[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14925-14926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7838]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Availability of Funds for the National Health Service Corps Loan
Repayment Program
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, PHS, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
announces that applications will be accepted for fiscal year (FY) 1997
for awards for educational loan repayment under the National Health
Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) (Section 338B of the
Public Health Service (PHS) Act).
The HRSA, through this notice, invites health professionals to
apply for participation in the NHSC LRP. The HRSA estimates that
approximately 664 NHSC Loan Repayment awards (465 new awards and 199
extension awards) totaling $37 million will be made to health
professionals providing primary health services.
The PHS is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease
prevention objectives of Healthy People 2000, a PHS-led national
activity for setting health priority areas. These programs will
contribute to the Healthy People 2000 objectives by improving access to
primary health care services through coordinated systems of care for
medically underserved populations in both rural and urban areas.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full
Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-01) or Healthy People 2000 (Summary
Report; Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402-9325
(telephone 202-783-3238).
PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-
free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In
addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits
smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of a
facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care,
health care or early childhood development services are provided to
children.
ADDRESSES: Application materials may be obtained by calling or writing
to: National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, 2070 Chain
Bridge Road, Suite 450, Vienna, Virginia 22182-2536, 1-800-221-9393 or
(703) 821-8955. Completed applications must be returned to: Loan
Repayment Programs Branch, Division of Scholarships and Loan
Repayments, Bureau of Primary Health Care, HRSA, 4350 East-West
Highway, 10th Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, (301) 594-4400. The 24-
hour toll-free phone number is 1-800-435-6464, and the FAX number is
301-594-4981. Applicants for the NHSC LRP will use HRSA Form 873
approved under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Number 0915-0127.
DATES: The deadline for applications is June 30, 1997, or until all
appropriated funds have been obligated, whichever occurs first. Due to
limited funding, it is anticipated that all appropriated funds will be
obligated prior to June 30, 1997. The volume of applications is
historically three times greater than the number of contracts that can
be awarded. Therefore, to receive consideration for funding, health
professionals must submit an application and proof of a job offer at an
approved NHSC LRP Service Site.
Applications will be considered to be on time if they are either:
(1) Received on or before the deadline date; or (2) postmarked on or
before the established deadline date and received in time for orderly
processing. Applicants should request a legibly dated U.S. Postal
Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial
carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks are not
acceptable as proof of timely mailing. Applications received after the
announced closing date will not be considered for funding.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further program information and
technical assistance, please contact Sharley L. Chen, Chief, Loan
Repayment Programs Branch, HRSA/BPHC/DSLR, at the above address, phone
or FAX number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 338B of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 254l-
1) authorizes the Secretary to establish the NHSC LRP to help in
assuring, with respect to the provision of primary health services, an
adequate supply of trained primary care health professionals for the
NHSC. The NHSC is used by the Secretary to provide primary health
services in federally designated health professional shortage areas
(HPSAs). Primary health services are services regarding family
medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, obstetrics and
gynecology, dentistry, or mental health, that are provided by
physicians or other health professionals.
Under the NHSC LRP, the Secretary will repay qualifying graduate
and undergraduate educational loans incurred by primary care health
professionals. For the first 2 years of full-time clinical practice at
an approved site in a federally designated HPSA, the Secretary will
repay up to $25,000 per year of the educational loans of such
individual. (There is a minimum 2-year service obligation.) For
subsequent years of full-time clinical practice, if the NHSC LRP
contract is extended, the Secretary will repay up to $35,000 per year.
Participants must use the loan repayment funds for payment of their
qualifying educational loans. The Secretary shall, in addition to such
payments, make payments to the individual in an amount equal to 39
percent of the total amount of loan repayments made for the taxable
year involved. The 39% payment is authorized to reimburse participants
for all or a part of the tax liability incurred as a result of their
LRP funding. In addition to these amounts, NHSC LRP participants will
receive a salary from the private or public entity which employs them
while they are serving.
In an effort to assist loan repayment participants to reduce their
educational debt with as little interest expense as is possible, the
LRP will disburse payments to participants on an advanced basis. Three
methods of
[[Page 14926]]
advanced payments are currently available to LRP participants:
Advanced Quarterly Payment Method--The participant will
receive two payments in the first quarter of the service obligation.
The first payment will be disbursed approximately 30 days after the
beginning of service and the second payment will be disbursed at the
end of the first quarter, thereby placing the payment schedule one
quarter in advance for the remainder of the service commitment.
