82_FR_3347 82 FR 3340 - Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions Educational Loan; Announcement Type-Initial

82 FR 3340 - Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions Educational Loan; Announcement Type-Initial

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 7 (January 11, 2017)

Page Range3340-3342
FR Document2017-00436

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3340-3342]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00436]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service

[CFDA Number: 93.164]


Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions 
Educational Loan; Announcement Type--Initial

    Key Dates: January 15, 2017 first award cycle deadline date; August 
15, 2017 last award cycle deadline date; September 15, 2017 last award 
cycle deadline date for supplemental loan repayment program funds; 
September 30, 2017 entry on duty deadline date.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The Indian Health Service (IHS) estimated budget request for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2017 includes $30,022,000 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 at https://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/policiesandprocedures/ 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 $18,400,000 to 
support approximately 400 competing awards averaging $46,000 per award 
for a two year contract. The estimated amount available is 
approximately $9,325,000 to support approximately 373 competing awards 
averaging $25,000 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 2017 program cycle will 
be expected to begin their service period no later than September 30, 
2017.

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.
    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,

[[Page 3341]]

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 doctorate degrees
(b) Nursing--Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
(c) Nursing--Bachelor of Science (BSN)
(d) Nursing (NP, DNP)--Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse in 
Family Practice, Psychiatry, Geriatric, Women's Health, Pediatric 
Nursing.
(e) Nursing--Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
(f) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
(g) Physician Assistant (Certified)
(h) Dentistry--DDS or DMD degrees
(i) Dental Hygiene
(j) Social Work--Independent Licensed Master's degree
(k) Counseling--Master's degree
(l) Clinical Psychology--Ph.D. or PsyD
(m) Counseling Psychology--Ph.D.

(n) Optometry--OD

(o) Pharmacy--PharmD

(p) Podiatry--DPM

(q) Physical/Occupational/Speech Language Therapy or Audiology -- MS, 
Doctoral

(r) Registered Dietician--BS

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 
2017. 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.
     Transcripts--Official Transcripts
     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 2017 LRP will be accepted and evaluated 
monthly beginning January 15, 2017 and will continue to be accepted 
each month thereafter until all funds are exhausted for FY 2017. 
Subsequent monthly deadline dates are scheduled for Friday of the 
second full week of each month until August 15, 2017.
    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, 2017, 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, 2017 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, 2017, 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.
    (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.

[[Page 3342]]

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 the maximum allowable amount authorized 
by statute per 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, 2017 and must be in compliance with 25 U.S.C. 
1616a and subject to the availability of appropriations. 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 HPSA score site-
ranking list.

    Dated: January 4, 2017.
Elizabeth A. Fowler,
Deputy Director for Management Operations, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-00436 Filed 1-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-16-P



                                                3340                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2017 / Notices

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Average
                                                                                                                                                                 Number of
                                                                                                                                              Number of                                      Total          burden per              Total burden
                                                                                   Form name                                                                   responses per
                                                                                                                                             respondents                                  responses          response                  hours
                                                                                                                                                                 respondent                                  (in hours)

                                                Medical Chart/Record Abstraction .......................................                                 *25                         1            25                          2               50
                                                Focus Group (recruit participants) .......................................                               *25                         1            25                          1               25
                                                Site Interview Guide .............................................................                        50                         1            50                          2              100
                                                Focus Groups Guide ............................................................                           60                         1            60                        1.5               90

                                                      Total ..............................................................................           *440      ........................          *440    ........................          417.5
                                                   * The same respondents will complete the medical chart/record abstraction and recruit participants for the focus group.


