Notices. Response to Solicitation of Comments and Publication of Final Program Eligibility Guidelines
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BILLING CODE 4184-01-M DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERIVCES Health Resources and Services Administration Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA)publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on
(301)443-1129. Comments are invited on:
(a)Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;
(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;
(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Proposed Project: Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006: Program Allocation and Expenditure Forms
(NEW)The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Allocation and Expenditure Reports will enable the Health Resources and Services Administration's HIV/AIDS Bureau to track spending requirements for each program as outlined in the 2006 legislation. Grantees funded under Parts A, B, C, and D of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (codified under Title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act) would be required to report financial data to HRSA at the beginning and end of their grant cycle. All Parts of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program specify HRSA's responsibilities in the administration of grant funds. Accurate allocation and expenditure records of the grantees receiving Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding are critical to the implementation of the legislation and thus are necessary for HRSA to fulfill its responsibilities. The new law changes how Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funds can be used, with an emphasis on providing life-saving and life-extending services for people living with HIV/AIDS across this country. More money will be spent on direct health care for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clients. Under the new law, unless they receive a waiver, grantees receiving funds under Parts A, B, and C must spend at least 75 percent of funds on “core medical services” and can spend no more than 5 percent or 3 million dollars (whichever is smaller) on clinical quality management. Under Parts A-D, there is also a 10 percent spending cap on grantee administration. The forms would require grantees to report on how funds are allocated and spent on core and non-core services, and on various program components, such as administration, planning and evaluation, and quality management. The two forms are identical in the types of information they collect. However, the first report would track the allocation of their award at the beginning of their grant cycle and the second report would track actual expenditures (including carryover dollars) at the end of their grant cycle. The primary purposes of these forms are to
(1)provide information on the number of grant dollars spent on various services and program components, and
(2)oversee compliance with the intent of congressional appropriations in a timely manner. In addition to meeting the goal of accountability to the Congress, clients, advocacy groups, and the general public, information collected on these reports is critical for HRSA, State and local grantees, and individual providers to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs. The response burden for grantees is estimated as: Program under which grantee is funded Number of grantee respondents Responses per grantee Total Responses Hours to complete each form Total hours Part A 56 2 112 8 896 Part B 59 2 118 12 1416 Part A MAI 56 2 112 4 448 Part B MAI 59 2 118 4 472 Part C 361 2 722 7 5054 Part D 90 2 180 7 1260 Total 681 1,362 9,546 Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 10-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice. Dated: October 1, 2007. Alexandra Huttinger, Acting Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination. [FR Doc. E7-19721 Filed 10-4-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165-15-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Resources and Services Administration Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses Toward Living Organ Donation Proposed Eligibility Guidelines and Publication of Final Program Eligibility Guidelines AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS. ACTION: Response to Solicitation of Comments and Publication of Final Program Eligibility Guidelines. SUMMARY: A notice was published in the **Federal Register** on April 9, 2007 (72 FR 17564). The purpose of this notice was to solicit comments on the eligibility criteria that were proposed by HRSA concerning the Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses Grant Program. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James F. Burdick, M.D., Director, Division of Transplantation, Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 12C-06, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; telephone
(301)443-7577; fax
(301)594-6095; or e-mail: *jburdick@hrsa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress has provided specific authority under section 377 of the Public Health Service
(PHS)Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 274f, for providing reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses for living organ donors, with preference for those for whom paying such expenses would create a financial hardship. On September 25, 2006, HRSA awarded a 4-year, $8,000,000 Cooperative Agreement to the Regents of the University of Michigan to establish this Program. Congress requires that the Secretary, in carrying out this Program, give preference to those individuals the Secretary determines are more likely to be unable to pay for the travel and related expenses associated with the donation process. In addition, Congress requires that funds from the Program not be used to reimburse travel and related expenses associated with being a living donor, if the donor has received any payments or is expected to receive any payments related to these expenses from:
