[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 209 (Monday, October 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54528-54529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27098]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


CDC/ATSDR Educational Loan Repayment Program

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (DHHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the implementation of the CDC/ATSDR 
Educational Loan Repayment Program (ELRP) intended to assist in the 
recruitment and retention of highly qualified health professionals for 
hard-to-fill positions. The ELRP is a pilot program and will be used 
for the period permitted by legislation (currently September 30, 2002).

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 1, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale J. Indergaard, Compensation 
Program Manager, CDC, Human Resources Management Office, 4770 Buford 
Hwy, Mailstop K-07, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341, telephone (770) 488-1756, 
e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) intends to implement an Educational Loan Repayment 
Program (ELRP) authorized under 42 U.S.C. sect. 247b-7 as a recruitment 
and retention incentive for highly qualified health professionals in 
hard-to-fill positions. The ELRP will be implemented on a pilot basis 
beginning November 1, 2001. During this time frame, up to nine (9) 
loans to assist in recruitment may be considered for repayment. A 
participant must have received a bonafide offer of employment from CDC 
to be eligible to participate in the ELRP. Additionally, loans to 
assist in the retention of current CDC employees will be considered. 
Approximately April 1, 2002, CDC will conduct an analysis of the 
effectiveness of the ELRP in its recruitment and retention efforts and 
will determine whether continuation of the ELRP is warranted.
    Under the ELRP, a maximum of $35,000 a year (plus 39 per cent of 
total loan repayment for tax credit as loan repayment benefits 
represent taxable income) may be repaid toward a participant's 
outstanding eligible educational debt. The participant is responsible 
for a loan repayment equal to a total of 10 percent of his/her annual 
CDC base salary, while the ELRP will repay at a rate of \1/3\ of the 
remaining repayable debt (up to the maximum allowable) for each of the 
three years. The participant must sign a contract agreeing to remain 
employed by CDC for a period of not less than three years. Failure to 
complete the minimum three-year service agreement period will be 
considered a breach of contract and will subject the ELRP participant 
to assessment of monetary penalties and damages. Actual loan repayment 
amounts are based on the proportion of a participant's qualifying debt 
relative to his/her beginning CDC base salary.
    Overall ELRP eligibility requirements:
    a. Be a citizen of the United States;
    b. Hold a relevant Doctoral degree or equivalent;
    c. Have been selected for a vacant position or is currently 
assigned to a covered hard-to-fill health professional occupational 
series at CDC/ATSDR; and,
    d. Have a qualifying educational debt in excess of 20 percent of 
their annual CDC base salary.


[[Page 54529]]


    Dated: October 23, 2001.
Joseph R. Carter,
Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-27098 Filed 10-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P