82 FR 28863 - Lists of Designated Primary Medical Care, Mental Health, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 121 (June 26, 2017)
Health Resources and Services Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 121 (June 26, 2017)
| Page Range | 28863-28864 | |
| FR Document | 2017-13313 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 121 (Monday, June 26, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 28863-28864] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-13313] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Resources and Services Administration Lists of Designated Primary Medical Care, Mental Health, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the availability of the complete lists of all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities designated as primary medical care, mental health, and dental health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) as of May 1, 2017. The lists are available on HRSA's HPSAFind Web site. ADDRESSES: The complete lists of HPSAs designated as of May 1, 2017, are available on the HPSAFind Web site at https://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/tools/analyzers/hpsafind.aspx. Frequently updated information on HPSAs is available at http://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov. Information on shortage designations is available at https://bhw.hrsa.gov/shortage-designation. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the HPSA designations listed on the HPSAFind Web site or to request an additional designation, withdrawal, or reapplication for designation, please contact Melissa Ryan, Operations Director, Division of Policy and Shortage Designation, Bureau of Health Workforce, HRSA, 11SWH03, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, (301) 594-5168 or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 332 of the Public Health Services (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 254e, provides that the Secretary shall designate HPSAs based on criteria established by regulation. HPSAs are defined in section 332 to include (1) urban and rural geographic areas with shortages of health professionals, (2) population groups with such shortages, and (3) facilities with such shortages. Section 332 further requires that the [[Page 28864]] Secretary annually publish lists of the designated geographic areas, population groups, and facilities. The lists of HPSAs are to be reviewed at least annually and revised as necessary. Final regulations (42 CFR part 5) were published in 1980 that include the criteria for designating HPSAs. Criteria were defined for seven health professional types: Primary medical care, dental, psychiatric, vision care, podiatric, pharmacy, and veterinary care. The criteria for correctional facility HPSAs were revised and published on March 2, 1989 (54 FR 8735). The criteria for psychiatric HPSAs were expanded to mental health HPSAs on January 22, 1992 (57 FR 2473). Currently-funded PHS Act programs use only the primary medical care, mental health, or dental HPSA designations. HPSA designation offers access to potential federal assistance. Public or private nonprofit entities are eligible to apply for assignment of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) personnel to provide primary medical care, mental health, or dental health services in or to these HPSAs. NHSC health professionals enter into service agreements to serve in federally-designated HPSAs. Entities with clinical training sites located in HPSAs are eligible to receive priority for certain residency training program grants administered by HRSA's Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW). Other federal programs also utilize HPSA designations. For example, under authorities administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, certain qualified providers in geographic area HPSAs are eligible for increased levels of Medicare reimbursement. Content and Format of Lists The three lists of designated HPSAs are available on the HPSAFind Web site and include a snapshot of all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities that were designated HPSAs as of May 1, 2017. This notice incorporates the most recent annual reviews of designated HPSAs and supersedes the HPSA lists published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2016 (81 FR 43214). In addition, all Indian Tribes that meet the definition of such Tribes in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1976, 25 U.S.C. 1603(d), are automatically designated as population groups with primary medical care and dental health professional shortages. Further, the Health Care Safety Net Amendments of 2002 provides eligibility for automatic facility HPSA designations for all federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics that offer services regardless of ability to pay. Specifically, these entities include FQHCs funded under section 330 of the PHS Act, FQHC Look-Alikes, and Tribal and urban Indian clinics operating under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 450) or the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. Many, but not all, of these entities are included on this listing. Absence from this list does not exclude them from HPSA designation; facilities eligible for automatic designation are included in the database when they are identified. Each list of designated HPSAs is arranged by state. Within each state, a list is presented by county. If only a portion (or portions) of a county is (are) designated, a county is part of a larger designated service area, or a population group residing in a county or a facility located in a county has been designated, the name of the service area, population group, or facility involved is listed under the county name. A county that has a whole county geographic HPSA is indicated by the phrase ``Entire county HPSA'' following the county name. Development of the Designation and Withdrawal Lists Requests for designation or withdrawal of a particular geographic area, population group, or a facility as a HPSA are received continuously by BHW. Under a Cooperative Agreement between HRSA and the 54 state and territorial Primary Care Offices (PCOs), PCOs conduct needs assessments and submit the majority of the applications to HRSA to designate areas as HPSAs. Requests that come from other sources are referred by BHW to PCOs for review. In addition, interested parties, including Governors, state Primary Care Associations, and state professional associations, are notified of requests so that they may submit comments and recommendations. BHW reviews each recommendation for possible addition, continuation, revision, or withdrawal. Following review, BHW notifies the appropriate agency, individuals, and interested organizations of each designation of a HPSA, rejection of recommendation for HPSA designation, revision of a HPSA designation, and/or advance notice of pending withdrawal from the HPSA list. Designations (or revisions of designations) are effective as of the date on the notification from BHW and are updated daily on the HPSAFind Web site. The effective date of a withdrawal will be the next publication of a notice regarding the lists in the Federal Register. Dated: June 16, 2017. George Sigounas, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2017-13313 Filed 6-23-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 121 / Monday, June 26, 2017 / Notices 28863
determine eligibility for programs LOW-INCOME LEVELS BASED ON THE Dated: June 16, 2017.
