[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 85 (Thursday, May 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20897-20898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09024]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Determination of Number of Entities and Recruitment of Entities 
for Assignment of Corps Personnel Obligated Under the National Health 
Service Corps Scholarship Program

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HRSA has determined that a minimum Health Professional 
Shortage Area (HPSA) score of 17 for assignment of all service-ready 
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholars is necessary for HRSA to 
meet its statutory obligation to identify a number of entities eligible 
for NHSC scholar placement that is at least equal to, but not greater 
than, twice the number of NHSC scholars available to serve in the 2017-
2018 placement cycle. HRSA is also posting the proposed listing of 
entities and associated HPSA scores that will receive priority for 
assignment of NHSC Scholarship recipients available for service during 
the period October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018, on the Health 
Workforce Connector Web site (formerly known as the NHSC Jobs Center) 
at https://connector.hrsa.gov/. The Health Workforce Connector includes 
sites that are approved for performance of service by NHSC scholars; 
however, entities on this list may or may not have current job 
vacancies.

DATES: Entities interested in providing additional data and information 
in support of their inclusion on the list of entities that will receive 
priority in assignment of NHSC scholars, or in support of a higher 
priority determination, must do so in writing no later than June 5, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: Information in support of inclusion on the list of entities 
or a higher priority determination should be submitted to: Beth Dillon, 
Director, Division of Regional Operations, Bureau of Health Workforce, 
1961 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80294. This information will be 
considered in preparing the final list of entities that are receiving 
priority for the assignment of NHSC Scholarship-obligated Corps 
personnel.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the statutory requirement 
under 42 U.S.C. 254f-1(d), HRSA has determined that a minimum HPSA 
score of 17 for assignment of all service-ready NHSC scholars enables 
identification of a number of entities eligible for NHSC scholar 
placement that is at least equal to, but not greater than, twice the 
number of NHSC scholars available to serve in the 2017-2018 placement 
cycle. More specifically, for the program year October 1, 2017, through 
September 30, 2018, HPSAs of greatest shortage for determination of 
priority for assignment of NHSC Scholarship-obligated Corps personnel 
is defined as follows: (1) Primary medical care HPSAs with scores of 17 
and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are 
primary care physicians, family nurse practitioners, physician 
assistants, or certified nurse midwives; (2) mental health HPSAs with 
scores of 17 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC 
scholars who are psychiatrists or mental health nurse practitioners; 
and (3) dental HPSAs with scores of 17 and above are authorized for the 
assignment of NHSC scholars who are dentists.
    The proposed listing of entities and associated HPSA scores that 
will receive priority for assignment of NHSC Scholarship recipients 
available for service during the period October 1, 2017, through 
September 30, 2018, is posted on the Health Workforce Connector Web 
site (formerly known as the NHSC Jobs Center) at https://connector.hrsa.gov/. Entities interested in providing additional data 
and information in support of their inclusion on this list of entities 
or in support of a higher priority determination must do so in writing 
by the date above.
    Please note that HRSA may update the list of HPSAs and entities 
eligible to receive priority for the placement of NHSC scholars and may 
remove or add entities to the Health Workforce Connector during the 
annual Site Application competition. Accordingly, entities that no 
longer meet eligibility criteria, including those sites whose 3-

[[Page 20898]]

year approval as an NHSC service site has lapsed or whose HPSA 
designation has been withdrawn or proposed for withdrawal, will be 
removed from the priority listing.
    Sites wishing to request an additional scholar must complete an 
Additional Scholar Request form available at http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/downloads/additionalrequestform.pdf. NHSC-approved sites that do not 
meet the authorized threshold HPSA score of 17 may post job openings on 
the Health Workforce Connector; however, scholars seeking placement 
between October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2018, will be advised that 
they can only apply for open positions at sites that meet the threshold 
placement HPSA score of 17. While not eligible for scholar placements 
in the 2017-2018 cycle, vacancies in HPSAs scoring less than 17 will be 
used by the NHSC in evaluating the HPSA threshold score for the next 
annual scholarship placement cycle.
    The program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs (as implemented 
through 45 CFR part 100).

    Dated: April 27, 2017.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-09024 Filed 5-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P