS Regulations in 45 CFR, Part 92. Grants to nonprofit private organizations are subject to DHHS Regulations in 45 CFR, Part 74. All grantees are subject to PHS Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000, April 1, 1994 (Revised).

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Contact the HRSA Field offices.

Headquarters Office:   Program Contact: Director, Division of Programs for Special Populations, Bureau of Primary Health Care, HRSA, 4350 East-West Highway, 9th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814. Telephone: (301) 594-4420. Grants Management Contact: Office of Grants Management, Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, 11th Floor, 4350 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814. Telephone: (301) 594-4235. Use the same numbers for FTS.

Web Site Address:   http://www.bphc.hrsa.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Community health centers; county health departments, and other community-based organizations.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

An objective review of applications that are received and considered timely will be conducted by the BPHC, HRSA. The review criteria will examine the extent to which an application addresses or provides: (1) Evidence of the need in the public housing development for primary care to residents, especially high risk pregnant women and their infants, and barriers to meeting those needs within the existing service provider system; (2) specification of the expenditures anticipated for delivery of required services (and optional services, if applicable); (3) documentation of the intended scope of service delivery, health screening, health counseling, health education, and other required services, (assurances must also be provided that consultation with residents has taken place prior to submission of the grant and will continue as the proposed program is implemented, if funded); (4) documentation of cost identification and cost control procedures, third party reimbursement, and other fiscal administrative policies that will maximize grant funds, if awarded; (5) documentation of plan for evaluating the impact of the program on the health of residents, as well as a plan for assessing the quality of care provided; and (6) assurances that the program will be provided on-site or at locations immediately accessible to residents of public housing; that the program has in place appropriate leadership and management structures to ensure delivery of health services effectively and efficiently; agrees to establish procedures for fiscal control and fund accounting as may be necessary to ensure proper disbursement and accounting with respect to the grant; agrees to ensure the confidentiality of records maintained on residents of public housing receiving such services; agrees to institute a reasonable plan for providing services through individuals who can communicate with the population of residents who are not fluent in the English language.