[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46199-46200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19799]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


New Annual ``Low-Income'' Levels for Various Health Professions 
and Nursing Programs Included in Titles VII and VIII of the Public 
Health Service Act

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the new ``low-income'' levels for 
various programs included in titles VII and VIII of the Public Health 
Service (PHS) Act, which use the U.S. Census Bureau ``low-

[[Page 46200]]

income'' levels to determine eligibility for program participation. The 
Department periodically publishes in the Federal Register low-income 
levels used to determine eligibility for grants and cooperative 
agreements to institutions providing training for (1) disadvantaged 
individuals, (2) individuals from a disadvantaged background, or (3) 
individuals from ``low-income'' families.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces increase in income 
levels intended for use in determining eligibility for participation in 
the following programs:

Advanced Education Nursing (section 811)
Allied Health Special Projects (section 755)
Nurse Education, Practice and Retention (section 831)
Dental Public Health (section 768)
Faculty Loan Repayment and Minority Faculty Fellowship Program (section 
738)
General and Pediatric Dentistry (section 747)
Health Administration Traineeships and Special Projects (section 769)
Health Careers Opportunity Program (section 739)
Loans For Disadvantaged Students (section 724)
Scholarships For Disadvantaged Students (section 737)
Physician Assistant Training (section 747)
Primary Care Residency Training (section 747)
Public Health Traineeships (section 767)
Quentin N. Burdick Program for Rural Interdisciplinary Training 
(section 754)
Residency Training in Preventive Medicine (section 768)
Public Health Training Centers (section 766)
Nursing Workforce Diversity (section 821)

    These programs generally award grants to accredited schools of 
medicine, osteopathic medicine, public health, dentistry, veterinary 
medicine, optometry, pharmacy, allied health, podiatric medicine, 
nursing, chiropractic, public or private nonprofit schools which offer 
graduate programs in behavioral health and mental health practice, and 
other public or private nonprofit health or education entities to 
assist the disadvantaged to enter and graduate from health professions 
and nursing schools. Some programs provide for the repayment of health 
professions or nursing education loans for disadvantaged students.

Low-Income Levels

    The Department's poverty guidelines which were published in the 
Federal Register on Friday, February 7, 2003 (68 FR 6456), are based on 
poverty thresholds published by the U.S. Census Bureau, adjusted 
annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index. HRSA is defining a 
``low-income family'' as one with an annual income that is below 200 
percent of the Department's poverty guidelines. The Secretary annually 
adjusts the low-income levels based on the Department's poverty 
guideline and makes them available to persons responsible for 
administering the applicable programs. The following income figures 
will be used for health professions and nursing grant programs funded 
in FY 2004.

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                                                                 Income
                 Size of parent's family \1\                   \2\ level
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1............................................................    $17,960
2............................................................     24,240
3............................................................     30,520
4............................................................     36,800
5............................................................     43,080
6............................................................     49,360
7............................................................     55,640
8............................................................    61,920
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1. Includes only dependents on Federal Income tax forms.
2. Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2002.


    Dated: July 29, 2003.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-19799 Filed 8-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P