AHRQ MINORITY RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT PROGRAM Release Date: October 12, 2000 PA NUMBER: PAR-01-001 (superseded by PAR-04-016) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (formerly AHCPR) Application Receipt Date: February 1 (annually) PURPOSE The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), formerly known as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), is establishing the Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program (M-RISP) to increase the capacity of minority institutions and their faculty to conduct rigorous health services research. The intent of the research infrastructure program is to strengthen the research environments of minority institutions through grant support to develop and/or expand existing capacities for conducting research in all areas of health services. Minority students will benefit from participation in projects as research assistants and will be encouraged to pursue careers in fields related to health services research. To facilitate the goal of assisting institutions in increasing their capacity to conduct health services research, the M-RISP provides support for two types of core activities: (1) Institutional research development support, to strengthen the institutional infrastructure and enhance the capability of individual faculty members to undertake health services research, and (2) Individual investigator research project support, for developing research scientists to conduct small grant research activities that can lead to successful applications for funding under regular health services research grant mechanisms. The mission of AHRQ is to support, conduct, and disseminate research that improves access to care and the outcomes, quality, cost, and utilization of health care services. The research sponsored and conducted by the Agency provides information that enables better decisions about health care. Research that promotes the improvement of health care quality will be the Agency’s highest priority during the next few years. Accordingly, the Agency has identified the following three strategic goals, each of which will contribute to improving the quality of health care for all Americans: o support improvements in health outcomes o strengthen quality measurement and improvement o identify strategies to improve access, foster appropriate use, and reduce unnecessary expenditures AHRQ programs and products are designed to be responsive to the needs of consumers, patients, clinicians, and other providers, institutions, plans, purchasers, and public and private policy makers at all levels for evidence-based information they may need to improve quality and outcomes, control costs, and ensure access to needed health care services. A copy of AHRQ’s strategic plan is available at http://www.AHRQ.gov This Program Announcement (PA) expires three years from the release date shown directly above, unless reissued. HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting health improvement priorities for the United States. AHRQ encourages applicants to submit grant applications with relevance to the specific objectives of this initiative. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople. Nondiscrimination The AHRQ M-RISP is conducted in compliance with applicable laws that provide that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination. Applicant organizations are required to have appropriate Assurance of Compliance forms filed with the Office of Civil Rights, Office of the Secretary, DHHS before a grant may be made to that institution. The Division of Research Education, Office of Research Review, Education, and Policy (ORREP), should be contacted with any questions concerning compliance (see INQUIRIES). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applications for AHRQ M-RISP may be submitted by domestic public and private universities, four-year colleges, non-profit domestic organizations such as hospitals, laboratories, units of public agencies of State or local governments, eligible agencies of the Federal government, or other institutions conducting health services research. For the purpose of this PA, AHRQ will make grants only to nonprofit organizations, however, for- profit organizations may participate in grant projects through consortium arrangements or as subcontractors. Organizations described in section 501(c)4 of the Internal Revenue Codes that engage in lobbying are not eligible. The applicant must indicate which of the following eligibility conditions apply to the institution: o An academic institution with at least 55 percent minority (Black, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander) student enrollment. o An institution with more than 30 percent minority student enrollment in each of the past three years that can provide evidence of efforts to recruit members of ethnic or racial minority groups into scientific careers. Additionally, the institution should show evidence of demonstrated commitment to minority faculty recruitment and development in expenditure of resources, as well as documented institutional need for support in its research development program. Potential applicants who intend to apply under this eligibility criterion are advised to consult with AHRQ staff (as listed under Inquiries) before submitting an application. o An Indian tribe may apply in conjunction with one or more institutions of higher learning that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in health services research related fields. Such applicants must have a recognized governing body and perform substantial governmental functions, or qualify as an Alaska Regional Corporation (ARC) as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). Racial and ethnic minority individuals, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Grants awarded under AHRQ M-RISP will use the resource-related research projects mechanism (R24). This mechanism is used to support research projects that enhance capabilities to contribute to extramural research of the Public Health Service (PHS). Grants funded under M-RISP are awarded directly to the applicant institution and are nontransferable. Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the proposed projects will be solely that of the applicant. Allowable Costs Each application should include proposals related to both core elements (Institutional Research Development Support and Individual Investigator Research Projects) and indicate how the infrastructure support will enhance the individual research projects. An application may also request support for Research Assistantships for students to work with faculty members who have research funding through another mechanism of support. Institutions are encouraged to use funds under M-RISP to increase the availability of Research Assistants on these projects. M-RISP funds are not intended to be used to replace any Research Assistant positions supported by other Federal or non-Federal awards. AHRQ recognizes that different types of institutions will require different types of research infrastructure development activities and initiatives, depending upon particular needs and circumstances. Accordingly, this announcement provides general rather than specific guidance as to the types of development activities appropriate under M-RISP. Support may be requested for, but is not limited to, the following: o Partial salary support for persons engaged in the project o Research training for junior investigators o Scientific and statistical consultation, including expenses incurred by a scientific advisory committee o Biostatistical and data management services o Research technicians and assistants o Research instruments o Small, project-specific equipment o Pilot and feasibility studies o Research subject costs o Data acquisition costs Funds Available The average AHRQ M-RISP grant is $300,000 direct costs per year plus negotiated F&A. The infrastructure core component of most M-RISP grants average $50,000 per year, direct costs. Individual Investigator projects average $50,000 per year, direct costs. Support is limited to three years for the first-time application. The core, infrastructure component of an M-RISP grant is renewable for intervals of up to five years. Competitive renewals are permitted so long as new Individual Investigators of subprojects are supported by the program. Individual Investigators who participate in subprojects on the M-RISP grant should not expect more than a total of six years of support through the M-RISP program. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Background M-RISP is designed to enable predominantly minority institutions with small programs in health services research to develop into significantly stronger research institutions. It is part of an integrated approach by AHRQ to develop and broaden the national infrastructure for conducting health services research. Through this program, AHRQ seeks to expand the number of minority institutions and researchers who conduct health services research in areas identified in the "AHRQ Health Services Research" PA published in the NIH Guide on June 22, 2000. This announcement is available on the AHRQ web site under Funding Opportunities (http://www.AHRQ.gov). Research topics that the Agency is most interested in include: o Accelerating and magnifying the impact of research on clinical practice and patient outcomes in applied settings. o Demonstrating that the translation of research into practice leads to measurable and sustainable improvements in health care. o Understanding how research is used in decision making by health care policymakers, administrators, and managers. o Understanding the determinants of career satisfaction and their influence on career path progression. o Improving the health care system’s ability to provide access to and deliver high quality, high- value health care. o Developing and evaluating decision support systems to support real-time detection of bioterrorist threats and management of bioterrorism. o Assessing the quality of care for vulnerable populations. o Evaluating quality and patient safety in ambulatory care. o Enhancing informed decision-making in primary care settings, including shared patient-clinician decision-making. o Using clinical informatics to improve primary care practice, including evaluation of its impact on quality, outcomes, and cost. o Assessing the organization and delivery of preventive care and methods to improve both the amount and quality of clinical preventive services that are delivered. o Understanding the determinants of insurance coverage and access to care. o Improving methodologies to systematically review and evaluate preventive services, especially screening tests. o Improving the delivery of primary care services in rural and inner-city areas. o Assessing the special health care needs of low income populations. o Improving care at the end-of-life. o Providing policy makers with the ability to assess the impact of health care changes on outcomes, effectiveness, quality, access, cost and use of health services. o Developing methods and measures for identifying and preventing medical errors to enhance patient safety. o Evaluating the impact of chronic illness among workers and their dependents on health care outcomes and work productivity. o Developing methodological advances in health