[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 96 (Friday, May 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 28062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9548]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


''Low Income Levels'' Used for Various Health Professions and 
Nursing Programs Included in Titles III, VII and VIII of the Public 
Health Service Act

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is 
updating income levels used to identify a ``low income family'' for the 
purpose of determining eligibility for programs that provide health 
professions and nursing training for individuals from disadvantaged 
backgrounds. These various programs are included in Titles III, VII and 
VIII of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.
    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 disadvantaged backgrounds, or (3) 
individuals from ``low-income'' families.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The various health professions and nursing 
grant and cooperative agreement programs that use the low income levels 
to determine whether an individual is from an economically 
disadvantaged background in making eligibility and funding 
determinations generally make awards 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 Secretary defines a ``low income family'' for programs included 
in Titles III, VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act as a 
family having an annual income that does not exceed 200 percent of the 
Department's poverty guidelines. A ``family'' is a group of two or more 
individuals related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together 
or an individual who is not living with any relatives. Most HRSA 
programs use the income of the student's parents to compute low income 
status. However, a few programs, depending upon the legislative intent 
of the program, programmatic purpose of the low income level, as well 
as the age and circumstances of the average participant, will use the 
student's family income, as long as he or she is not listed as a 
dependent upon the parents' tax form. Each program will announce the 
rationale and choice of methodology for determining low income levels 
in their program guidance. The Department's poverty guidelines are 
based on poverty thresholds published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, 
adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index.
    The Secretary annually adjusts the low income levels based on the 
Department's poverty guidelines and makes them available to persons 
responsible for administering the applicable programs. The income 
figures below have been updated to reflect increases in the Consumer 
Price Index through December 31, 2006.

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                                                              Income
               Size of parents' family\*\                    level\**\
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1.......................................................         $20,420
2.......................................................          27,380
3.......................................................          34,340
4.......................................................          41,300
5.......................................................          48,260
6.......................................................          55,220
7.......................................................          62,180
8.......................................................         69,140
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\*\ Includes only dependents listed on Federal income tax forms. Some
  programs will use the student's family rather than his or her parents'
  family.
\**\ Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2006.


    Dated: May 10, 2007.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-9548 Filed 5-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P