providing training for (1) disadvantaged 2017 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE George Sigounas,
individuals, (2) individuals from 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE Administrator.
disadvantaged backgrounds, or (3) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA [FR Doc. 2017–13312 Filed 6–23–17; 8:45 am]
individuals from low-income families. BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Many Persons in family/household * Income level **
health professions and nursing grant
and cooperative agreement awardees 1 ............................................ $24,120 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
use these low-income levels to 2 ............................................ 32,480 HUMAN SERVICES
determine whether potential program 3 ............................................ 40,840
participants are from an economically- 4 ............................................ 49,200 Health Resources and Services
disadvantaged background and would 5 ............................................ 57,560 Administration
6 ............................................ 65,920
be eligible to participate in the program, Lists of Designated Primary Medical
7 ............................................ 74,280
as well as to determine the amount of 8 ............................................ 82,640 Care, Mental Health, and Dental Health
funding the individual receives. Awards Professional Shortage Areas
are generally made to accredited schools For families with more than 8 persons, add
of medicine, osteopathic medicine, $8,360 for each additional person. AGENCY: Health Resources and Services
public health, dentistry, veterinary Administration (HRSA), Department of
medicine, optometry, pharmacy, allied LOW-INCOME LEVELS BASED ON THE Health and Human Services (HHS).
health, podiatric medicine, nursing, and 2017 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR ACTION: Notice.
chiropractic; public or private nonprofit ALASKA
schools which offer graduate programs SUMMARY: This notice informs the public
in behavioral health and mental health Persons in family/household * Income level ** of the availability of the complete lists
practice; and other public or private of all geographic areas, population
nonprofit health or education entities to 1 ............................................ $30,120 groups, and facilities designated as
2 ............................................ 40,580 primary medical care, mental health,
assist the disadvantaged to enter and 3 ............................................ 51,040
graduate from health professions and and dental health professional shortage
4 ............................................ 61,500 areas (HPSAs) as of May 1, 2017. The
nursing schools. Some programs 5 ............................................ 71,960
provide for the repayment of health lists are available on HRSA’s HPSAFind
6 ............................................ 82,420 Web site.
professions or nursing education loans 7 ............................................ 92,880
for disadvantaged students. 8 ............................................ 103,340 ADDRESSES: The complete lists of
A ‘‘low-income family/household’’ for HPSAs designated as of May 1, 2017, are
For families with more than 8 persons, add available on the HPSAFind Web site at
programs included in Titles III, VII, and $10,460 for each additional person.
VIII of the Public Health Service Act is https://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/tools/
defined as having an annual income that analyzers/hpsafind.aspx. Frequently
LOW-INCOME LEVELS BASED ON THE updated information on HPSAs is
does not exceed 200 percent of the 2017 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR HA-
Department’s poverty guidelines. A available at http://
family is a group of two or more
WAII datawarehouse.hrsa.gov. Information on
individuals related by birth, marriage, or shortage designations is available at
Persons in family/household * Income level ** https://bhw.hrsa.gov/shortage-
adoption who live together.
Most HRSA programs use the income designation.