services research, especially cost-effectiveness analysis. o Promoting high ethical standards across the spectrum of health care delivery, research, and research education. o Application of advances in information sciences to clinical practice, including testing their impact on quality, outcomes, costs, and patient satisfaction. In all of the topics listed above, the Agency is interested in an explicit focus on health issues related to priority populations including racial and ethnic minorities, women, children, older adults, populations in inner-city and rural areas, low income groups, and individuals with special health care needs, including individuals with disabilities and individuals who need chronic care or end-of-life health care. To facilitate these goals, M-RISP provides support for two types of primary activities: Institutional Research Development Support: M-RISP provides support to strengthen the institutional infrastructure so as to enhance the capability of individual faculty members to undertake health services research. Requests may be made for infrastructure enhancements such as support of collaborative linkages with senior scientists in other institutions, provision of resources for data management and statistical analyses, and laboratory development, including limited support for equipment. For individual faculty development, support may be requested for activities such as enrolling in advanced seminars in scientific techniques, and for pilot work to serve as a basis for developing individual research projects. Individual Investigator Research Projects: In addition to capacity development support, an M-RISP grant provides support for at least two initial or developmental research subprojects from at least two or more faculty members who serve as Individual Investigators of these subprojects. The intent of this component of M-RISP is to support research activities that will lead to successful applications for funding under other investigator-initiated AHRQ grants programs. Individual Investigator projects should be designed to take advantage of the infrastructure development being supported by the program. In addition to these two main elements in M-RISP, an optional component is also available for faculty members who have obtained research funding for health services research through other sources of funds: Research Assistantships for Associate Investigator Projects. Investigators under this program are research project directors whose funding for the research project has been obtained from other sources (including Federal, State, local, and/or private support). In such cases, additional funds may be requested through M-RISP to support minority undergraduate or graduate students to serve as research assistants on the funded research project. Application Characteristics An AHRQ M-RISP application must present a plan that (1) assesses current institutional and faculty capacity to conduct health services research, (2) identifies unmet needs, and (3) describes activities that will be undertaken to develop and strengthen the institutional research infrastructure. The plan should include both an institutional research development program and two or more individual investigator projects. The plan should cover a period of three years (up to five years for competitive renewals) and indicate how the capacity to conduct health services research will be improved significantly during this time period. The application should contain the following: Institutional Research Development Plan o Specific aims o Summary of relevant ongoing health services research o Assessment of institutional capacity to conduct state of the art research on health services related issues, identification of gaps which M-RISP is intended to fill o Design and procedures to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the research infrastructure development plan over the time period of the proposed project (3 years for new applications, up to 5 years for competitive renewal applications), including plans for administrative structure, recruitment and retention of persons skilled in health services research, staff training and mentoring, statistical and other consultation and data management, and collaboration with other institutions o Description of equipment, space, and other facility resources available to support the development plan and extent to which enhancement of these resources is needed o Description of institutional financial commitment to support the proposed minority health services research infrastructure development o Brief descriptions (1 page each) of individual research studies that will be undertaken as part of infrastructure development, including plans for data collection and analysis The Institutional Research Development Plan section of the application is limited to 25 pages. Individual Investigator Research Projects o Linkages to overall institutional capacity development plan o Specific aims o Background and significance o Progress report/preliminary studies o Literature review o Research plan, including experimental design and methods o Protection of human subjects, where applicable o Consultants and collaborators o Consortium/contractual arrangements o Detailed budgets for each project The research plans for the Individual Investigator Research Projects are limited to 10 pages each (not including the list of references). SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AHRQ Data To the extent feasible, AHRQ applicants are encouraged to submit projects that build on available data, will generate early results, and are modest in time, scale, and cost. AHRQ encourages research applications that will use