83 FR 2642 - Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 12 (January 18, 2018)
Office of the Secretary
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 12 (January 18, 2018)
| Page Range | 2642-2644 | |
| FR Document | 2018-00814 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 2642-2644] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-00814] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the Secretary Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice provides an update of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines to account for last calendar year's increase in prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index. DATES: Applicable beginning January 13, 2018, unless an office administering a program using the guidelines specifies a different applicability date for that particular program. [[Page 2643]] ADDRESSES: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Room 404E, Humphrey Building, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC 20201. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about how the guidelines are used or how income is defined in a particular program, contact the Federal, state, or local office that is responsible for that program. For information about poverty figures for immigration forms, the Hill-Burton Uncompensated Services Program, and the number of people in poverty, use the specific telephone numbers and addresses given below. For general questions about the poverty guidelines themselves, contact Kendall Swenson, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Room 422F.5, Humphrey Building, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC 20201--telephone: (202) 690-7409--or visit http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/. For information about the percentage multiple of the poverty guidelines to be used on immigration forms such as USCIS Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at 1-800-375-5283. For information about the Hill-Burton Uncompensated Services Program (free or reduced-fee health care services at certain hospitals and other facilities for persons meeting eligibility criteria involving the poverty guidelines), contact the Health Resources and Services Administration Information Center at 1-800-275-4772. You also may visit https://www.hrsa.gov/get-health-care/affordable/hill-burton/index.html. For information about the number of people in poverty, visit the Poverty section of the Census Bureau's website at https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty.html or contact the Census Bureau's Customer Service Center at 1-800-923-8282 (toll-free) or visit https://ask.census.gov for further information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to update the poverty guidelines at least annually, adjusting them on the basis of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The poverty guidelines are used as an eligibility criterion by Medicaid and a number of other Federal programs. The poverty guidelines issued here are a simplified version of the poverty thresholds that the Census Bureau uses to prepare its estimates of the number of individuals and families in poverty. As required by law, this update is accomplished by increasing the latest published Census Bureau poverty thresholds by the relevant percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The guidelines in this 2018 notice reflect the 2.1 percent price increase between calendar years 2016 and 2017. After this inflation adjustment, the guidelines are rounded and adjusted to standardize the differences between family sizes. In rare circumstances, the rounding and standardizing adjustments in the formula result in small decreases in the poverty guidelines for some household sizes even when the inflation factor is not negative. In cases where the year-to-year change in inflation is not negative and the rounding and standardizing adjustments in the formula result in reductions to the guidelines from the previous year for some household sizes, the guidelines for the affected household sizes are fixed at the prior year's guidelines. As in prior years, these 2018 guidelines are roughly equal to the poverty thresholds for calendar year 2017 which the Census Bureau expects to publish in final form in September 2018. The poverty guidelines continue to be derived from the Census Bureau's current official poverty thresholds; they are not derived from the Census Bureau's Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). The following guideline figures represent annual income. 2018 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Poverty Persons in family/household guideline ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1....................................................... $12,140 2....................................................... 16,460 3....................................................... 20,780 4....................................................... 25,100 5....................................................... 29,420 6....................................................... 33,740 7....................................................... 38,060 8....................................................... 42,380 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,320 for each additional person. 2018 Poverty Guidelines for Alaska ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Poverty Persons in family/household guideline ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1....................................................... $15,180 2....................................................... 20,580 3....................................................... 25,980 4....................................................... 31,380 5....................................................... 36,780 6....................................................... 42,180 7....................................................... 47,580 8....................................................... 52,980 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,400 for each additional person. 2018 Poverty Guidelines for Hawaii ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Poverty Persons in family/household guideline ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1....................................................... $13,960 2....................................................... 18,930 3....................................................... 23,900 4....................................................... 28,870 5....................................................... 33,840 6....................................................... 38,810 7....................................................... 43,780 8....................................................... 