                                                Jason E. Bennett,                                                          available is approximately $9,325,000 to                       Agency by discipline, based on need or
                                                Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.                           support approximately 373 competing                            vacancy. The IHS LRP’s ranking system
                                                [FR Doc. 2017–00322 Filed 1–10–17; 8:45 am]                                awards averaging $25,000 per award for                         gives high site scores to those sites that
                                                BILLING CODE 4165–15–P                                                     a one year extension. One year contract                        are most in need of specific health
                                                                                                                           extensions will receive priority                               professions. Awards are given to the
                                                                                                                           consideration in any award cycle.                              applications that match the highest
                                                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                                                   Applicants selected for participation in                       priorities until funds are no longer
                                                HUMAN SERVICES                                                             the FY 2017 program cycle will be                              available.
                                                                                                                           expected to begin their service period                            Any individual who owes an
                                                Indian Health Service                                                      no later than September 30, 2017.                              obligation for health professional
                                                [CFDA Number: 93.164]                                                                                                                     service to the Federal Government, a
                                                                                                                           III. Eligibility Information                                   State, or other entity is not eligible for
                                                Loan Repayment Program for                                                 A. Eligible Applicants                                         the LRP unless the obligation will be
                                                Repayment of Health Professions                                                                                                           completely satisfied before they begin
                                                                                                                              Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1616a(b), to be
                                                Educational Loan; Announcement                                                                                                            service under this program.
                                                                                                                           eligible to participate in the LRP, an
                                                Type—Initial                                                                                                                                 25 U.S.C. 1616a authorizes the IHS
                                                                                                                           individual must:
                                                                                                                                                                                          LRP and provides in pertinent part as
                                                  Key Dates: January 15, 2017 first                                           (1)(A) Be enrolled—
                                                                                                                                                                                          follows:
                                                award cycle deadline date; August 15,                                         (i) In a course of study or program in                         (a)(1) The Secretary, acting through
                                                2017 last award cycle deadline date;                                       an accredited institution, as determined                       the Service, shall establish a program to
                                                September 15, 2017 last award cycle                                        by the Secretary, within any State and                         be known as the Indian Health Service
                                                deadline date for supplemental loan                                        be scheduled to complete such course of                        Loan Repayment Program (hereinafter
                                                repayment program funds; September                                         study in the same year such individual                         referred to as the Loan Repayment
                                                30, 2017 entry on duty deadline date.                                      applies to participate in such program;                        Program) in order to assure an adequate
                                                                                                                           or                                                             supply of trained health professionals
                                                I. Funding Opportunity Description                                            (ii) In an approved graduate training
                                                                                                                                                                                          necessary to maintain accreditation of,
                                                   The Indian Health Service (IHS)                                         program in a health profession; or
                                                                                                                                                                                          and provide health care services to
                                                estimated budget request for Fiscal Year                                      (B) Have a degree in a health
                                                                                                                                                                                          Indians through, Indian health
                                                (FY) 2017 includes $30,022,000 for the                                     profession and a license to practice in
                                                                                                                                                                                          programs.
                                                IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) for                                       a State; and                                                      For the purposes of this program, the
                                                health professional educational loans                                         (2)(A) Be eligible for, or hold an                          term ‘‘Indian health program’’ is defined
                                                (undergraduate and graduate) in return                                     appointment as a commissioned officer                          in 25 U.S.C. 1616a(a)(2)(A), as follows:
                                                for full-time clinical service as defined                                  in the Regular Corps of the Public                                (A) The term Indian health program
                                                in the IHS LRP policy at https://                                          Health Service (PHS); or                                       means any health program or facility
                                                www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/                                                    (B) Be eligible for selection for service                   funded, in whole or in part, by the
                                                policiesandprocedures/ in Indian health                                    in the Regular Corps of the PHS; or                            Service for the benefit of Indians and
                                                programs.                                                                     (C) Meet the professional standards                         administered—
                                                   This program announcement is                                            for civil service employment in the IHS;                          (i) Directly by the Service;
                                                subject to the appropriation of funds.                                     or                                                                (ii) By any Indian Tribe or Tribal or
                                                This notice is being published early to                                       (D) Be employed in an Indian health                         Indian organization pursuant to a
                                                coincide with the recruitment activity of                                  program without service obligation; and                        contract under—
                                                the IHS which competes with other                                             (3) Submit to the Secretary an                                 (I) The Indian Self-Determination Act,
                                                Government and private health                                              application for a contract to the LRP.                         or
                                                management organizations to employ                                         The Secretary must approve the contract                           (II) Section 23 of the Act of April 30,
                                                qualified health professionals.                                            before the disbursement of loan                                1908, (25 U.S.C. 47), popularly known
                                                   This program is authorized by the                                       repayments can be made to the                                  as the Buy Indian Act; or
                                                Indian Health Care Improvement Act                                         participant. Participants will be                                 (iii) By an urban Indian organization
                                                (IHCIA) Section 108, codified at 25                                        required to fulfill their contract service                     pursuant to Title V of this Act.
                                                                                                                           agreements through full-time clinical                             25 U.S.C. 1616a, authorizes the IHS to
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                U.S.C. 1616a.
                                                                                                                           practice at an Indian health program site                      determine specific health professions
                                                II. Award Information                                                      determined by the Secretary. Loan                              for which IHS LRP contracts will be
                                                   The estimated amount available is                                       repayment sites are characterized by                           awarded. Annually, the Director,
                                                approximately $18,400,000 to support                                       physical, cultural, and professional                           Division of Health Professions Support,
                                                approximately 400 competing awards                                         isolation, and have histories of frequent                      sends a letter to the Director, Office of
                                                averaging $46,000 per award for a two                                      staff turnover. Indian health program                          Clinical and Preventive Services, IHS
                                                year contract. The estimated amount                                        sites are annually prioritized within the                      Area Directors, Tribal health officials,