data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), and other AHRQ data. The MEPS is a rich data source for health care utilization, expenditure, and insurance information, directly linking data about persons and their families with information obtained from their employers, insurers, and health care providers. It is the third in a series of nationally representative surveys of medical care use and expenditures in the U.S. The 1996 MEPS updates previous survey data to reflect the changes that have occurred over the past decade. MEPS collects data on the specific health services that Americans use, how frequently they use them, the cost and source of payment for services, and information on the types and costs of private health insurance held by and available to the U.S. population. It provides a foundation for estimating the impact of changes in sources of payment and insurance coverage on different economic groups or special populations of interest, such as the poor, elderly, uninsured, and racial and ethnic minorities. Some data from the Household and Nursing Home Components of the 1996 MEPS became available for use by researchers beginning in Spring of 1997. The release schedule for other data through calendar year 1998 is available from the MEPS section under Data of the AHRQ Web site (http://www.ahrq.gov). The HCUP includes databases covering 1988-1997, with 1998 and 1999 data available in 2001. These all-payer databases were created through a Federal- state-industry partnership to build a multistate health care data system. The main HCUP databases contain discharge-level information for inpatient hospital stays in a uniform format with privacy protections. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) is a nationwide probability sample of about 1000 hospitals. The State Inpatient Databases (SID) contain inpatient records for all community hospitals in 22 states. Other HCUP databases contain ambulatory surgery data from nine states. These databases can be directly linked to county-level data from the Health Resources and Services Administration"s Area Resource File and to hospital-level data from the Annual Survey of the American Hospital Association. Information on MEPS and HCUP is available from the Data section also from the AHRQ Web site, and from AHRQ staff (See INQUIRIES). Data Privacy Pursuant to section 924(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC 299c- 3(c)), information obtained in the course of any AHRQ-study that identifies an individual or entity must be treated as confidential in accordance with any promises made or implied regarding the possible uses and purposes of the data collection. In the Human Subjects section of the application, applicants must describe procedures for ensuring the confidentiality of such identifying information. The description of the procedures should include a discussion of who will be permitted access to the information, both raw data and machine readable files, and how personal identifiers and other identifying or identifiable data will be restricted and safeguarded. The grantee should ensure that computer systems containing confidential data have a level and scope of security that equals or exceeds those established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in OMB Circular No. A-130, Appendix III - Security of Federal Automated Information Systems. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published several implementation guides for this circular. They are: An Introduction to Computer Security: The NIST Handbook, Generally Accepted Principals and Practices for Securing Information Technology Systems, and Guide for Developing Security Plans for Information Technology Systems. The circular and guides are available on the web at http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-12/handbook.pdf. The application of these confidentiality and security standards to subcontractors and vendors should be addressed as necessary. Rights in Data AHRQ grantees may copyright or seek patents, as appropriate, for final and interim products and materials including, but not limited to, methodological tools, measures, software with documentation, literature searches, and analyses, which are developed in whole or in part with AHRQ funds. Such copyrights and patents are subject to a worldwide irrevocable Federal government license to use and permit others to use these products and materials for government purposes. In accordance with its legislative dissemination mandate, AHRQ purposes may include, subject to statutory confidentiality protections, making research materials, data bases, results, and algorithms available for verification or replication by other researchers, and subject to AHRQ budget constraints, final products may be made available to the health care community and the public by AHRQ or its agents, if such distribution would significantly increase access to a product and thereby produce public health benefits. Ordinarily, to accomplish distribution, AHRQ publicizes research findings but relies on grantees to publish research results in peer-reviewed journals and to market grant- supported products. Important legal rights and requirements applicable to AHRQ grantees are set out or referenced in the AHRQ’s grants regulation at 42 CFR Part 67, Subpart A (Available in libraries and from the GPO’s website http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/index.html). INCLUSION OF WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND CHILDREN IN RESEARCH STUDY POPULATIONS It is the policy of AHRQ that women and members of minority groups should be included in all AHRQ-supported research projects involving human