guy
, / Traced.
f AA?

) Oe

© ISSUE: Criteria for activities in program areas

not specifically defined in Public Law 89-239

B. Projects targeted for specific population groups

The Division Staff offers the following background material
on this issue and suggests that the Council restate its position

in line with the suggested statement:

1. The attached copy of News, Information, and Data,
September 29, 1967 contains a statement of the
Council's position at that time (note especially

page 7).

2. The principal recommendation ¢ an Urban Health Workshop
(held for representatives of the staffs of metropolitan
Regional Medical Programs), December, 1968:

"Tt is recommended that the National Advisory
Council issue a statement of the nature and
extent of Regional Medical Programs' commitment
to the solution of urban health problems.
There is need to clarify the nature of the
"involvement! clearly stressed in the Guidelines
and Division statements and to affirm the
importance of the inclusion of consumers in

the definition of 'the community-to-be-involved'.
A National Advisory Council statement would
support present and encourage future catalytic
activities of RMP core staff in urban areas,
especially activities concerned with other health
agencies and programs."

3. From the proceeGings of the Conference of Coordinators
of Regional Medical Programs, October, 1968:

"There is no message going out to Coordinators
from the Division that they must shift their
funds into the urban poverty areas. Nonetheless,
having said this, I would remind you that the
urgent problem of the urban poor remains.

Major needs must be resolved, and if the
opportunity exists for Regions to solve these
needs in their own way, they should do it.
Ignored needs will not go away. This, I think
is the only special signal that the Division is
trying to make." ~-- Doctor Olson
-2-

"T believe that planning toward operational
funding for programs in the ghetto is only
one phase and may turn out to be the least
important from the standpoint of Regional
Medical Programs. It seems to me that
Regional Medical Programs is the mechanism
whereby one gears a community to set up
cooperative arrangements for an attack on
the ghetto health problems. In this sense,
we in Cleveland are using the Regional
Medical Programs mechanisms without the
need for additional funds to approach some
of these inner-city problems. Regional
Medical Programs with its large body of
expertise is helping to establish a new
OEO center in our area without requesting
additional funds. Regional Medical Program
contributions to ghetto health problems
need not be tied to money. When it is not
tied to money, it is not tied to the limitations
of the law." ---— Dr. Barry Decker, Program Coordinator
Northeast Ohio

RECOMMENDATION :

The National Advisory Council recognizes that, as a matter
of public policy, Division of Regional Medical Programs is
committed to making available the latest medical advances to
all people, including those who reside in urban areas;

The Council supports and encourages both the involvement of
the Regions in solving urban health problems and their
participation in cooperative interagency efforts to overcome

the critical health deficiencies in urban centers;

 

The Couricil, recognizing the diverse problems offurban, medically
NQ COM AE ;

disadvantaged consumer groups, directs that specific planning

to meet the health needs of such.groups be a function of

Regional Medical Programs; and

The creation and maintenance of liaison with all providers,
health agencies, institutions and local conmunity and
voluntary health groups are encouraged, with due regard

for both the interest and the involvement of the urban

health consumer.

February 1969