                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014        19:05 Jan 10, 2017         Jkt 241001       PO 00000        Frm 00061   Fmt 4703    Sfmt 4703     E:\FR\FM\11JAN1.SGM     11JAN1


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2017 / Notices                                               3341

                                                and urban Indian health programs                          • License to Practice—A photocopy                    V. Application Review Information
                                                directors to request a list of positions for            of your current, non-temporary, full and
                                                                                                                                                               A. Criteria
                                                which there is a need or vacancy. The                   unrestricted license to practice (issued
                                                list of priority health professions that                by any state, Washington, DC or Puerto                   The IHS has identified the positions
                                                follows is based upon the needs of the                  Rico).                                                 in each Indian health program for which
                                                IHS as well as upon the needs of                          • Loan Documentation—A copy of all                   there is a need or vacancy and ranked
                                                American Indians and Alaska Natives.                    current statements related to the loans                those positions in order of priority by
                                                (a) Medicine—Allopathic and                             submitted as part of the LRP                           developing discipline-specific
                                                   Osteopathic doctorate degrees                        application.                                           prioritized lists of sites. Ranking criteria
                                                (b) Nursing—Associate Degree in                           • Transcripts—Official Transcripts                   for these sites may include the
                                                   Nursing (ADN)                                          • If applicable, if you are a member                 following:
                                                (c) Nursing—Bachelor of Science (BSN)                   of a Federally recognized Tribe or                       (1) Historically critical shortages
                                                (d) Nursing (NP, DNP)—Nurse                             Alaska Native (recognized by the                       caused by frequent staff turnover;
                                                   Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse                 Secretary of the Interior), provide a                    (2) Current unmatched vacancies in a
                                                   in Family Practice, Psychiatry,                      certification of Tribal enrollment by the              health profession discipline;
                                                   Geriatric, Women’s Health, Pediatric                 Secretary of the Interior, acting through                (3) Projected vacancies in a health
                                                   Nursing.                                             the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)                     profession discipline;
                                                (e) Nursing—Certified Nurse Midwife                     (Certification: Form BIA–4432 Category                   (4) Ensuring that the staffing needs of
                                                   (CNM)                                                A—Members of Federally-Recognized                      Indian health programs administered by
                                                (f) Certified Registered Nurse                          Indian Tribes, Bands or Communities or                 an Indian Tribe or Tribal health
                                                   Anesthetist (CRNA)                                   Category D—Alaska Native).                             organization or urban Indian
                                                (g) Physician Assistant (Certified)                                                                            organization receive consideration on an
                                                                                                        B. Submission Dates and Address
                                                (h) Dentistry—DDS or DMD degrees                                                                               equal basis with programs that are
                                                (i) Dental Hygiene                                        Applications for the FY 2017 LRP will                administered directly by the Service;
                                                (j) Social Work—Independent Licensed                    be accepted and evaluated monthly                      and
                                                      Master’s degree                                   beginning January 15, 2017 and will                      (5) Giving priority to vacancies in
                                                (k) Counseling—Master’s degree                          continue to be accepted each month                     Indian health programs that have a need
                                                (l) Clinical Psychology—Ph.D. or PsyD                   thereafter until all funds are exhausted               for health professionals to provide
                                                (m) Counseling Psychology—Ph.D.                         for FY 2017. Subsequent monthly                        health care services as a result of
                                                                                                        deadline dates are scheduled for Friday                individuals having breached LRP
                                                (n) Optometry—OD
                                                                                                        of the second full week of each month                  contracts entered into under this
                                                (o) Pharmacy—PharmD                                     until August 15, 2017.                                 section.
                                                (p) Podiatry—DPM                                          Applications shall be considered as                    Consistent with this priority ranking,
                                                                                                        meeting the deadline if they are either:               in determining applications to be
