80 FR 80368 - Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions Educational Loans; Announcement Type: Initial.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 247 (December 24, 2015)

Page Range		80368-80370
FR Document		2015-32354

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80368-80370]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32354]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service

Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions
Educational Loans; Announcement Type: Initial.

CFDA Number: 93.164

Key Dates: January 15, 2016 first award cycle deadline date; August
19, 2016 last award cycle deadline date; September 9, 2016 last award
cycle deadline date for supplemental loan repayment program funds;
September 30, 2016 entry on duty deadline date.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

The Indian Health Service (IHS) estimated budget request for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2016 includes $28,940,752 for the IHS Loan Repayment Program
(LRP) for health professional educational loans (undergraduate and
graduate) in return for full-time clinical service as defined in the
IHS LRP policy clarifications at http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/documents/LRP_Policy_Updates.pdf in Indian health programs.
This program announcement is subject to the appropriation of funds.
This notice is being published early to coincide with the recruitment
activity of the IHS which competes with other Government and private
health management organizations to employ qualified health
professionals.
This program is authorized by the Indian Health Care Improvement
Act (IHCIA) Section 108, codified at 25 U.S.C. 1616a.

II. Award Information

The estimated amount available is approximately $19,755,896 to
support approximately 437 competing awards averaging $45,208 per award
for a two year contract. The estimated amount available is
approximately $9,184,856 to support approximately 395 competing awards
averaging $23,253 per award for a one year extension. One year contract
extensions will receive priority consideration in any award cycle.
Applicants selected for participation in the FY 2016 program cycle will
be expected to begin their service period no later than September 30,
2016.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1616a(b), to be eligible to participate in
the LRP, an individual must:
(1)(A) Be enrolled--
(i) In a course of study or program in an accredited institution,
as determined by the Secretary, within any State and be scheduled to
complete such course of study in the same year such individual applies
to participate in such program; or
(ii) In an approved graduate training program in a health
profession; or
(B) Have a degree in a health profession and a license to practice
in a State; and
(2)(A) Be eligible for, or hold an appointment as a commissioned
officer in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS); or
(B) Be eligible for selection for service in the Regular Corps of
the PHS; or
(C) Meet the professional standards for civil service employment in
the IHS; or
(D) Be employed in an Indian health program without service
obligation; and
(3) Submit to the Secretary an application for a contract to the
LRP. The Secretary must approve the contract before the disbursement of
loan repayments can be made to the participant. Participants will be
required to fulfill their contract service agreements through full-time
clinical practice at an Indian health program site determined by the
Secretary. Loan repayment sites are characterized by physical,
cultural, and professional isolation, and have histories of frequent
staff turnover. Indian health program sites are annually prioritized
within the Agency by discipline, based on need or vacancy. The IHS
LRP's ranking system gives high site scores to those sites that are
most in need of specific health professions. Awards are given to the
applications that match the highest priorities until funds are no
longer available.
Any individual who owes an obligation for health professional
service to the Federal Government, a State, or other entity is not
eligible for the LRP unless the obligation will be completely satisfied
before they begin service under this program.
25 U.S.C. 1616a authorizes the IHS LRP and provides in pertinent
part as follows:

(a)(1) The Secretary, acting through the Service, shall
establish a program to be known as the Indian Health Service Loan
Repayment Program (hereinafter referred to as the Loan Repayment
Program) in order to assure an adequate supply of trained health
professionals necessary to maintain accreditation of, and provide
health care services to Indians through, Indian health programs.

25 U.S.C. 1603(10) provides that:

``Health Profession'' means allopathic medicine, family
medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatric medicine,
obstetrics and gynecology, podiatric medicine, nursing, public
health nursing, dentistry, psychiatry, osteopathy, optometry,
pharmacy, psychology, public health, social work, marriage and
family therapy, chiropractic medicine, environmental health and
engineering, an allied health profession, or any other health
profession.