(1)Any State compensation program, an insurance policy, or a Federal or State health benefits program;
(2)An entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis; or
(3)The recipient of the organ. On April 9, 2007, HRSA published a notice in the **Federal Register** , requesting comments on the proposed eligibility criteria for the Program. HRSA outlined that the two main issues raised in developing program eligibility criteria are:
(1)Criteria to identify potential living organ donors who may be unable to pay for travel and subsistence expenses associated with living organ donation, since Congress mandates that these individuals be given priority for reimbursement; and
(2)criteria to assess the potential organ recipient's ability to pay for these expenses incurred by the living organ donor, since Congress prohibits reimbursement of these expenses if the recipient of the organ can reasonably pay for these expenses. HRSA proposed 200 percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines as an income threshold for determining which transplant recipients could reasonably be expected to pay for travel and subsistence expenses incurred by the living donor. HRSA requested comments as to whether this was a reasonable approach for assessing a recipient's ability to pay. HRSA also proposed some additional criteria governing donor reimbursement including: Good faith effort to become a donor, U.S. legal status, donor informed consent, compliance with the criminal provisions contained in section 301 of the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984, as amended, concerning the transfer of a human organ for valuable consideration and requirements of the transplant program to be in good standing with the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. HRSA received 29 public comments from advocacy groups, transplant hospitals, and concerned citizens. Nineteen of these comments expressed dissatisfaction in limiting reimbursement to specific donors. The majority of these respondents remarked that reimbursement should be available to all living donors without conditions. Three of these commenters proposed that HRSA increase the threshold to 300 percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines. One respondent expressed concerns that the expectation of recipients paying for donors' costs and the income guidelines providing preference for the lowest socioeconomic class may result in the exchange of valuable consideration for the organ or otherwise be coercive towards individuals of lower socioeconomic status. Three respondents stated that they support the criteria as proposed. One of these two respondents stated that the Program should be based on the donor's ability to pay, that if people really want to donate and can afford it, money shouldn't be an issue. One respondent asked HRSA to protect the rights of all living donors. Another respondent feels that HRSA is ‘pushing' the black market by paying $6,000, which is an insufficient amount, to living organ donors. Furthermore, this respondent feels that the Program, as outlined, is offensive to living donors and that no Program would be better than the Program that is proposed. None of the respondents explicitly addressed the criteria for donor reimbursement or qualifying expenses. HRSA wishes to thank the respondents for the quality and thoroughness of their comments. HRSA's response to the comments received and final decisions are discussed below. I. Response to Comment That Reimbursement Should Be Provided to All Living Donors Without Regard to the Financial Situation of the Donor or Recipient Most respondents commented that reimbursement should be available to all living donors regardless of their financial situation. The authorizing statute requires HRSA to give preference to individuals for whom paying for the travel and subsistence expenses in the donation process would be financially burdensome. Another restriction bars HRSA from making funds available for reimbursement to living donors whenever it is reasonable to expect the donor to receive reimbursement for these expenses from other sources including the recipient of the organ. Thus, HRSA is required to establish criteria to assess the donor's ability to be reimbursed from these sources. Based on these restrictions and in an effort to provide for a transparent and administratively manageable mechanism to assess an individual's ability to pay for covered expenses, HRSA believes that the use of the HHS Poverty Guidelines satisfies these legislative requirements. II. Response to Comment To Increase the Income Threshold to 300 Percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines In addition to the 19 respondents who believe that reimbursement should be available to all living donors, three respondents proposed that HRSA increase the income threshold to 300 percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines for both donors and recipients. After further deliberations, HRSA accepted this recommendation. Individuals in need of a transplant face many financial obligations such as direct medical expenses, insurance co-pays, medications, etc., associated with end-stage organ failure. Similarly, potential donors face the potential loss of income and other expenses that may