State Planning Grant_Health Care Access for the Uninsured
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To support States in the development of plans to provide access to health insurance coverage for all citizens.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
(1) The State Planning Grant Program provides 1-year grants to States to develop plans for providing access to affordable health insurance coverage to all citizens. Each State will design an approach that would ensure every citizen in that State has access to affordable health insurance benefits similar in scope to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan, Medicaid, benefits offered to State employees, or other similar health plans. At the conclusion of the grant, each State will submit a report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services that identifies the characteristics of the uninsured within its State and proposals for providing them with affordable health insurance coverage. Together, these reports will provide additional data about the characteristics of the uninsured generally and potential models for other States seeking to provide comprehensive coverage. (2) Funding provided through this program may not be used to substitute for or duplicate funds currently supporting similar activities. In addition, grant funds may not be used to support construction, renovation, or modernization costs. Grant funds may support costs such as: a) Project staff salaries; b) consultants; c) project-related travel; d) project evaluation; e) limited equipment and software purchases or leases; and f) coordinating and conducting project-related meetings.
Who is eligible to apply...
The Governor of each State or Territory that has not previously received a State planning grant is invited to apply. The Governor can designate an individual or agency authorized to prepare the State's application on behalf of the State. Only a State entity can be the official recipient of a grant. Only one application per State is permitted.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
Application kits (i.e., application instructions, necessary forms, and application review criteria) and additional guidance are available through the HRSA Grants Application Center (GAC). To receive a complete application kit, contact the GAC at 1-877-HRSA-123. Information will also be available at: www.hrsa.gov under "State Planning Grants Program." No new competitive grant applications are anticipated in FY 2003.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
Each of the applications will undergo an eligibility and conformance review by Federal staff at the State Planning Grants Program Office. Applications that have passed the eligibility and conformance review will be assigned to members of an Objective Review Committee (ORC) that will review them based on the evaluation criteria listed in the application guidance. The results of the ORC reviews will be shared with the HRSA Administrator and Secretary of HHS, who will make the final decisions.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
Applications for fiscal year 2003 are due in April 4, 2003.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
The time required for the applications to be approved or disapproved is projected to be 90 days (April 4 - July 3, 2002).
Preapplication Coordination
Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
None.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
None.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
This grant funding will assist States to develop models for providing access to health insurance coverage for all citizens of the State. States with a low level of uninsured or the ability to significantly decrease a relatively high level of uninsured will be given funding priority and/or preference.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Project Grants
The funding, for fixed or known periods, of specific projects. Project grants can include fellowships, scholarships, research grants, training grants, traineeships, experimental and demonstration grants, evaluation grants, planning grants, technical assistance grants, survey grants, and construction grants.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
From $668,000 to $1,350,000; $1,300,000.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 03 $10,300,000; FY 04 est $0; and FY 05 est $0.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
75-0350-0-1-550.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
The State Planning Grants Program grants were awarded in both fiscal years 2000 and 2001, and will be awarded in fiscal year 2002. The list of grantees is available at: www/hrsa/gov/osp under "State Planning Grants Program."
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
In fiscal year 2001, 11 existing State grantees conducting studies of uninsured and developing plans for expanded insurance coverage, 9 new grantees funded to study the uninsured and develop plans for expanded insurance coverage Multi-State Data Base project funded for state grantee analysis of data collected. In fiscal year 2002, 11 State grantees produce reports on their uninsured and proposals to provide insurance, 9 State grantees produce interim reports on their progress in studying the uninsured Synthesis Reports on activities and recommendations of 20 state grantees produced New grant solicitation conducted to fund up to 10 new State grants. In fiscal year 2003, this program is not anticipating funding, therefore no notable accomplishments are anticipated.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
Request for Preferences and Justification, each applicant must: provide evidence of current low rate of uninsurance or; provide a justification for its ability to significantly decrease a relatively high rate of uninsured. The applicant may choose which surveys (national or State level) to use in indicating a low rate of uninsured or that it can significantly reduce a relatively high rate of uninsured. 1. Current Status of Health Care Insurance (10 points); 1.1 Describes access to health insurance coverage in the State and rates of uninsurance, or describes specific knowledge gaps about uninsurance in the State and how grant activities could help to provide this information. 1.2 Describes key health issues in the State related to access and uninsurance. 1.3 Describes the State's current health care delivery system and its adequacy. 1.4 Describes the State's understanding of other state and national activities to reduce the uninsured and how these relate to the State's own situation. 2. Description of Earlier Effort to Reduce the Number of Uninsured (20 points); 2.1 Describes earlier State executive and legislative efforts to reduce the number of uninsured. 2.2 Describes the successes and implementation problems of earlier efforts. 2.3 Describes how the proposed plan will help to support these earlier efforts or create new initiatives. 3. Project Goals (5 points); 3.1 Describes clear project goals. 3.2 Describes how the project goals support the State Planning Grant Program goal of "encouraging States to provide access to affordable health insurance coverage to all citizens". 4. Project Description (45 points); 4.1 Details the data collection and data and policy analysis activities to be carried out; how these activities build upon earlier analytic activities within the State and how they relate to other relevant state or national efforts; data sources to be used; studies/analyses to be carried out. 4.2 Describes how the analytic efforts will be used to support the development of health insurance coverage options; describes information that is already available and how this new analysis will augment earlier efforts or provide new understanding of the problem of the uninsured and their characteristics in the State. 4.3. Describes how coverage options will be developed, ensuring that they address all criteria outlined in "Grant Expectations". 4.4 Describes the process for decision-making and proposing policy recommendations for coverage options. 4.5 Describes process for gaining collaboration across all relevant agencies in the public and private sectors necessary to implement strategies. 4.6 Describes the process for preparing the Report to the Secretary. 4.7 Provides a detailed project narrative which describes tasks to be completed, action steps, assigns responsibility, describes collaboration and provides a timetable for completion. 4.8 Describes an organizational structure that has the appropriate authority, can provide adequate oversight of the project, and can ensure collaboration among critical players. 4.9 Key project staff have the qualifications and skills necessary to carry out grant activities. 5. Budget (10 points); 5.1 The proposed budget and narrative justification is reasonable for the project and supports the project management plan and program goals. 5.2 The budget and accounting process are adequate. 6. Project Management and Report to Secretary (10 points); 6.1 describes the process for monitoring progress towards meeting project goals and completing tasks. 6.2 Describes commitment to work with the Federal project staff and other SPG grantees to prepare the Report to the Secretary and contribute to the national report.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds are available to grantees on an as needed basis throughout the budget period and payments are made through the DHHS Payment Management System.
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
Reports are to be provided as outlined in the grant conditions.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
None.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
None.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Public Law 106-554.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
Federal Register: March 31, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 63).