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MFMORANDUM DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

TO

FROM ~

‘ Acting Associate Director for Health Resources Planning

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
HEALTH RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION
BUREAU OF HEALTH RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

‘ DCHP, DFU, and DRMP Staff Leone” 1974

 

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SUBJECT: HRP Implementation
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It has been nearly four weeks since my initial memo on this subject. While
Congress was recessed for a part of that time, there have been a number of
developments relating to HRP implementation since then,

Legislation

The "National Health Policy, Planning, and Resources Development Act of 1974"

(H.R. 16204) was reported out on September 12 by the House Committee on Inter-
State and Foreign Commerce, | The Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare

has begun marking up its companion HRP bill (s. 2994). These developments and
agreement by the Congressional leadership to call a special session following

the elections substantially increase the chances of enactment of HRP legisla-

HRP Implementation .

Dr. Holman Wherritt, RHA/Region VII, has been designated the "lead" RHA for HRP
implementation and Dr. E. Frank Ellis, RHA/Region V, will serve as his alternate,
Although they are not able to sit in regularly at the weekly HRP executive staff _
meetings, we will be meeting with them on September 23 in order (1) to report on
HRP implementation progress to date and work and developments in the offing, and
(2) to explore how further regional office participation and inputs might best

be achieved. We also are keeping them currently informed, including sending

them draft materials for consideration by the HRP executive staff and the sum-
mary reports of its meetings,

circulated to regional offices for their comment. These sessions, originally
scheduled to be held later this month and early next month, had to be postponed
because of the uncertainties of legislation, Development of an agenda is
continuing, however, since there is every intention of rescheduling and holding
such meetings at a later time.

An initial "Draft Proposal for a Health Resources Planning Organization" has been
developed and is under active consideration by the HRP executive staff, I hope
that we can get general consensus and agreement on a proposed HRP division-level
organization within a reasonably short time.
Other

There have been several other recent developments that perhaps will be of
interest to you. A single, overall position ceiling has been created for

the three programs. It will be centrally controlled, and for the time being
professional vacancies will be filled on an exception basis. Moreover, all
proposed "outside" recruitments for headquarters professional positions will
require the concurrence of the HRP executive staff. This requirement is
aimed at ensuring that (1) employees currently within the three program divi-
sions will be considered before going outside and (2). any individuals
recruited from the outside will fill a need in the projected new HRP bureau,

Steps also have been taken, and the regional offices advised accordingly, to
ensure that all communications, meeting invitations, and the like pertaining
to HRP implementation planning and actions include the FHSDS sites and directors

-4s well as CHPs, Hill-Burton agencies, RMPs, and agencies funded by the

Appalachian Regional Commission. For as you probably are aware, the pending
HRP legislation explicitly provides that existing EHSDSsalso are to be given
full consideration for designation and funding ‘as health systems agencies (HSAs),

xr Eugene J. Rubel

cc: Regional Health Administrators, Regions I-x
Directors, Divisions of Resource Development, Regions I-x