[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 47 (Monday, March 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8729-8730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04407]


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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 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HHS periodically publishes in the Federal 
Register low-income levels to be used by institutions receiving grants 
and cooperative agreements to determine eligibility for programs 
providing training for (1) disadvantaged individuals, (2) individuals 
from disadvantaged backgrounds, or (3) individuals from low-income 
families.
    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. Awards are 
generally made to accredited schools of allopathic 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 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.
    Low-income levels are adjusted annually based on HHS' poverty 
guidelines. HHS' 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

[[Page 8730]]

have been updated to reflect the Department's 2019 poverty guidelines 
as published in 84 FR 1167 (February 1, 2019).

    Low-Income Levels Based on the 2019 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....................................................            $24,980
2....................................................             33,820
3....................................................             42,660
4....................................................             51,500
5....................................................             60,340
6....................................................             69,180
7....................................................             78,020
8....................................................             86,860
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $8,840 for each additional
  person.


    Low-Income Levels Based on the 2019 Poverty Guidelines for Alaska
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            Persons in family/household *               Income Level **
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1....................................................            $31,200
2....................................................             42,260
3....................................................             53,320
4....................................................             64,380
5....................................................             75,440
6....................................................             86,500
7....................................................             97,560
8....................................................            108,620
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $11,060 for each additional
  person.


    Low-Income Levels Based on the 2019 Poverty Guidelines for Hawaii
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            Persons in family/household *               Income Level **
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1....................................................            $28,760
2....................................................             38,920
3....................................................             49,080
4....................................................             59,240
5....................................................             69,400
6....................................................             79,560
7....................................................             89,720
8....................................................             99,880
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $10,160 for each additional
  person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2018.

    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 or other outlying jurisdictions. Puerto 
Rico and other outlying jurisdictions shall use income guidelines for 
the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia.

    Dated: March 4, 2019.
George Sigounas,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-04407 Filed 3-8-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P