increase as a result of the donation. It is the hope of HRSA that this change will help to ease the burden for both donors and recipients. III. Response to Concern Over Expectation by the Organ Donor That Recipient Should Pay Donor's Expenses One respondent expressed concerns about the expectation that the recipient pay for the donor's expenses. As stated previously, the authorizing statute requires that HRSA consider the recipient's ability to pay. IV. Response to Comment That All Organ Donors Deserve This Gift for Their Sacrifice The majority of respondents commented that all donors should receive reimbursement under this Program. The most frequent reason stated was that donors deserve this gift for their sacrifice. The authorizing legislation does not intend the payment authorized under this program to be a gift or recognition for the sacrifice of the donor or as an enticement to donate. The intent is to ease the financial burden on those individuals who make the altruistic decision to donate and to give priority to those who have no other available sources to pay for travel and subsistence expenses associated with the donation. V. Response to Comment That Overall Reimbursement Level Should Exceed $6,000 Eight respondents mentioned the $6,000 level in their comments. HRSA wishes to clarify that $6,000 is the ceiling or reimbursement cap for each donor participating in the Program. The Program will provide reimbursement for only the qualifying expenses outlined in the final eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria provide more details on qualifying expenses. Conclusion HRSA has reviewed and considered all comments and has revised certain eligibility criteria as appropriate. HRSA will continually monitor the progress of the Program grantee, the Regents of the University of Michigan, to ensure that it adheres to the Program eligibility criteria in the operation of the National Living Donor Assistance Center. The final eligibility criteria are included in this document. The final eligibility criteria guidelines document is also available at *http://www.livingdonorassistancecenter.gov.* National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) Program Eligibility Guidelines Section 3 of the Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act (ODRIA), 42 U.S.C. 274f, establishes the authority and legislative parameters to provide reimbursement for travel and subsistence expenses incurred towards living organ donation. HRSA awarded a cooperative agreement to the Regents of the University of Michigan (Michigan), which partnered with the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), to establish the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) to operate this Program. As provided for in the statutory authorization, this Program is intended to provide reimbursement only in those circumstances when payment cannot reasonably be covered by other sources of reimbursement. The NLDAC, under Federal law, cannot provide reimbursement to any living organ donor for travel and other qualifying expenses if the donor can receive reimbursement for these expenses from any of the following sources:
(1)Any State compensation program, an insurance policy, or any Federal or State health benefits program;
(2)an entity that provides health services on a prepaid basis; or
(3)the recipient of the organ. In response to public solicitation of comments, a threshold of income eligibility for the recipient of the organ is 300 percent of the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS)Poverty Guidelines in effect at the time of the eligibility determination. The Program assumes that recipients whose income exceeds this level will have the ability to reimburse the living organ donor for the travel and subsistence expenses and any other qualifying expenses that can be authorized by the Secretary of HHS. The Program provides an exception to this rule for financial hardships. A transplant social worker, or appropriate transplant center representative, based on a complete recipient evaluation, can provide an official statement, notwithstanding the recipient's income level, that the recipient of the organ would face significant financial hardship if required to pay for the qualifying living organ donor expenses. A recipient's financial hardship is defined as circumstances in which the recipient's income exceeds 300 percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines in effect at the time of the eligibility determination, but the individual will have difficulty paying the donor's expenses due to other significant expenses. Whether or not hardship exists in a particular case requires a fact-specific analysis; examples of significant expenses include circumstances such as paying for medical expenses not covered by insurance or providing significant financial support for a family member not living in the household (e.g., elderly parent). Waiver requests by the transplant center, on behalf of the donor, shall be made in writing and shall clearly describe the circumstances for the waiver request. The NLDAC will review waiver requests and make a recommendation to HRSA to either approve or deny the request. HRSA will make the final determination and communicate its final determination to the NLDAC. The NDLAC will notify the transplant center of the final determination. HRSA's determination will not be subject to appeal. All persons who wish to become living organ donors are eligible to receive reimbursement for their travel and qualified expenses if they cannot receive reimbursement from the sources outlined above and if all the requirements outlined in the *Criteria for Donor Reimbursement Section* are satisfied. However, because of the limited funds available, prospective living donors who are most likely not able to cover these expenses will receive priority. The ability to cover these expenses is determined based on an evaluation of
