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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

93.107:  Model State-Supported Area Health Education Centers

Objectives:  To improve the distribution, supply, and quality of health personnel in the health services delivery system by encouraging the regionalization of health professions schools. Emphasis is placed on community-based training of primary care oriented students, residents, and providers. The Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) program assists schools in the development, and operation of AHECs to implement educational system incentives to attract and retain health care personnel in scarcity areas. By linking the academic resources of the university health science center with local planning, educational and clinical resources, the AHEC program establishes a network of health-related institutions to provide educational services to students, faculty and practitioners and ultimately to improve the delivery of health care in the service areas. These programs are collaborative partnerships which address current health workforce needs within a region of a State or in an entire State.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

93.107 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  The types of entities eligible to apply for this program include public or private nonprofit accredited schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine and incorporated consortia made up of schools, or the parent institutions of schools. Applicants must also have previously received funds, but are no longer receiving funds under Section 751(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act, and are operating an AHEC program.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Accredited schools of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or the parent institution on behalf of such schools.

Credentials/Documentation:  Costs will be determined by DHHS Regulations 45 CFR 74, Subpart Q.

93.107 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Consultation is available from Headquarters Office staff. Submit applications in accordance with instructions specified. The new URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for the Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr) Grants page is www.hrsa.gov/bhpr/grants.html. This year BHPr has decided to use Adobe Acrobat to publish the grants documents on the Web page. In order to download, view and print these grants documents, you will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader. This can be obtained without charge from the Internet by going to the Adobe Web page (htp://www.adobe.com) and downloading the version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is appropriate for your operating system, i.e., Windows, Unix, Macintosh, etc. A set of more detailed instructions on how to download and use the Adobe Acrobat Reader can be found on the BHPr Grants Web page under "Notes on this WWW Page."

Award Procedure:  Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award issued from Headquarters Office.

Deadlines:  Application deadlines can be obtained via the Internet at www.hrsa.gov/bhpr/grants.html.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 3 to 4 months.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Progress reports must be submitted each year beginning with the second year of support. Competitive continuation may be submitted during the terminal year of support.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Applications are reviewed by nonfederal consultants who make recommendations to the Secretary of the Department. The Secretary will approve projects which best promote the purposes of Section 751(a)(1) and (a)(2). Review Criteria: The following review criteria apply to the Basic/Core AHEC Programs, section 751(a)(1) and the Model State-Sponsored AHEC Programs, section 751(a)(2). The review of applications will take into consideration the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the proposed project adequately provides for the program requirements set forth in sections 751(a)(1) and 751(a)(2); (2) the capability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project activities in a cost-efficient manner; (3) the extent of the need of the area to be served by the proposed area health education center; (4) the potential of the proposed AHEC program and participating centers to continue on a self-sustaining basis; and (5) the extent to which the proposed project adequately responds to AHEC program performance measures and outcome indicators.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Awards are made to a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine that is operating an area health education center program and that is not receiving financial assistance under Section 751(a)(2) of the PHS Act to encourage State coordination and support for AHEC community-based primary care training activities.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  For fiscal year 1999, $76,364 to $687,271; $365,217.

93.107 RELATED PROGRAMS:

93.107 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

93.107 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Type of Assistance:  Formula Grants.

Obligations:  FY 99 $8,400,000; FY 00 est $9,636,363; and FY 01 est $6,978,182.

Budget Account Number:  75-0350-0-1-550.

Authorization:  Public Health Service Act, Title VII, Section 751(a)(2), as amended by the Public Health Professions Education Partnership Act of 1998, Public Law 105-392.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Pertinent information may be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Health Professions Grants Office, Grants Management Branch, Room 8C-26, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD. Phone number (301) 443-6880.

93.107 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Program Contact: Louis D. Coccodrilli, Chief, AHEC Branch, Division of Medicine, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 9A05, Parklawn Bldg., 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Phone: (301) 443-6950. Grants Management Contact: Wilma Johnson, Grants Management Officer, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 8C-26, Parklawn Bldg., 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Phone: (301) 443-6880. Use the same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

93.107 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Awardees shall make available (directly or through contributions from State, county or municipal governments, or the private sector) recurring non-Federal contributions in cash in an amount not less than 50 percent of the operating costs of the Model State-Supported AHEC Program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Project periods are limited up to 3 years.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  With respect to the costs of operating the model area health education center program of the school, the school must make available (directly or through donations from public or private entities) nonfederal contributions in cash toward such costs of at least 50 percent of such costs. Amounts provided by the Federal Government may not be included in determining the amount of nonfederal contributions in cash. With respect to the costs of operating the area health education center program of the school, the school will maintain expenditures of nonfederal amounts for such costs at a level of such expenditures maintained by the school for the fiscal year preceding the first fiscal year for which the school receives an award under this program. Schools may expend not more than 10 percent of amounts received for demonstration projects cited under Section 746(a)(3)(E). The aggregate amount of awards to schools in a State for a fiscal year under this new Model AHEC authority shall not exceed the lesser of (i) $2 million; and (ii) an amount equal to $250,000 times the aggregate number of AHEC centers operated in the State by the schools.

93.107 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  A progress report must be submitted annually. A financial status report must be submitted within 90 days after the end of each budget period. Final progress and financial reports must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the project period.

Audits:  In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive 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:  Financial records must be kept available for 3 years after submission of final financial status report and 3 years after final disposition of nonexpendable property. If questions remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, records must be retained until the matter is resolved.