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HHS/HRSA RIN: 0906-AA44 Publication ID: Spring 2011 
Title: Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas 
Abstract: This rulemaking is mandated under the Affordable Care Act. It requires the Secretary to establish a committee to draft an interim final rule for designation of Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs) and Primary Care Health Professions Shortage Areas (HPSAs). A notice of intent to form the negotiated rulemaking committee was published on May 21, 2010 (75 FR 26167) and the Secretary announced committee membership on July 21, 2010. The rulemaking committee consists of technical experts representing stakeholders that will be significantly affected by this rule. A variety of federal and state programs target resources to underserved populations using MUP and HPSA designations. These designations have not been updated in many cases for over 20 years and may not reflect current conditions in many areas. The task of the rulemaking committee is to update the designations, which will likely involve revisions to the current methodologies to reflect changes in the prevailing values of the indicators and availability of data on other indicators of underservice. Prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act, the Department made several attempts to revise the designations. An initial NPRM was published on September 1, 1998, but due to the extensive comments received, another notice was published on June 3, 1999 announcing a decision to develop and publish a revised NPRM for public comment. The second NPRM was published on February 29, 2008, with the comment period extended twice (first on April 21, 2008, and again on June 2, 2008). Substantial comments were received. A Federal Register Notice published on July 23, 2008, announcing an Agency decision to carefully review these comments, develop a modified proposal, and publish another NPRM at a future date. 
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services(HHS)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 42 CFR 5    42 CFR 51c     (To search for a specific CFR, visit the Code of Federal Regulations.)
Legal Authority: 42 USC 254b    42 USC 254e   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  09/01/1998  63 FR 46538   
NPRM Comment Period End  11/02/1998    
Second NPRM  02/29/2008  73 FR 11232   
Second NPRM Comment Period Extended  04/21/2008  73 FR 21300   
Second NPRM Initial Comment Period End  04/29/2008    
Second NPRM Extended Comment Period End  05/29/2008    
Second NPRM Second Comment Period Extended  06/02/2008  73 FR 31418   
Second NPRM Second Extension of Comment Period End  06/30/2008    
NPRM Status  07/23/2008  73 FR 42743   
Interim Final Rule  11/00/2011    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Andy Jordan
Senior Analyst, Office of Shortage Designation, Bureau of Health Professions
Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration
Room 8C26, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9A-18, Parklawn Building,
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone:301 594-0197
Fax:301 443-4370
Email: ajordan@hrsa.gov