[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12108-12109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05084]


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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 Authorized 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 to individuals from disadvantaged 
backgrounds. These various programs are authorized in Titles III, VII, 
and VIII of the Public Health Service Act.
    The Department periodically publishes in the Federal Register low-
income levels to be used by institutions receiving grants and 
cooperative agreements in order to determine eligibility for programs 
providing training for (1) disadvantaged individuals, (2) individuals 
from disadvantaged backgrounds, or (3) individuals from low-income 
families.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Many health professions and nursing grant 
and cooperative agreement awardees use the low-income levels to 
determine whether potential program participants are from an 
economically disadvantaged background and would be eligible to 
participate in the program, as well as to determine the amount of 
funding the individual receives. Federal agencies generally make awards 
to: Accredited schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, public 
health, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, allied 
health, podiatric medicine, nursing, and 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.
    The Secretary defines a ``low-income family/household'' for 
programs included in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health 
Service Act as 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. On June 26, 2013, in U.S. v. Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), 
the Supreme Court held that section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, 
which prohibited federal recognition of same-sex spouses and same-sex 
marriages, was unconstitutional. In light of this decision, please note 
that in determining eligibility for these programs, same-sex marriages 
and same-sex spouses will be recognized on equal terms with opposite-
sex marriages and opposite-sex spouses, regardless of where the couple 
resides. This approach is consistent with a post-Windsor policy of 
treating same-sex marriages on the same terms as opposite sex marriages 
to the greatest extent reasonably possible. Thus, a ``family or 
household'' includes same-sex spouses that are legally married in a 
jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage regardless of whether 
the same-sex spouses live in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex 
marriage or a jurisdiction that does not recognize same-sex marriage as 
well as the family members that result from such same-sex marriage.
    Most HRSA programs use the income of a student's parents to compute 
low income status. However, a ``household'' may potentially be only one 
person. Other HRSA programs, depending upon the legislative intent of 
the program, the programmatic purpose related to income level, as well 
as the age and circumstances of the participant, will apply these low 
income standards to the individual student to determine eligibility, as 
long as he or she is not listed as a dependent on the tax form of his 
or her parent(s). Each program announces the rationale and choice of 
methodology for determining low income levels in program guidance.
    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 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 income figures below have been updated to 
reflect the Department's 2016 poverty guidelines as published in 81 FR 
15 (January 25, 2016).

    Low Income Levels Based On The 2016 Poverty Guidelines For The 48
             Contiguous States And The District Of Columbia
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      Persons in family/household *               Income level **
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1........................................  $23,760
2........................................  32,040
3........................................  40,320
4........................................  48,600
5........................................  56,880
6........................................  65,160
7........................................  73,460
8........................................  81,780
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $8,320 for each additional
  person. * Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
  ** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2015.


    Low Income Levels Based On The 2016 Poverty Guidelines For Alaska
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      Persons in family/household *               Income level **
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1........................................  $29,680
2........................................  40,040
3........................................  50,400
4........................................  60,760
5........................................  71,120
6........................................  81,480

[[Page 12109]]

 
7........................................  91,840
8........................................  102,240
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $10,400 for each additional
  person. * Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
  ** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2015.


    Low Income Levels Based On The 2016 Poverty Guidelines For Hawaii
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      Persons in family/household *               Income level **
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1........................................  $27,340
2........................................  36,860
3........................................  46,380
4........................................  55,900
5........................................  65,420
6........................................  74,940
7........................................  84,460
8........................................  94,020
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $9,560 for each additional
  person. * Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
  ** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2015.

    Separate poverty guidelines figures for Alaska and Hawaii reflect 
Office of Economic Opportunity administrative practice beginning in the 
1966-1970 period. (Note that the Census Bureau poverty thresholds--the 
version of the poverty measure used for statistical purposes--have 
never had separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii.) The poverty 
guidelines are not defined for Puerto Rico or other outlying 
jurisdictions. Puerto Rico or other outlying jurisdictions shall use 
income guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of 
Columbia.

    Dated: March 1, 2016.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-05084 Filed 3-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P