For the purposes of this program, the term ``Indian health
program'' is defined in 25 U.S.C. 1616a(a)(2)(A), as follows:

(A) The term Indian health program means any health program or
facility funded, in whole or in part, by the Service for the benefit
of Indians and administered --
(i) Directly by the Service;
(ii) By any Indian Tribe or Tribal or Indian organization
pursuant to a contract under --
(I) The Indian Self-Determination Act, or
(II) Section 23 of the Act of April 30, 1908, (25 U.S.C. 47),
popularly known as the Buy Indian Act; or
(iii) By an urban Indian organization pursuant to Title V of
this Act.

25 U.S.C. 1616a, authorizes the IHS to determine specific health
professions for which IHS LRP contracts will be awarded. Annually, the
Director, Division of Health Professions Support, sends a letter to the
Director, Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, IHS Area
Directors, Tribal health officials, and urban Indian health programs
directors to request a list of positions for which there is a need or
vacancy. The list of priority health professions that follows is based
upon the needs of the IHS as well as upon the needs of American Indians
and Alaska Natives.
(a) Medicine: Allopathic and Osteopathic.
(b) Nurse: Associate, B.S. and M.S. Degree.

[[Page 80369]]

(c) Clinical Psychology: Ph.D. and Psy.D.
(d) Counseling Psychology: Ph.D.
(e) Social Work: Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Master
Social Worker; Masters and Doctorate level.
(f) Chemical Dependency/Addiction Counseling: Baccalaureate and
Masters level.
(g) Counseling: Family Marriage Therapy Counselor LMFT, Licensed
Professional Counselors: Masters level only.
(h) Dentistry: DDS and DMD.
(i) Dental Hygiene: Associate and B.S.
(j) Dental Assistant: Certified.
(k) Pharmacy: B.S., Pharm.D.
(l) Optometry: O.D.
(m) Physician Assistant: Certified.
(n) Advanced Practice Nurses: Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse
Midwife, Doctor of Nursing, Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Priority
consideration will be given to Registered Nurse Anesthetists.).
(o) Podiatry: D.P.M.
(p) Physical Rehabilitation Services: Physical Therapy,
Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, and Audiology: M.S.
and D.P.T.
(q) Diagnostic Radiology Technology: Associate and B.S.
(r) Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Technology, Medical
Laboratory Technician: Associate and B.S.
(s) Public Health Nutritionist/Registered Dietitian.
(t) Engineering (Environmental): B.S. and M.S. (Engineers must
provide environmental engineering services to be eligible.).
(u) Environmental Health (Sanitarian): B.S. and Masters level.
(v) Health Records: R.H.I.T. and R.H.I.A.
(w) Certified Professional Coder: AAPC or AHIMA.
(x) Respiratory Therapy.
(y) Ultrasonography.
(z) Chiropractors: Licensed.
(aa) Naturopathic Medicine: Licensed.
(bb) Acupuncturists: Licensed.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

Not applicable.

C. Other Requirements

Interested individuals are reminded that the list of eligible
health and allied health professions is effective for applicants for FY
2016. These priorities will remain in effect until superseded.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Content and Form of Application Submission

Each applicant will be responsible for submitting a complete
application. Go to http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment for more
information on how to apply electronically. The application will be
considered complete if the following documents are included:
Employment Verification--Documentation of your employment
with an Indian health program as applicable:
[cir] Commissioned Corps orders, Tribal employment documentation or
offer letter, or Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50)--For current
Federal employees.
License to Practice--A photocopy of your current, non-
temporary, full and unrestricted license to practice (issued by any
state, Washington, DC or Puerto Rico).
Loan Documentation--A copy of all current statements
related to the loans submitted as part of the LRP application.
If applicable, if you are a member of a Federally
recognized Tribe or Alaska Native (recognized by the Secretary of the
Interior), provide a certification of Tribal enrollment by the
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Indian Affairs
(BIA) (Certification: Form BIA--4432 Category A--Members of Federally-
Recognized Indian Tribes, Bands or Communities or Category D--Alaska
Native).

