Section 319(e) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act authorizes states and tribes to request the temporary reassignment of state, tribal, or local public health department or agency personnel funded under programs authorized by the PHS Act when the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has declared a public health emergency.
Procedures for States and Tribes to Request Temporary Reassignment
- Determine that temporary reassignment of state, tribal, or local personnel is needed for your jurisdiction to address the public health emergency more efficiently and effectively.
- Coordinate request with the Governor’s office or Tribal Leader.
- The temporary reassignment request form
must be signed by the Governor or Tribal Leader or their designee(s).
- If signed by designee,
documentation showing said designee has authority to submit requests on behalf of the Governor or Tribal Leader must be submitted with each request. For information on formatting your request, see our sample letter.
- Counties or cities that receive grant funding directly from HHS are still required to coordinate their request with the State.
- Fill out the temporary reassignment form in its entirety. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
- If you have multiple programs in your request, we recommended using
one temporary reassignment form. You may include a separate attachment listing the following information:.
- Each HHS agency;.
- Each program and CFDA number;
- The number of personnel to be reassigned for each program; and
- Description of the activities to be conducted by the reassigned personnel and expected benefits; outline anticipated impacts that the temporary reassignment will have on the affected programs; and why the particular program was selected for consideration.
- Once the form is complete, submit it to
TemporaryReassignment@hhs.gov.
- If your request is approved, you will be required to
submit a report at the end of the assignment.
Review Process
All requests will be subject to a two-step review process:
-
Administrative review: this review is to ensure that the form was filled out correctly and any required attachments were provided. This review is conducted within one business day of receipt of the request.
-
Technical review: the relevant HHS agency/agencies will assess programmatic impact and result in a temporary reassignment decision. HHS agencies will submit the results of the technical review to ASPR.
ASPR will email the requestor regarding the outcome of the request. The 30 day reassignment period begins on the date ASPR informs the requestor of approval. Should the request be denied, the state or tribe may address all concerns provided with the denial and resubmit the request for further consideration.
Reassignment shall be terminated 30 days after the request is approved or at the end of the declared federal public health emergency, whichever comes first.
Requesting a 30-day Extension or Additional Personnel
To request a 30-day extension, submit
temporary reassignment form requesting to
TemporaryReassignment@hhs.gov. The request must contain the same information and assurances that are required for the initial request. The extension request will go through the same review process detailed above.
If you would like to add personnel to be reassigned or include additional programs, you must
submit a new request in addition to the extension.
Reporting Requirements
Within 120 of the end of the emergency or the end of the temporary reassignment authorization, submit a report to
TemporaryReassignment@hhs.gov. This report must describe:
- The number of persons reassigned from each program;
- The amount of funds used to support the reassigned personnel;
- The actual impact the temporary reassignment had on the programs, both positive and adverse;
- How medical surge capacity was improved through reassignment (if applicable);
- How the reassignment of personnel improved operational efficiencies; and
- How the reassignment assisted the state or Indian tribe in responding to or addressing the public health emergency.
For More Information:
