[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17078-17079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8496]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Fiscal Year 2002 Competitive Application Cycle for the Nursing 
Education Loan Repayment Program 93.908

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
announces that applications will be accepted for the Nursing Education 
Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) for Fiscal Year 2002.
    Authorizing Legislation: These applications are solicited under 
section 846 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended, which 
authorizes loan repayment, in the amount of 30 percent of the 
outstanding principal and interest on nursing education loans for each 
of the first two years of full-time nursing service completed in an 
eligible health facility, and 25 percent for a third year of service 
completed.
    Eligible Applicants: An individual is eligible to apply for NELRP 
if the individual: (1) Has received a baccalaureate or associate degree 
in nursing, a diploma in nursing, or a graduate degree in nursing; (2) 
has obtained one or more nursing student loans authorized under section 
835(a) of the PHS Act, as amended, or any other educational loan for 
nurse training costs; (3) enters into an agreement to serve as a full-
time registered or advanced practice nurse for a period of not less 
than two years in an eligible health facility; and (4) is a U.S. 
citizen, U.S. national, or a permanent legal resident of the United 
States.
    An ``eligible health facility'' is defined as: (1) An Indian Health 
Service health center; (2) a Native Hawaiian health center; (3) a 
public hospital (operated by a State, county, or local government); (4) 
a health center funded under section 330 of the PHS Act (including 
community, migrant, homeless, and public housing centers); (5) a rural

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health clinic under Section 1861(aa)(2) of the Social Security Act; or 
(6) a public or nonprofit private health facility determined by the 
Secretary to have a critical shortage of nurses.
    For Fiscal Year 2002, the Secretary has defined health facilities 
with a critical shortage of nurses as any public or nonprofit private 
health facility: (1) On the NELRP's Fiscal Year 2002 list of facilities 
with a critical shortage of nurses; (2) located in a county on the 
NELRP's Fiscal Year 2002 list of counties with a shortage of nurses; 
(3) located in a currently designated whole county health professional 
shortage area (HPSA) or (4) classified as one of the following 
regardless of its location: a public health department, nursing home or 
rehabilitation center.
    Funding Preference: A funding preference is defined as the funding 
of a specific category or group of approved applicants ahead of other 
categories or groups of applicants. The following preferences apply to 
the NELRP applicants:
    A. As provided in section 846(e) of the PHS Act, as amended, first 
preference will be given to qualified applicants with the greatest 
financial need who agree to serve in eligible health facilities located 
in a county on the NELRP's Fiscal Year 2002 list of counties with a 
shortage of nurses.
    Applicants whose total qualifying loans are 40% or greater of their 
annualized salary will meet the greatest financial need requirement of 
the funding preference.
    B. Remaining funds will be awarded in the following order: (1) To 
qualified applicants who are employed at an eligible health facility 
located in a county with a shortage of nurses regardless of the 
applicant's financial need; (2) to qualified applicants employed at an 
eligible health facility not located in a county with a shortage of 
nurses who demonstrate greatest financial need; and (3) other qualified 
applicants who are serving in States that received few or no new NELRP 
participants.
    Estimated Amount of Available Funds: Up to $8,000,000 will be 
available in Fiscal Year 2002 for this program.
    Estimated Number of Awards: It is estimated that 445 Loan Repayment 
Contracts will be awarded in Fiscal Year 2002 for this program.
    Application Requests, Availability, Dates and Addresses: Applicants 
may register online at http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing for application 
guidance and/or lists of eligible health facilities, nurse shortage 
counties, and HPSAs by following the instructions on the Web page. 
Instructions for submitting applications electronically will also be 
available on the Web. Application guidance will be available for 
downloading via the Web on April 9, 2002. Applicants who register 
online will automatically be sent information regarding the application 
guidance and/or lists of eligible health facilities, nurse shortage 
counties, and HPSAs. Applicants may also request a hard copy of the 
application materials and/or lists of eligible health facilities, nurse 
shortage counties, and HPSAs by calling (866) 813-3753.
    In order to be considered, applications for loan repayment must be 
submitted to the Division of Nursing (NELRP), Bureau of Health 
Professions, HRSA, Room 9-36, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Rockville, MD 20857. Applications must be postmarked by June 14, 2002. 
Applications postmarked after the deadline date or sent to any address 
other than the Rockville, Maryland address may be returned to the 
applicant and not processed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jacqueline Brown, e-mail at 
[email protected]; Ms. Leola Bennett, e-mail at [email protected]; or 
Ms. Robin Ingram, e-mail at [email protected], Division of Nursing, 
Bureau of Health Professions, HRSA, Room 9-36, Parklawn Building, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857. Central telephone is (301) 
443-3232. Fax number is (301)443-0791.
    Paperwork Reduction Act: The Application for Nursing Education Loan 
Repayment Program has been approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The OMB clearance 
number is 0915-0140.
    The program is not subject to the provision of Executive Order 
12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs (as implemented 
through 45 CFR part 100). This program is also not subject to the 
Public Health Systems Reporting Requirements.

    Dated: March 29, 2002.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-8496 Filed 4-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P