[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 121 (Monday, June 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28862-28863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13312]


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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 (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: 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.
    HHS periodically publishes in the Federal Register low-income 
levels to be used by institutions receiving federal grants and 
cooperative agreements to

[[Page 28863]]

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 these 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. Awards are generally made 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.
    A ``low-income family/household'' for programs included in Titles 
III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act is defined 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.
    Most HRSA programs use the income of a student's parent(s) 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.
    Low-income levels are adjusted annually based on HHS's poverty 
guidelines. HHS's poverty guidelines are based on poverty thresholds 
published by the U.S. Census Bureau, adjusted annually for changes in 
the Consumer Price Index. The income figures below have been updated to 
reflect HHS's 2017 poverty guidelines as published in 82 FR 8831 
(January 31, 2017).

    Low-Income Levels Based on the 2017 Poverty Guidelines for the 48
             Contiguous States and the District of Columbia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Income level
              Persons in family/household *                     **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................         $24,120
2.......................................................          32,480
3.......................................................          40,840
4.......................................................          49,200
5.......................................................          57,560
6.......................................................          65,920
7.......................................................          74,280
8.......................................................          82,640
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For families with more than 8 persons, add $8,360 for each additional
  person.


    Low-Income Levels Based on the 2017 Poverty Guidelines for Alaska
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Income level
              Persons in family/household *                     **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................         $30,120
2.......................................................          40,580
3.......................................................          51,040
4.......................................................          61,500
5.......................................................          71,960
6.......................................................          82,420
7.......................................................          92,880
8.......................................................         103,340
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For families with more than 8 persons, add $10,460 for each additional
  person.


    Low-Income Levels Based on the 2017 Poverty Guidelines for Hawaii
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Income level
              Persons in family/household *                     **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................         $27,720
2.......................................................          37,340
3.......................................................          46,960
4.......................................................          56,580
5.......................................................          66,200
6.......................................................          75,820
7.......................................................          85,440
8.......................................................          95,060
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For families with more than 8 persons, add $9,620 for each additional
  person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2016.

    Separate poverty guidelines figures for Alaska and Hawaii reflect 
Office of Economic Opportunity administrative practice beginning in the 
1966-1970 period since the U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds do not 
have separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii. The poverty guidelines are 
not defined for Puerto Rico and other outlying jurisdictions. Puerto 
Rico and other outlying jurisdictions must use the low-income levels 
table for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.

    Dated: June 16, 2017.
George Sigounas,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-13312 Filed 6-23-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P