HRSA Proposes Changes to Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Formula

On July 20, 2012, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced in a Federal Register notice that it is proposing to change the data used to calculate allocations under the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) block grant. Previously, HRSA relied on the decennial census long form for data on the number of children living in poverty. The U.S. Census Bureau replaced the decennial census long form with the American Community Survey (ACS). As such, HRSA is proposing to use three-year ACS estimates as its source for this state poverty data. This change would be effective for fiscal year (FY) 2013. Comments on the proposal must be submitted by September 18, 2012.