subjects, unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or the purpose of the research. All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH Guidelines on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the Federal Register of March 28, 1994 and in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts of March 18, 1994. To the extent possible, AHRQ requires adherence to these guidelines. Investigators may obtain copies from the above sources or from the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse listed under INQUIRIES, or from the NIH Guide Website http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html. AHRQ is also encouraging investigators to consider including children in study populations, as appropriate. AHRQ announced in the NIH Guide of May 9, 1997, that it is developing a policy and implementation plan on the inclusion of children in health services research. This notice is available through the AHRQ Web site at http://www.ahrq.gov (Funding Opportunities) and through InstantFax (see instructions under INQUIRIES). AHRQ Program staff may also provide additional information concerning these policies (see INQUIRIES). APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applicants should use the research grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 04/98) in applying for these grants. (State and local government applicants may use form PHS-5161-1, Application for Federal Assistance (rev. 05/96), and follow those requirements for copy submission.) AHRQ encourages applicants to review all PHS 398 application instructions prior to completing an application. The PHS 398 type size requirements (p.6) will be enforced rigorously and non- compliant applications will be returned. AHRQ is not using the Modular Grant Application and Award process. Applicants for funding from AHRQ should ignore application instructions concerning the Modular Grant Application and Award process, and prepare applications according to instructions provided in form PHS 398 (revised 4/98). Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research. They may also be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone (301)-710-0267, email: grantsinfo@nih.gov. AHRQ applicants are encouraged to obtain application materials from the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse (see INQUIRIES). The PA title and number must be typed on line two of the face page of the application form and the YES box must be marked. The completed, signed, typewritten original application, including the Checklist, and three signed photocopies in one package must be sent to: Center for Scientific Review National Institutes of Health 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710 Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 or Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must also be sent to: Division of Scientific Review/M-RISP Program Office of Research Review, Education and Policy Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852-4908 Applications will be accepted annually on the single receipt date of February 1st. Application Preparation For applications that propose to use Medicare or Medicaid data that are individually identifiable, applicants should state explicitly in the "Research Design and Methods" section of the Research Plan (form PHS 398) the specific files, time periods, and cohorts proposed for the research. In consultation with HCFA, AHRQ will use this information to develop a cost estimate for obtaining the data. This estimate will be included in the estimated total cost of the grant at the time funding decisions are made. Applicants should be aware that for individually identifiable Medicare and Medicaid data, Principal Investigators and their grantee institutions will be required to enter into a Data Use Agreement (DUA) with HCFA to protect the confidentiality of data in accordance with OMB Circular A-130, Appendix III--Security of Federal Automated Information Systems. The use of the data is restricted to the purposes and time period specified in the DUA. At the end of this time period, the grantee is required to return the data to HCFA or certify that the data have been destroyed. Grantees must also comply with the confidentiality requirements of Section 903(c) of the PHS Act. Questions regarding HCFA data should be directed to the AHRQ program official listed under INQUIRIES. In carrying out its stewardship of human resource related programs, the AHRQ, at some point in the future, may begin requesting information essential to an assessment of the effectiveness of Agency research programs. Accordingly, grant recipients are hereby notified that they may be contacted after the completion of awards for periodic updates on publications resulting from AHRQ grant awards, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of sponsored research. AHRQ expects grant recipients to keep the Agency informed of publications or the impact from Agency sponsored research. