Representatives from the various HIOs and the NHSC met with the USDA in Washington, D.C. March 3, 2004, regarding the new Operating Plan, according to Craig Evans with the NHSC. After some discussion, the USDA officials agreed to meet one more time to review the proposed changes to the new plan and forward their revised version to Evans on Monday, March 8. The NHSC will then review the proposed plan at their monthly meeting so that a decision can be reached by March 31, the date the extension of the previous Operating Plan ends.