                                                (q) Physical/Occupational/Speech                          (1) Received on or before the deadline               approved and contracts to accept, the
                                                Language Therapy or Audiology — MS,                     date; or                                               IHS will give priority to applications
                                                Doctoral                                                  (2) Received after the deadline date,                made by American Indians and Alaska
                                                (r) Registered Dietician—BS                             but has a legible postmark dated on or                 Natives and to individuals recruited
                                                                                                        before the deadline date. (Applicants                  through the efforts of Indian Tribes or
                                                B. Cost Sharing or Matching                             should request a legibly dated U.S.                    Tribal or Indian organizations.
                                                  Not applicable.                                       Postal Service postmark or obtain a
                                                                                                        legibly dated receipt from a commercial                B. Review and Selection Process
                                                C. Other Requirements                                   carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private                  Loan repayment awards will be made
                                                  Interested individuals are reminded                   metered postmarks are not acceptable as                only to those individuals serving at
                                                that the list of eligible health and allied             proof of timely mailing).                              facilities which have a site score of 70
                                                health professions is effective for                       Applications submitted after the                     or above through March 1, 2017, if
                                                applicants for FY 2017. These priorities                monthly closing date will be held for                  funding is available.
                                                will remain in effect until superseded.                 consideration in the next monthly                        One or all of the following factors may
                                                                                                        funding cycle. Applicants who do not                   be applicable to an applicant, and the
                                                IV. Application and Submission                          receive funding by September 30, 2017,
                                                Information                                                                                                    applicant who has the most of these
                                                                                                        will be notified in writing.                           factors, all other criteria being equal,
                                                A. Content and Form of Application                        Application documents should be                      will be selected.
                                                Submission                                              sent to: IHS Loan Repayment Program,                     (1) An applicant’s length of current
                                                                                                        5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: OHR                      employment in the IHS, Tribal, or urban
                                                   Each applicant will be responsible for
                                                                                                        (11E53A), Rockville, Maryland 20857.                   program.
                                                submitting a complete application. Go
                                                to http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment                     C. Intergovernmental Review                              (2) Availability for service earlier than
                                                for more information on how to apply                                                                           other applicants (first come, first
                                                                                                          This program is not subject to review
                                                electronically. The application will be                                                                        served).
                                                                                                        under Executive Order 12372.                             (3) Date the individual’s application
                                                considered complete if the following
                                                documents are included:                                 D. Funding Restrictions                                was received.
                                                   • Employment Verification—                             Not applicable.                                      C. Anticipated Announcement and
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                                                Documentation of your employment                                                                               Award Dates
                                                with an Indian health program as                        E. Other Submission Requirements
                                                applicable:                                               New applicants are responsible for                     Not applicable.
                                                   Æ Commissioned Corps orders, Tribal                  using the online application. Applicants               VI. Award Administration Information
                                                employment documentation or offer                       requesting a contract extension must do
                                                letter, or Notification of Personnel                    so in writing by January 1, 2017 to                    A. Award Notices
                                                Action (SF–50)—For current Federal                      ensure the highest possibility of being                  Notice of awards will be mailed on
                                                employees.                                              funded a contract extension.                           the last working day of each month.


