[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14018-14019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05234]


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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 grants or cooperative agreement awards 
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 economically 
disadvantaged backgrounds and would be eligible to participate in the 
program, as well as to determine the amount of funding individuals 
receive. 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 educational entities to assist 
individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and disadvantaged students 
to enter and graduate from health professions and nursing schools. Some 
programs provide for the repayment of health professions or nursing 
education loans for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and 
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 HHS'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 the individual is not listed as a dependent on 
the tax form of their parent(s). Each program includes the rationale 
and methodology for determining low income levels in program funding 
opportunities or applications.
    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

[[Page 14019]]

figures below have been updated to reflect HHS's 2022 poverty 
guidelines as published in the Federal Register at 87 FR 3315. See 
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/01/21/2022-01166/annual-update-of-the-hhs-poverty-guidelines.

    Low Income Levels Based on the 2022 Poverty Guidelines for the 48
             Contiguous States and the District of Columbia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Income level
              Persons in family/household *                     **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................         $27,180
2.......................................................          36,620
3.......................................................          46,060
4.......................................................          55,500
5.......................................................          64,940
6.......................................................          74,380
7.......................................................          83,820
8.......................................................          93,260
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $9,440 for each additional
  person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2021.


    Low Income Levels Based on the 2022 Poverty Guidelines for Alaska
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Income level
              Persons in family/household *                     **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................         $33,980
2.......................................................          45,780
3.......................................................          57,580
4.......................................................          69,380
5.......................................................          81,180
6.......................................................          92,980
7.......................................................         104,780
8.......................................................         116,580
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $11,800 for each additional
  person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2021.


    Low Income Levels Based on the 2022 Poverty Guidelines for Hawaii
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Income level
              Persons in family/household *                     **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................         $31,260
2.......................................................          42,120
3.......................................................          52,980
4.......................................................          63,840
5.......................................................          74,700
6.......................................................          85,560
7.......................................................          96,420
8.......................................................         107,280
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For families with more than 8 persons, add $10,860 for each additional
  person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2021.

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

Carole Johnson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-05234 Filed 3-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P