Advanced Annual Lump Sum Payment Method--The participant
will be paid one advanced annual lump sum payment up to $25,000 (plus
39% of that payment for tax assistance), approximately 90 days after
the beginning of the first year of service, and another advanced annual
lump sum payment up to $25,000 (plus 39% of that payment for tax
assistance), approximately 90 days after the beginning of the second
year of service.
Advanced Biennial Lump Sum Payment Method--The participant
will receive one advanced biennial lump sum payment up to $50,000 (plus
39% of that payment for tax assistance) approximately 90 days after the
beginning of the first year of service.
The Secretary will identify and make available annually a list of
those HPSA sites which will be available for service repayment under
the NHSC LRP. The Secretary will select applicants for consideration
for participation in the NHSC LRP according to the following criteria:
(1) The extent to which an individual's training in a health
profession or specialty is determined by the Secretary to be needed by
the NHSC in providing primary health services. From time to time, the
Secretary will publish a notice detailing the professions and
specialties most needed by the NHSC. Current professional and specialty
priorities are outlined at the end of this notice.
(2) The extent to which an individual is determined by the
Secretary to be committed to serve in a HPSA.
(3) The extent of an individual's demonstrated interest in
providing primary health services.
(4) The immediacy of an individual's availability for service.
Individuals who have a degree, have completed all necessary
postgraduate training in their profession and specialty (i.e., in the
case of physicians, are certified or eligible to sit for the certifying
examinations of a specialty board, and in the case of other health
professions, are certified in their specialty), and have a current and
unrestricted license to practice their profession in the State in which
they intend to serve, will receive highest consideration.
(5) The individual's academic standing, prior professional
experience in a HPSA, board certification, residency achievements, peer
recommendations, and other criteria related to professional competence
or conduct will also be considered.
In providing contracts under the NHSC LRP, priority will be given
to an applicant:
Whose health profession or specialty is most needed by the
NHSC;
Who has and whose spouse, if any, has characteristics that
increase the probability of continuing to serve in a HPSA upon
completion of his or her service obligation;
Who is from a disadvantaged background, subject to the
preceding paragraph.
Eligible Participants
To be eligible to participate in the NHSC LRP, an individual must:
(1) (a) Have a degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine,
dentistry, or other health profession, or be certified, in accordance
with State licensure requirements, as a nurse midwife, nurse
practitioner, or physician assistant. Other health professions include
clinical psychology, clinical social work, and dental hygiene;
(b) Be enrolled in an approved graduate training program in
allopathic or osteopathic medicine, dentistry, or other health
profession; or
(c) Be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited school in a
State and in the final year of a course of study or program leading to
a degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine, dentistry, or other
health profession.
(2) Be eligible for, or hold an, appointment as a commissioned
officer in the Regular or Reserve Corps of the PHS or be eligible for
selection for civilian service in the NHSC (e.g., must be a citizen or
national of the United States); and
(3) Submit an application for a contract to participate in the NHSC
LRP which contract describes the repayment of educational loans in
return for the individual serving for an obligated period.
Any individual who previously incurred an obligation for health
professional service to the Federal Government, a State Government, or
other entity is ineligible to participate in the NHSC LRP unless such
obligation is completely satisfied prior to the beginning of service
under this Program. Any individual who has breached an obligation to
the Federal Government, a State Government, or other entity is
ineligible to participate in the NHSC LRP.
Any individual who has a judgment lien against his or her property
for a debt to the United States is ineligible to participate in the
NHSC LRP until the judgment is paid in full or otherwise satisfied.
No loan repayments will be made for any professional practice
performed prior to the effective date of the NHSC LRP contract. All
individuals must have a current and unrestricted license to practice
their profession in the State of practice prior to beginning service
under this Program.
Professions and Specialties Needed by the NHSC
At this time, the Secretary has determined, based on community
demand, that priority will be given to: Physicians (M.D.s and D.O.s)
who are certified or eligible to sit for the certifying examination in
the specialty boards of family practice, obstetrics/gynecology,
internal medicine, and pediatrics.
Other Award Information
This program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order
12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, since Executive
Order 12372 does not cover payments to individuals. In addition, this
program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting
Requirements, since the requirements do not cover payment to
individuals.
The OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this
program is 93.162.
Dated: March 24, 1997.
Claude Earl Fox,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-7838 Filed 3-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P