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                                                3342                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2017 / Notices

                                                Once the applicant is approved for                      through Friday, except Federal                           Dated: January 4, 2017.
                                                participation in the LRP, the applicant                 holidays].                                             Elizabeth A. Fowler,
                                                will receive confirmation of his/her loan                                                                      Deputy Director for Management Operations,
                                                repayment award and the duty site at                    VIII. Other Information                                Indian Health Service.
                                                which he/she will serve his/her loan                       IHS area offices and service units that             [FR Doc. 2017–00436 Filed 1–10–17; 8:45 am]
                                                repayment obligation.                                   are financially able are authorized to                 BILLING CODE 4165–16–P

                                                B. Administrative and National Policy                   provide additional funding to make
                                                Requirements                                            awards to applicants in the LRP, but not
                                                                                                        to exceed the maximum allowable                        DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                  Applicants may sign contractual                                                                              HUMAN SERVICES
                                                                                                        amount authorized by statute per year
                                                agreements with the Secretary for two
                                                years. The IHS may repay all, or a                      plus tax assistance. All additional
                                                                                                        funding must be made in accordance                     National Institutes of Health
                                                portion, of the applicant’s health
                                                profession educational loans                            with the priority system outlined below.               National Cancer Institute; Notice of
                                                (undergraduate and graduate) for tuition                Health professions given priority for                  Meeting
                                                expenses and reasonable educational                     selection above the $20,000 threshold
                                                and living expenses in amounts up to                    are those identified as meeting the                       Pursuant to section 10(a) of the
                                                $20,000 per year for each year of                       criteria in 25 U.S.C. 1616a(g)(2)(A)                   Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
                                                contracted service. Payments will be                    which provides that the Secretary shall                amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is
                                                made annually to the participant for the                consider the extent to which each such                 hereby given of a meeting of the
                                                purpose of repaying his/her outstanding                 determination:                                         National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials
                                                health profession educational loans.                       (i) Affects the ability of the Secretary            and Translational Research Advisory
                                                Payment of health profession education                  to maximize the number of contracts                    Committee.
                                                loans will be made to the participant                   that can be provided under the LRP                        The meeting will be open to the
                                                within 120 days, from the date the                      from the amounts appropriated for such                 public, with attendance limited to space
                                                contract becomes effective. The effective               contracts;                                             available. Individuals who plan to
                                                date of the contract is calculated from                    (ii) Provides an incentive to serve in              attend and need special assistance, such
                                                the date it is signed by the Secretary or               Indian health programs with the greatest               as sign language interpretation or other
                                                his/her delegate, or the IHS, Tribal,                   shortages of health professionals; and                 reasonable accommodations, should
                                                urban, or Buy Indian health center                                                                             notify the Contact Person listed below
                                                entry-on-duty date, whichever is more                      (iii) Provides an incentive with                    in advance of the meeting. The meeting
                                                recent.                                                 respect to the health professional                     will also be videocast and can be
                                                  In addition to the loan payment,                      involved remaining in an Indian health                 accessed from the NIH Videocasting and
                                                participants are provided tax assistance                program with such a health professional                Podcasting Web site (http://
                                                payments in an amount not less than 20                  shortage, and continuing to provide                    videocast.nih.gov/).
                                                percent and not more than 39 percent of                 primary health services, after the
                                                                                                                                                                  Name of Committee: National Cancer
                                                the participant’s total amount of loan                  completion of the period of obligated
                                                                                                                                                               Institute Clinical Trials and Translational
                                                repayments made for the taxable year                    service under the LRP.                                 Research Advisory Committee.
                                                involved. The loan repayments and the                      Contracts may be awarded to those                      Date: March 8, 2017.
                                                tax assistance payments are taxable                     who are available for service no later                    Time: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