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, AHRQ staff will review applications for completeness and relevance to the AHRQ mission. Incomplete applications and applications proposing research in areas outside the mission of the Agency will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. Applications that are complete will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened in accordance with AHRQ peer review procedures. All applications will receive a written critique, and also may undergo a process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit will be discussed and assigned a priority score. General Review Criteria Institutional Research Development Plan o significance of overall project to the goals of this program announcement o appropriateness of the institutional research development plan for the applicant institution and extent to which this plan will build on current institutional support for conducting health services research and significantly augment and improve the support for research o quality of the institutional research development plan, including plans for enhancing institutional capacity and individual faculty research development plans and the degree to which the components enhance one another in achieving overall objectives o probability that the proposal can be implemented successfully, and the likelihood that it will result in competitive research proposals from individual faculty members o experience and appropriateness of the Program Director o evidence of institutional support and commitment to the proposed program Individual Investigator Research Projects o significance and originality of proposed research and potential for publication o adequacy of literature review and justification of the proposed theoretical framework o appropriateness and scientific quality of the methodology proposed to carry out the research, including appropriateness of control or comparison groups, plans for recruitment and retention of subjects, use of consultants, and provisions for other scientifically necessary linkages o qualifications and research experience of the Individual Principal Investigator and staff, particularly, but not exclusively, in the area of the proposed research o for competitive renewals, progress report and publications associated with prior funding period o availability of the resources necessary to perform the research, including access to research subjects o appropriateness of the proposed budget and duration in relation to the proposed research o adequacy of plans to include both genders and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the scientific goals of the research o contribution of Investigator Projects to overall objectives of institutional infrastructure plan and benefits to students participating on the associated projects The peer review group will also examine the provisions for the protection of human subjects. AWARD CRITERIA Applications will compete for available funds with all other approved applications assigned to AHRQ. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: Quality of the proposed project as determined by peer review, availability of funds, and program priorities. Priority will be given to those institutions or departments with no other support for infrastructure. Special Award Requirements Grant funds may be used for expenses clearly related to infrastructure development and necessary to conduct research projects, including both direct costs which can be specifically identified with the project and allowable indirect costs for the institution. Costs must be justified in terms of research objectives, methods, and designs which promise to yield generalizable knowledge and/or make a significant contribution to theoretical concepts. When independent research funds become available to support Individual Investigator Research Projects, the proposed reallocation of existing funds must be discussed with appropriate AHRQ staff on a case by case basis. INQUIRIES Copies of this PA and copies of the grant application form PHS 398 (rev. 4/98) are available from: AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse P.O. Box 8547 Silver Spring, MD 20907-8547 Telephone: (800) 358-9295 TDD Service: 888-586-6340 The PA is available through AHRQ InstantFAX at (301) 594-2800. To use InstantFAX, you must call from a facsimile (FAX) machine with a telephone handset. Follow the voice prompt to obtain a copy of the InstantFAX table of contents, which has the document order number (not the same as the PA number). The PA will be sent at the end of the ordering process. AHRQ InstantFAX operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For comments or problems concerning AHRQ InstantFax, please call (301) 594-6344. AHRQ welcomes the opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants. Written and telephone inquiries concerning this PA are encouraged. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues, including information on the inclusion of women, minorities, and children in study populations to: Shelly Benjamin Division of Research Education Office of Research Review, Education, and Policy Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852-4908 Telephone: (301) 594-1449 E-Mail: training@AHRQ.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Michelle Burr Grants Management Specialist Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 601 Rockville, MD 20852-4908 Telephone: (301) 594-1840 FAX (301) 594-3210 E-mail: mburr@AHRQ.gov Inquiries Concerning Data Sources: MEPS Household Component Nancy Krauss Center for Cost and Financing Studies Telephone: (301) 594-0846 E-mail: nkrauss@AHRQ.gov MEPS Nursing Home Component Jeffrey Rhodes Center for Cost and Financing Studies Telephone: (301) 594-0891 E-mail: jrhodes@AHRQ.gov HCUP-3 Kelly Carper Telephone: (301) 594-3075 E-mail: kcarper@AHRQ.gov, hcupnis@AHRQ.gov, hcupsid@AHRQ.gov AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 93.226. Awards are made under authorization of Title IX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299-299c-7) as amended by P.L. 106-129(1999). Awards are administered under the PHS Grants Policy Statement and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 67, Subpart A, and 45 CFR Parts 74 or 92. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, The Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.


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