1 ............................................ $27,720
of a student’s parent(s) to compute low- 2 ............................................ 37,340 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
income status. However, a ‘‘household’’ 3 ............................................ 46,960 further information on the HPSA
may potentially be only one person. 4 ............................................ 56,580 designations listed on the HPSAFind
Other HRSA programs, depending upon 5 ............................................ 66,200 Web site or to request an additional
the legislative intent of the program, the 6 ............................................ 75,820 designation, withdrawal, or
programmatic purpose related to income 7 ............................................ 85,440 reapplication for designation, please
level, as well as the age and 8 ............................................ 95,060 contact Melissa Ryan, Operations
circumstances of the participant, will For families with more than 8 persons, add Director, Division of Policy and
apply these low-income standards to the $9,620 for each additional person. Shortage Designation, Bureau of Health
individual student to determine * Includes only dependents listed on federal Workforce, HRSA, 11SWH03, 5600
income tax forms. Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland
eligibility, as long as he or she is not ** Adjusted gross income for calendar year
listed as a dependent on the tax form of 2016. 20857, (301) 594–5168 or MRyan@
his or her parent(s). Each program hrsa.gov.
announces the rationale and choice of Separate poverty guidelines figures SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
methodology for determining low- for Alaska and Hawaii reflect Office of
income levels in program guidance. Economic Opportunity administrative Background
Low-income levels are adjusted practice beginning in the 1966–1970 Section 332 of the Public Health
annually based on HHS’s poverty period since the U.S. Census Bureau Services (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 254e,
guidelines. HHS’s poverty guidelines poverty thresholds do not have separate provides that the Secretary shall
are based on poverty thresholds figures for Alaska and Hawaii. The designate HPSAs based on criteria
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
published by the U.S. Census Bureau, poverty guidelines are not defined for established by regulation. HPSAs are
adjusted annually for changes in the Puerto Rico and other outlying defined in section 332 to include (1)
Consumer Price Index. The income jurisdictions. Puerto Rico and other urban and rural geographic areas with
figures below have been updated to outlying jurisdictions must use the low- shortages of health professionals, (2)
reflect HHS’s 2017 poverty guidelines as income levels table for the 48 population groups with such shortages,
published in 82 FR 8831 (January 31, contiguous states and the District of and (3) facilities with such shortages.
2017). Columbia. Section 332 further requires that the
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![28864 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 121 / Monday, June 26, 2017 / Notices
Secretary annually publish lists of the clinics that offer services regardless of Dated: June 16, 2017.
designated geographic areas, population ability to pay. Specifically, these entities George Sigounas,
groups, and facilities. The lists of include FQHCs funded under section Administrator.
HPSAs are to be reviewed at least 330 of the PHS Act, FQHC Look-Alikes, [FR Doc. 2017–13313 Filed 6–23–17; 8:45 am]
annually and revised as necessary. and Tribal and urban Indian clinics BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
Final regulations (42 CFR part 5) were operating under the Indian Self-
published in 1980 that include the Determination and Education Act of
criteria for designating HPSAs. Criteria 1975 (25 U.S.C. 450) or the Indian DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
were defined for seven health Health Care Improvement Act. Many, HUMAN SERVICES
professional types: Primary medical but not all, of these entities are included
care, dental, psychiatric, vision care, on this listing. Absence from this list Health Resources and Services
podiatric, pharmacy, and veterinary does not exclude them from HPSA Administration
care. The criteria for correctional facility designation; facilities eligible for
HPSAs were revised and published on automatic designation are included in National Vaccine Injury Compensation
March 2, 1989 (54 FR 8735). The criteria the database when they are identified. Program; List of Petitions Received
for psychiatric HPSAs were expanded to Each list of designated HPSAs is AGENCY: Health Resources and Services
mental health HPSAs on January 22, arranged by state. Within each state, a Administration (HRSA), Department of
1992 (57 FR 2473). Currently-funded list is presented by county. If only a Health and Human Services (HHS).
