1811 Solicitation for letters of interest; Tobacco Settlement Act; community-based health care assistance grants for coordination and outreach

Solicitation for Letters of Interest; Tobacco Settlement Act; Community-Based Health Care Assistance Grants for Coordination and Outreach

[31 Pa.B. 5618]

   In anticipation of the release of the Community-Based Health Care Assistance, Grants for Coordination and Outreach, Request for Applications (RFA) 01-07-08, the Department of Health (Department) is soliciting Letters of Interest and comments from eligible nonprofit community-based health care providers and collaboratives for participation in the Community-Based Health Care Assistance, Grants for Coordination and Outreach, defined in Chapter 21, Sections 2101-2103, of The Tobacco Settlement Act, Act 2001-77 (Act). The Act defines eligible nonprofit Community-Based Health Care Providers as:

   1.  A Federally qualified health center as defined by section 1861(aa)(4) of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C.A. § 1395x(aa)(4)).

   2.  A rural health clinic as defined by section 1861(aa)(2) of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C.A. § 1395x(aa)(2)), certified by Medicare.

   3.  A freestanding hospital clinic serving a Federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area.

   4.  A free or partial pay health clinic which provides services by volunteer medical providers.

   The Act defines eligible collaboratives as an entity located in this Commonwealth that provides an integrated delivery system for coordinating health care and outreach efforts.

   Letters are being solicited to inform the Department about the number of potential applicants for Grants for Coordination and Outreach, to allow the Department to determine the amount of funds to be allocated among interested and eligible community-based health care providers and collaboratives, and to solicit public comments regarding the implementation of the Community-Based Health Care Assistance, Grants for Coordination and Outreach program.

   Grants for Coordination and Outreach are available to eligible community-based health care providers and collaboratives that meet all of the following:

   1.  Identify and assess the general health status of low-income individuals with or at risk for chronic diseases and provide enrollment assistance to these individuals for available health benefit insurance programs.

   2.  Provide case management services to low-income individuals to improve their physical health, behavioral health and social condition and to reduce medical complications.

   3.  Refer and coordinate care for individuals who require additional health care services.

   4.  Reduce the inappropriate use of hospital emergency departments and hospital inpatient stays by persons who are chronically ill.

   5.  Educate patients, medical providers, caregivers and the community on the coordinated management of chronic diseases.

   6.  Develop regional, nonprofit, community-based integrated delivery systems capable of carrying out the purposes and goals of the program.

   Eligible community-based health care providers and collaboratives must meet all of the following criteria:

   1.  Be nonprofit;

   2.  Submit an application provided by the Department listing strategic goals and objectives set forth in the application;

   3.  Report to the Department on all of the following:

   a.  The progress of its efforts to improve delivery and management of health care to low-income persons, as measured by the goals and objectives developed by the Department;

   b.  Documentation of the reduction of unnecessary and redundant health care to these persons;

   c.  The data necessary for evaluation of the programs, as defined by the Department.

   Upon release of RFA 01-07-08, a copy will be provided to all known community-based health care providers and collaboratives as well as to all entities submitting a Letter of Interest. The Department is requesting the Letter of Interest form and comments be submitted by October 26, 2001, to Department of Health, Bureau of Health Planning, Room 1033 Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120.

   To receive a copy of the Letter of Interest materials and form, contact Joseph B. May, Director, Bureau of Health Planning, 1033 Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, [phone]. The Letter of Interest form and instructions may also be downloaded from the Department's website www.health.state.pa.us.

   Persons with disabilities desiring a copy of this notice or a Letter of Interest form in alternative formats (such as larger print, audio tape or Braille) should contact Joseph B. May at [phone] or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Services at [phone].

ROBERT S. ZIMMERMAN, Jr.,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 01-1811. Filed for public inspection October 5, 2001, 9:00 a.m.]