(1)the donor and recipient's income, in relation to the HHS Poverty Guidelines (described in Table 1.1 below), and
(2)financial hardship. As a general matter, income refers to the donor or recipient's total household income. A donor may be able to demonstrate financial hardship, even if the donor's income exceeds 300 percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines, if the donor will have difficulty paying the qualifying expenses due to other significant expenses. Although all requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, examples of significant expenses include circumstances such as providing significant financial support for a family member not living in the household (e.g., elderly parent), loss of income due to donation process. Waiver requests by the transplant center, on behalf of the donor, shall be made in writing and shall clearly describe the circumstances for the waiver request. The NLDAC will review waiver requests and make a recommendation to HRSA to either approve or deny the request. HRSA will make the final determination and communicate its final determination to the NLDAC. The NLDAC will notify the transplant center of the final determination. HRSA's determination will not be subject to appeal. Donors will be given preference in the following order of priority: *Preference Category 1:* The donor's income and the recipient's income are each 300 percent or less of HHS Poverty Guidelines in effect at the time of the eligibility determination in their respective states of primary residence. *Preference Category 2:* Although the donor's income exceeds 300 percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines in effect in the State of primary residence at the time of the eligibility determination, the donor demonstrates financial hardship. The recipient's income is at or below 300 percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines in effect in the State of primary residence at the time of the eligibility determination. *Preference Category 3:* Any living organ donor, regardless of income or financial hardship, if the recipient's income is at or below 300 percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines in effect in the recipient's State of primary residence at the time of the eligibility determination. *Preference Category 4:* Any living organ donor, regardless of income or financial hardship, if the recipient (with income above 300 percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines in effect in the State of primary residence at the time of the eligibility determination) demonstrates financial hardship. HRSA reserves the right to prioritize those most in financial need (based on income or other specified factors) if it receives large numbers of applications concerning donors meeting preference category 1. The HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2007 ( **Federal Register** , Vol. 72, No. 15, January 24, 2007, pp. 3147-3148) are shown in the table below. 2007 HHS Poverty Guidelines Persons in family or household 48 Contiguous States and DC Alaska Hawaii 1 $10,210 $12,770 $11,750 2 13,690 17,120 15,750 3 17,170 21,470 19,750 4 20,650 25,820 23,750 5 24,130 30,170 27,750 6 27,610 34,520 31,750 7 31,090 38,870 35,750 8 34,570 43,220 39,750 For each additional person, add 3,480 4,350 4,000 Source: Federal Register , Vol. 72, No. 15, January 24, 2007, pp. 3147-3148. These guidelines are updated periodically. Criteria for Donor Reimbursement 1. Any individual who in good faith incurs travel and other qualifying expenses toward the intended donation of an organ. 2. Donor and recipient of the organ are U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted residents of the U.S. 3. Donor and recipient have primary residences in the U.S. or its territories. 4. Travel is originating from the donor's primary residence. 5. Donor and recipient certify that they understand and are in compliance with Section 301 of NOTA (42 U.S.C. 274e) which states in part “* * * It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly acquire, receive, or otherwise transfer any human organ for valuable consideration for use in human transplantation if the transfer affects interstate commerce.” 6. The transplant center where the donation procedure occurs certifies to its status of good standing with the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Qualifying Expenses For the purposes of the Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses toward Living Organ Donation Program, *qualifying expenses* presently include only travel, lodging, and meals and incidental expenses incurred by the donor and/or his/her accompanying person(s) as part of:
(1)Donor evaluation, clinic visit or hospitalization,
(2)Hospitalization for the living donor surgical procedure, and/or