PHS Act programs use only the primary portion (or portions) of a county is (are) ACTION: Notice.
medical care, mental health, or dental designated, a county is part of a larger
HPSA designations. designated service area, or a population SUMMARY: HRSA is publishing this
HPSA designation offers access to group residing in a county or a facility notice of petitions received under the
potential federal assistance. Public or National Vaccine Injury Compensation
located in a county has been designated,
private nonprofit entities are eligible to Program (the program), as required by
the name of the service area, population
apply for assignment of National Health the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as
group, or facility involved is listed
Service Corps (NHSC) personnel to amended. While the Secretary of HHS is
under the county name. A county that
provide primary medical care, mental named as the respondent in all
has a whole county geographic HPSA is
health, or dental health services in or to proceedings brought by the filing of
indicated by the phrase ‘‘Entire county
these HPSAs. NHSC health petitions for compensation under the
HPSA’’ following the county name.
professionals enter into service program, the United States Court of
agreements to serve in federally- Development of the Designation and Federal Claims is charged by statute
designated HPSAs. Entities with clinical Withdrawal Lists with responsibility for considering and
training sites located in HPSAs are acting upon the petitions.
eligible to receive priority for certain Requests for designation or
withdrawal of a particular geographic FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
residency training program grants information about requirements for
administered by HRSA’s Bureau of area, population group, or a facility as
a HPSA are received continuously by filing petitions, and the program in
Health Workforce (BHW). Other federal general, contact Lisa L. Reyes, Acting
programs also utilize HPSA BHW. Under a Cooperative Agreement
between HRSA and the 54 state and Clerk, United States Court of Federal
designations. For example, under Claims, 717 Madison Place NW.,
authorities administered by the Centers territorial Primary Care Offices (PCOs),
PCOs conduct needs assessments and Washington, DC 20005, (202) 357–6400.
for Medicare & Medicaid Services, For information on HRSA’s role in the
certain qualified providers in submit the majority of the applications
to HRSA to designate areas as HPSAs. program, contact the Director, National
geographic area HPSAs are eligible for Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,
increased levels of Medicare Requests that come from other sources
are referred by BHW to PCOs for review. 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 08N146B,
reimbursement. Rockville, MD 20857; (301) 443–6593,
In addition, interested parties, including
Content and Format of Lists Governors, state Primary Care or visit our Web site at: http://
The three lists of designated HPSAs Associations, and state professional www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/
are available on the HPSAFind Web site associations, are notified of requests so index.html.
and include a snapshot of all geographic that they may submit comments and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
areas, population groups, and facilities recommendations. program provides a system of no-fault
that were designated HPSAs as of May BHW reviews each recommendation compensation for certain individuals
1, 2017. This notice incorporates the for possible addition, continuation, who have been injured by specified
most recent annual reviews of revision, or withdrawal. Following childhood vaccines. Subtitle 2 of Title
designated HPSAs and supersedes the review, BHW notifies the appropriate XXI of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C. 300aa–
HPSA lists published in the Federal agency, individuals, and interested 10 et seq., provides that those seeking
Register on July 1, 2016 (81 FR 43214). organizations of each designation of a compensation are to file a petition with
In addition, all Indian Tribes that HPSA, rejection of recommendation for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and to
meet the definition of such Tribes in the HPSA designation, revision of a HPSA serve a copy of the petition on the
Indian Health Care Improvement Act of designation, and/or advance notice of Secretary of HHS, who is named as the
1976, 25 U.S.C. 1603(d), are pending withdrawal from the HPSA list. respondent in each proceeding. The
automatically designated as population Designations (or revisions of Secretary has delegated this
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
groups with primary medical care and designations) are effective as of the date responsibility under the program to
dental health professional shortages. on the notification from BHW and are HRSA. The Court is directed by statute
Further, the Health Care Safety Net updated daily on the HPSAFind Web to appoint special masters who take
Amendments of 2002 provides site. The effective date of a withdrawal evidence, conduct hearings as
eligibility for automatic facility HPSA will be the next publication of a notice appropriate, and make initial decisions
designations for all federally qualified regarding the lists in the Federal as to eligibility for, and amount of,
health centers (FQHCs) and rural health Register. compensation.
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Document Created: 2018-11-14 10:11:29
Document Modified: 2018-11-14 10:11:29
| 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 | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Contact | For further information on the HPSA designations listed on the HPSAFind Web site or to request an additional designation, withdrawal, or reapplication for designation, please contact Melissa Ryan, Operations Director, Division of Policy and Shortage Designation, Bureau of Health Workforce, HRSA, 11SWH03, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, (301) 594-5168 or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 28863 |
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