B. Submission Dates and Address

Applications for the FY 2016 LRP will be accepted and evaluated
monthly beginning January 15, 2016 and will continue to be accepted
each month thereafter until all funds are exhausted for FY 2016.
Subsequent monthly deadline dates are scheduled for Friday of the
second full week of each month until August 19, 2016.
Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they
are either:
(1) Received on or before the deadline date; or
(2) Received after the deadline date, but has a legible postmark
dated on or before the deadline date. (Applicants should request a
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private
metered postmarks are not acceptable as proof of timely mailing).
Applications submitted after the monthly closing date will be held
for consideration in the next monthly funding cycle. Applicants who do
not receive funding by September 30, 2016, will be notified in writing.
Application documents should be sent to: IHS Loan Repayment
Program, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: OHR (11E53A), Rockville,
Maryland 20857.

C. Intergovernmental Review

This program is not subject to review under Executive Order 12372.

D. Funding Restrictions

Not applicable.

E. Other Submission Requirements

New applicants are responsible for using the online application.
Applicants requesting a contract extension must do so in writing by
January 1, 2016 to ensure the highest possibility of being funded a
contract extension.

V. Application Review Information

A. Criteria

The IHS has identified the positions in each Indian health program
for which there is a need or vacancy and ranked those positions in
order of priority by developing discipline-specific prioritized lists
of sites. Ranking criteria for these sites may include the following:
(1) Historically critical shortages caused by frequent staff
turnover;
(2) Current unmatched vacancies in a health profession discipline;
(3) Projected vacancies in a health profession discipline;
(4) Ensuring that the staffing needs of Indian health programs
administered by an Indian Tribe or Tribal health organization or urban
Indian organization receive consideration on an equal basis with
programs that are administered directly by the Service; and
(5) Giving priority to vacancies in Indian health programs that
have a need for health professionals to provide health care services as
a result of individuals having breached LRP contracts entered into
under this section.
Consistent with this priority ranking, in determining applications
to be approved and contracts to accept, the IHS will give priority to
applications made by American Indians and Alaska Natives and to
individuals recruited through the efforts of Indian Tribes or Tribal or
Indian organizations.

B. Review and Selection Process

Loan repayment awards will be made only to those individuals
serving at facilities which have a site score of 70 or above through
March 1, 2016, if funding is available.
One or all of the following factors may be applicable to an
applicant, and the applicant who has the most of these factors, all
other criteria being equal, will be selected.
(1) An applicant's length of current employment in the IHS, Tribal,
or urban program.

[[Page 80370]]

(2) Availability for service earlier than other applicants (first
come, first served).
(3) Date the individual's application was received.

C. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Not applicable.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

Notice of awards will be mailed on the last working day of each
month. Once the applicant is approved for participation in the LRP, the
applicant will receive confirmation of his/her loan repayment award and
the duty site at which he/she will serve his/her loan repayment
obligation.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Applicants may sign contractual agreements with the Secretary for
two years. The IHS may repay all, or a portion, of the applicant's
health profession educational loans (undergraduate and graduate) for
tuition expenses and reasonable educational and living expenses in
amounts up to $20,000 per year for each year of contracted service.
Payments will be made annually to the participant for the purpose of
repaying his/her outstanding health profession educational loans.
Payment of health profession education loans will be made to the
participant within 120 days, from the date the contract becomes
effective. The effective date of the contract is calculated from the
date it is signed by the Secretary or his/her delegate, or the IHS,
Tribal, urban, or Buy Indian health center entry-on-duty date,
whichever is more recent.
In addition to the loan payment, participants are provided tax
assistance payments in an amount not less than 20 percent and not more
than 39 percent of the participant's total amount of loan repayments
made for the taxable year involved. The loan repayments and the tax
assistance payments are taxable income and will be reported to the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The tax assistance payment will be paid
to the IRS directly on the participant's behalf. LRP award recipients
should be aware that the IRS may place them in a higher tax bracket
than they would otherwise have been prior to their award.

C. Contract Extensions

Any individual who enters this program and satisfactorily completes
his or her obligated period of service may apply to extend his/her
contract on a year-by-year basis, as determined by the IHS.
Participants extending their contracts may receive up to the maximum
amount of $20,000 per year plus an additional 20 percent for Federal
withholding.

VII. Agency Contact

Please address inquiries to Ms. Jacqueline K. Santiago, Chief, IHS
Loan Repayment Program, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: OHR (11E53A),
Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: 301/443-3396 [between 8:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays].