(3)Medical or surgical follow-up clinic visit or hospitalization within 90 days following the living donation procedure. The Program will pay for a total of up to five trips; three for the donor and two for accompanying persons. The accompanying persons need not be the same each trip. The total Federal reimbursement for qualified expenses during the donation process for the donor and accompanying individuals shall not exceed $6,000.00. Reimbursement for qualifying expenses shall be provided at the Federal per-diem rate, except for hotel accommodation, which shall be reimbursed at no more than 150 percent of the Federal per diem rate. For donor and recipient pairs participating in a paired exchange program, the applicable eligibility criteria for the originally intended recipient shall be considered for the purpose of reimbursement of qualifying donor expenses even though the final recipient of the donated organ may not be the recipient identified in the original donor-recipient pair. Maximum Number of Prospective Donors per Recipient • *Kidney:* One donor at a time with a maximum of three donors. • *Liver:* One donor at a time with a maximum of five donors. • *Lung:* Two donors at a time with a maximum of six donors. Special Provisions Many factors may prevent the intended and willing donor from proceeding with the donation. Circumstances that would prevent the transplant or donation from proceeding include: Present health status of the intended donor or recipient, perceived long-term risks to the intended donor, justified circumstances such as acts of God (e.g., major storms or hurricanes), or a circumstance when an intended donor proceeds toward donation in good faith, subject to a case-by-case evaluation by the NLDAC, but then elects not to pursue donation. In such cases, the intended donor and accompanying persons may receive reimbursement for qualified expenses incurred as if the donation had been completed. Under Program policy, a form will be filed with the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS)reporting funds disbursed as income for expenses not incurred. Dated: October 1, 2007. Elizabeth M. Duke, Administrator. [FR Doc. E7-19747 Filed 10-4-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165-15-P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Law Enforcement Training Center [Docket No. FLETC-2007-0002] Advisory Committee to the Office of State and Local Training AGENCY: Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), DHS. ACTION: Committee Management; Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting. SUMMARY: The Office of State and Local Training Advisory Committee (OSLTAC) will meet on November 8, 2007, on St. Simons Island, GA. The meeting will be open to the public. DATES: The Office of State and Local Training Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, November 8, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that the meeting may close early if the committee has completed its business. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Epworth By The Sea, 100 Arthur J. Moore Drive, St. Simons Island, GA. Send written material, comments, and/or requests to make an oral presentation to the contact person listed below by October 19th. Requests to have a copy of your material distributed to each member of the committee prior to the meeting should reach the contact person at the address below by October 19th. Comments must be identified by FLETC-2007-0002 and may be submitted by *one* of the following methods: • *Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • *E-mail: reba.fischer@dhs.gov* . Include docket number in the subject line of the message. • *Fax:*
(912)267-3531. (Not a toll-free number.) • *Mail:* Reba Fischer, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Department of Homeland Security, 1131 Chapel Crossing Road, Townhouse 396, Glynco, GA 31524. *Instructions:* All submissions received must include the words “Department of Homeland Security” and the docket number for this action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at *www.regulations.gov* , including any personal information provided. *Docket:* For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received by the Advisory Committee to the Office of State and Local Training, go to *www.regulations.gov* . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reba Fischer, Designated Federal Officer, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Department of Homeland Security, 1131 Chapel Crossing Road, Townhouse 396, Glynco, GA 31524;
(912)267-2343; *reba.fischer@dhs.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-463). The mission of the Advisory Committee to the Office of State and Local Training is to advise and make recommendations on matters relating to the selection, development, content and delivery of training services by the OSL/FLETC to its state, local, campus, and tribal law enforcement customers. *Draft Agenda:* The draft agenda for this meeting includes briefings to update committee members on OSL and FLETC training initiatives and provide feedback on committee recommendations. Committee members will be asked to provide recommendations on OSL strategic planning; training needs of state, local, campus, and tribal law enforcement officers; and upcoming training initiatives. *Procedural:* This meeting is open to the public. Please note that the meeting may close early if all business is finished. Visitors must pre-register attendance to ensure adequate seating. Please provide your name and telephone number by close of business on October 19, 2007, to Reba Fischer (contact information above). *Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities:* For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact Reba Fischer as soon as possible. Dated: September 25, 2007. Malcolm Adams, Acting Deputy Assistant Director, Office of State and Local Law Enforcement Training. [FR Doc. 07-4958 Filed 10-4-07; 8:45 am]
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- Pub. L. 104-13
- Pub. L. 92-463
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Notices
Response to Solicitation of Comments and Publication of Final Program Eligibility Guidelines
Pub. L.Pub. L. 104-13
Pub. L.Pub. L. 92-463
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