                                                income and will be reported to the                      than September 30, 2017 and must be in                    Agenda: Strategic Discussion of NCI’s
                                                Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The tax                 compliance with 25 U.S.C. 1616a and                    Clinical and Translational Research
                                                                                                                                                               Programs.
                                                assistance payment will be paid to the                  subject to the availability of                            Place: National Institutes of Health,
                                                IRS directly on the participant’s behalf.               appropriations. In order to ensure                     Building 31, C-Wing, 6th Floor, Conference
                                                LRP award recipients should be aware                    compliance with the statutes, area                     Rooms 9 and 10, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda,
                                                that the IRS may place them in a higher                 offices or service units providing                     MD 20892.
                                                tax bracket than they would otherwise                   additional funding under this section                     Contact Person: Sheila A. Prindiville, MD,
                                                have been prior to their award.                         are responsible for notifying the LRP of               MPH Director, Coordinating Center for
                                                                                                        such payments before funding is offered                Clinical Trials, National Institutes of Health,
                                                C. Contract Extensions                                                                                         National Cancer Institute, Coordinating
                                                                                                        to the LRP participant.
                                                  Any individual who enters this                                                                               Center for Clinical Trials, 9609 Medical
                                                                                                           Should an IHS area office contribute                Center Drive, Room 6W136, Rockville, MD
                                                program and satisfactorily completes his
                                                                                                        to the LRP, those funds will be used for               20850, 240–276–6173, prindivs@
                                                or her obligated period of service may
                                                                                                        only those sites located in that area.                 mail.nih.gov.
                                                apply to extend his/her contract on a
                                                                                                        Those sites will retain their relative                    Any interested person may file written
                                                year-by-year basis, as determined by the                                                                       comments with the committee by forwarding
                                                                                                        ranking from the national site-ranking
                                                IHS. Participants extending their                                                                              the statement to the Contact Person listed on
                                                                                                        list. For example, the Albuquerque Area
                                                contracts may receive up to the                                                                                this notice. The statement should include the
                                                                                                        Office identifies supplemental monies
                                                maximum amount of $20,000 per year                                                                             name, address, telephone number and when
                                                                                                        for dentists. Only the dental positions                applicable, the business or professional
                                                plus an additional 20 percent for
                                                                                                        within the Albuquerque Area will be                    affiliation of the interested person.
                                                Federal withholding.
                                                                                                        funded with the supplemental monies                       In the interest of security, NIH has
                                                VII. Agency Contact                                     consistent with the national ranking and               instituted stringent procedures for entrance
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                                                  Please address inquiries to Ms.                       site index within that area.                           onto the NIH campus. All visitor vehicles,
                                                Jacqueline K. Santiago, Chief, IHS Loan                    Should an IHS service unit contribute               including taxicabs, hotel, and airport shuttles
                                                                                                                                                               will be inspected before being allowed on
                                                Repayment Program, 5600 Fishers Lane,                   to the LRP, those funds will be used for               campus. Visitors will be asked to show one
                                                Mail Stop: OHR (11E53A), Rockville,                     only those sites located in that service               form of identification (for example, a
                                                Maryland 20857, Telephone: 301/443–                     unit. Those sites will retain their                    government-issued photo ID, driver’s license,
                                                3396 [between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.                   relative ranking from the national HPSA                or passport) and to state the purpose of their
                                                (Eastern Standard Time) Monday                          score site-ranking list.                               visit.



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Document Created: 2018-02-01 14:59:37
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 14:59:37
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
DatesJanuary 15, 2017 first award cycle deadline date; August 15, 2017 last award cycle deadline date; September 15, 2017 last award cycle deadline date for supplemental loan repayment program funds; September 30, 2017 entry on duty deadline date.
FR Citation82 FR 3340 

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