VIII. Other Information

IHS area offices and service units that are financially able are
authorized to provide additional funding to make awards to applicants
in the LRP, but not to exceed $35,000 a year plus tax assistance. All
additional funding must be made in accordance with the priority system
outlined below. Health professions given priority for selection above
the $20,000 threshold are those identified as meeting the criteria in
25 U.S.C. 1616a(g)(2)(A) which provides that the Secretary shall
consider the extent to which each such determination:
(i) Affects the ability of the Secretary to maximize the number of
contracts that can be provided under the LRP from the amounts
appropriated for such contracts;
(ii) Provides an incentive to serve in Indian health programs with
the greatest shortages of health professionals; and
(iii) Provides an incentive with respect to the health professional
involved remaining in an Indian health program with such a health
professional shortage, and continuing to provide primary health
services, after the completion of the period of obligated service under
the LRP.
Contracts may be awarded to those who are available for service no
later than September 30, 2016 and must be in compliance with any limits
in the appropriation and 25 U.S.C. 1616a not to exceed the amount
authorized in the IHS appropriation (up to $36,000,000 for FY 2016). In
order to ensure compliance with the statutes, area offices or service
units providing additional funding under this section are responsible
for notifying the LRP of such payments before funding is offered to the
LRP participant.
Should an IHS area office contribute to the LRP, those funds will
be used for only those sites located in that area. Those sites will
retain their relative ranking from the national site-ranking list. For
example, the Albuquerque Area Office identifies supplemental monies for
dentists. Only the dental positions within the Albuquerque Area will be
funded with the supplemental monies consistent with the national
ranking and site index within that area.
Should an IHS service unit contribute to the LRP, those funds will
be used for only those sites located in that service unit. Those sites
will retain their relative ranking from the national site-ranking list.
For example, Whiteriver Service Unit identifies supplemental monies for
nurses. The Whiteriver Service Unit consists of two facilities, namely
the Whiteriver PHS Indian Hospital and the Cibecue Indian Health
Center. The national ranking will be used for the Whiteriver PHS Indian
Hospital (Score = 77) and the Cibecue Indian Health Center (Score =
89). With a score of 89, the Cibecue Indian Health Center would receive
priority over the Whiteriver PHS Indian Hospital.

Dated: December 16, 2015.
Robert G. McSwain,
Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32354 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-P

80370 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 247 / Thursday, December 24, 2015 / Notices

