HCFA PERSONNEL STUDY.

SEC. 6223. HCFA PERSONNEL STUDY. (a) In General.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall (subject to subsection (c)) enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Public Administration (hereafter in this section referred to as the “Academy”) to— (1) study personnel administration at the Health Care Financing Administration (hereafter in this section referred to as “HCFA”); (2) assess the adequacy of HCFA staffing; and (3) recommend any needed changes with respect to HCFA staffing to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Congress. (b) Requirements of Study.—In conducting the study, the Academy shall interview management officials at HCFA and other appropriate agencies. The study shall include consideration of— (1) the average years in service, years to retirement and average age of various categories of HCFA personnel; (2) the adequacy of HCFA practices to recruit personnel to replace persons who retire or resign and train new employees in the intricacies of HCFA programs; (3) the grade structure of various categories of HCFA personnel, and the need for additional nonsupervisory positions at the GS–13, GS–14, and GS–15 levels for particularly skilled and expert personnel needed for HCFA to carry out its missions; (4) the grade structure at HCFA with Federal agencies of similar size and responsibilities; (5) whether bonus payments or other incentives are needed for HCFA to recruit and retain specialized personnel; (6) particular problems in hiring personnel that may prevent recruitment and retention of qualified staff; (7) Office of Personnel Management rules that may be burdensome to the hiring process; and (8) how HCFA can more appropriately address the priorities of both Congress and the executive branch of Government. (c) Arrangements for Study.—The Secretary shall request the Academy, acting through appropriate units, to submit an application to conduct the study described in this section. If the Academy submits an acceptable application, the Secretary shall enter into an appropriate arrangement with the Academy for the conduct of the study. If the Academy does not submit an acceptable application to conduct the study, the Secretary may request one or more appropriate nonprofit private entities to submit an application to conduct the study and may enter into an appropriate arrangement for the conduct of the study by the entity which submits the best acceptable application. 103 STAT. 2257 (d) Date of Report.—The results of the study shall be reported to Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services no later than December 31, 1990.