(2) Availability for service earlier than IHS. Participants extending their Office identifies supplemental monies
other applicants (first come, first contracts may receive up to the for dentists. Only the dental positions
served). maximum amount of $20,000 per year within the Albuquerque Area will be
(3) Date the individual’s application plus an additional 20 percent for funded with the supplemental monies
was received. Federal withholding. consistent with the national ranking and
C. Anticipated Announcement and site index within that area.
VII. Agency Contact Should an IHS service unit contribute
Award Dates Please address inquiries to Ms. to the LRP, those funds will be used for
Not applicable. Jacqueline K. Santiago, Chief, IHS Loan only those sites located in that service
VI. Award Administration Information Repayment Program, 5600 Fishers Lane, unit. Those sites will retain their
Mail Stop: OHR (11E53A), Rockville, relative ranking from the national site-
A. Award Notices Maryland 20857, Telephone: 301/443– ranking list. For example, Whiteriver
Notice of awards will be mailed on 3396 [between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Service Unit identifies supplemental
the last working day of each month. (Eastern Standard Time) Monday monies for nurses. The Whiteriver
Once the applicant is approved for through Friday, except Federal Service Unit consists of two facilities,
participation in the LRP, the applicant holidays]. namely the Whiteriver PHS Indian
will receive confirmation of his/her loan Hospital and the Cibecue Indian Health
VIII. Other Information
repayment award and the duty site at Center. The national ranking will be
which he/she will serve his/her loan IHS area offices and service units that used for the Whiteriver PHS Indian
repayment obligation. are financially able are authorized to Hospital (Score = 77) and the Cibecue
provide additional funding to make Indian Health Center (Score = 89). With
B. Administrative and National Policy awards to applicants in the LRP, but not a score of 89, the Cibecue Indian Health
Requirements to exceed $35,000 a year plus tax Center would receive priority over the
Applicants may sign contractual assistance. All additional funding must Whiteriver PHS Indian Hospital.
agreements with the Secretary for two be made in accordance with the priority Dated: December 16, 2015.
years. The IHS may repay all, or a system outlined below. Health
Robert G. McSwain,
portion, of the applicant’s health professions given priority for selection
Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health
profession educational loans above the $20,000 threshold are those Service.
(undergraduate and graduate) for tuition identified as meeting the criteria in 25
[FR Doc. 2015–32354 Filed 12–23–15; 8:45 am]
expenses and reasonable educational U.S.C. 1616a(g)(2)(A) which provides
BILLING CODE 4165–16–P
and living expenses in amounts up to that the Secretary shall consider the
$20,000 per year for each year of extent to which each such
contracted service. Payments will be determination: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
made annually to the participant for the (i) Affects the ability of the Secretary
HUMAN SERVICES
purpose of repaying his/her outstanding to maximize the number of contracts
health profession educational loans. that can be provided under the LRP Indian Health Service
Payment of health profession education from the amounts appropriated for such
loans will be made to the participant contracts; Indian Health Professions Preparatory,
within 120 days, from the date the (ii) Provides an incentive to serve in Indian Health Professions Pre-
contract becomes effective. The effective Indian health programs with the greatest Graduate and Indian Health
date of the contract is calculated from shortages of health professionals; and Professions Scholarship Programs;
the date it is signed by the Secretary or (iii) Provides an incentive with Announcement Type: Initial
his/her delegate, or the IHS, Tribal, respect to the health professional
urban, or Buy Indian health center involved remaining in an Indian health CFDA Numbers: 93.971, 93.123, AND 93.972
entry-on-duty date, whichever is more program with such a health professional Key Dates
recent. shortage, and continuing to provide
In addition to the loan payment, primary health services, after the Application Deadline: February 28,
participants are provided tax assistance completion of the period of obligated 2016, for continuing students
Application Deadline: March 28, 2016,
payments in an amount not less than 20 service under the LRP.
Contracts may be awarded to those for new students
percent and not more than 39 percent of Application Review: May 9–23, 2016
the participant’s total amount of loan who are available for service no later Continuation Award Notification
repayments made for the taxable year than September 30, 2016 and must be in Deadline: June 6, 2016
involved. The loan repayments and the compliance with any limits in the New Award Notification Deadline: July
tax assistance payments are taxable appropriation and 25 U.S.C. 1616a not 5, 2016
income and will be reported to the to exceed the amount authorized in the Award Start Date: August 1, 2016
Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The tax IHS appropriation (up to $36,000,000 Acceptance/Decline of Awards
assistance payment will be paid to the for FY 2016). In order to ensure Deadline: August 15, 2016
IRS directly on the participant’s behalf. compliance with the statutes, area
LRP award recipients should be aware offices or service units providing I. Funding Opportunity Description
that the IRS may place them in a higher additional funding under this section The Indian Health Service (IHS) is
tax bracket than they would otherwise are responsible for notifying the LRP of committed to encouraging American
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

have been prior to their award. such payments before funding is offered Indians and Alaska Natives to enter the
to the LRP participant. health professions and to assuring the
C. Contract Extensions Should an IHS area office contribute availability of Indian health
Any individual who enters this to the LRP, those funds will be used for professionals to serve Indians. The IHS
program and satisfactorily completes his only those sites located in that area. is committed to the recruitment of
or her obligated period of service may Those sites will retain their relative students for the following programs:
apply to extend his/her contract on a ranking from the national site-ranking • The Indian Health Professions
year-by-year basis, as determined by the list. For example, the Albuquerque Area Preparatory Scholarship authorized by

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Document Created: 2015-12-24 02:25:23
Document Modified: 2015-12-24 02:25:23

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Dates		January 15, 2016 first award cycle deadline date; August 19, 2016 last award cycle deadline date; September 9, 2016 last award cycle deadline date for supplemental loan repayment program funds; September 30, 2016 entry on duty deadline date.
FR Citation		80 FR 80368

80 FR 80368 - Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions Educational Loans; Announcement Type: Initial.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESIndian Health Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 247 (December 24, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service