48,750 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,970 for each additional person. Separate poverty guideline figures for Alaska and Hawaii reflect Office of Economic Opportunity administrative practice beginning in the 1966-1970 period. (Note that the Census Bureau poverty thresholds--the version of the poverty measure used for statistical purposes--have never had separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii.) The poverty guidelines are not defined for Puerto Rico or other outlying jurisdictions. In cases in which a Federal program using the poverty guidelines serves any of those jurisdictions, the Federal office that administers the program is generally responsible for deciding whether to use the contiguous-states-and-DC guidelines for those jurisdictions or to follow some other procedure. Due to confusing legislative language dating back to 1972, the poverty guidelines sometimes have been mistakenly referred to as the ``OMB'' (Office of Management and Budget) poverty guidelines or poverty line. In fact, OMB has never issued the guidelines; the guidelines are issued each year by the Department of Health and Human Services. The poverty guidelines may be formally referenced as ``the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by [[Page 2644]] the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2).'' Some federal programs use a percentage multiple of the guidelines (for example, 125 percent or 185 percent of the guidelines), as noted in relevant authorizing legislation or program regulations. Non-Federal organizations that use the poverty guidelines under their own authority in non-Federally-funded activities also may choose to use a percentage multiple of the guidelines. The poverty guidelines do not make a distinction between farm and non-farm families, or between aged and non-aged units. (Only the Census Bureau poverty thresholds have separate figures for aged and non-aged one-person and two-person units.) Note that this notice does not provide definitions of such terms as ``income'' or ``family,'' because there is considerable variation in defining these terms among the different programs that use the guidelines. These variations are traceable to the different laws and regulations that govern the various programs. This means that questions such as ``Is income counted before or after taxes?'', ``Should a particular type of income be counted?'', and ``Should a particular person be counted as a member of the family/household?'' are actually questions about how a specific program applies the poverty guidelines. All such questions about how a specific program applies the guidelines should be directed to the entity that administers or funds the program, since that entity has the responsibility for defining such terms as ``income'' or ``family,'' to the extent that these terms are not already defined for the program in legislation or regulations. Dated: January 12, 2018. Eric D. Hargan, Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services. [FR Doc. 2018-00814 Filed 1-12-18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 4150-05-P
![2642 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2018 / Notices
• Confidential Submissions—To was Kincaid’s admission that he II. Findings and Order
submit an application with confidential obtained drugs from Quality Specialty Therefore, OSI, under section
information that you do not wish to be Products (QSP), a foreign company, for 306(a)(2) of the FD&C Act and under the
made publicly available, submit your use at East Tennessee Hematology- authority delegated, finds that William
application only as a written/paper Oncology Associates, P.C. (McLeod Ralph Kincaid has been convicted of a
submission. You should submit two Cancer). These drugs were not FDA felony under Federal law for conduct
copies total. One copy will include the approved and were misbranded in that relating to the regulation of a drug
information you claim to be confidential they lacked adequate directions for use product under the FD&C Act.
with a heading or cover note that states and were manufactured in an As a result of the foregoing findings,
‘‘THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS establishment that was not registered William Ralph Kincaid is permanently
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.’’ The with FDA and that did not list with FDA debarred from providing services in any
Agency will review this copy, including the drug products it manufactured. capacity to a person with an approved
the claimed confidential information, in From approximately September 2007 to or pending drug product application
its consideration of your application. early 2008 and from August 2009 to under section 505, 512, or 802 of the
The second copy, which will have the February 2012, McLeod Cancer FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 355, 360b, or 382),
claimed confidential information purchased more than $2 million in or under section 351 of the Public
redacted/blacked out, will be available misbranded unapproved drugs for use at Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262),
for public viewing and posted on McLeod Cancer. Additionally, Kincaid effective (see DATES) (21 U.S.C.
https://www.regulations.gov. Submit and McLeod Cancer billed Medicare, 335a(c)(1)(B) and (c)(2)(A)(ii) and 21
both copies to the Dockets Management TennCare, and other government health U.S.C. 321(dd)). Any person with an
Staff. If you do not wish your name and benefit programs approximately $2.5 approved or pending drug product
contact information to be made publicly million for these unapproved drugs. application who knowingly uses the
available, you can provide this Kincaid is subject to debarment based services of Kincaid, in any capacity
information on the cover sheet and not on a finding, under section 306(a)(2) of during his period of debarment, will be
in the body of your application and you the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335a(a)(2)), that subject to civil money penalties. See
must identify this information as he was convicted of a felony under section 307(a)(6) of the FD&C Act (21
‘‘confidential.’’ Any information marked Federal law for conduct relating to the U.S.C. 335b(a)(6)). If Kincaid, during his
as ‘‘confidential’’ will not be disclosed regulation of a drug product under the period of debarment, provides services
except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 FD&C Act. By the letter dated May 20, in any capacity to a person with an
and other applicable disclosure law. For 2015, FDA notified Kincaid of a approved or pending drug product
more information about FDA’s posting proposal to permanently debar him from application, he will be subject to civil
of comments to public dockets, see 80 providing services in any capacity to a money penalties. See section 307(a)(7)
FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access person having an approved or pending of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335b(a)(7)).
the information at: https://www.gpo.gov/ drug product application. The proposal In addition, FDA will not accept or
fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015- also offered Kincaid an opportunity to review any abbreviated new drug
23389.pdf. request a hearing, providing him 30 applications submitted by or with the
Docket: For access to the docket, go to days from the date of receipt of the letter assistance of Kincaid during his period
https://www.regulations.gov and insert in which to file the request and 60 days of debarment.
the docket number, found in brackets in from the date of receipt of the letter to
the heading of this document, into the support that request with information Dated: January 10, 2018.
‘‘Search’’ box and follow the prompts sufficient to justify a hearing. In a letter G. Matthew Warren,
and/or go to the Dockets Management dated June 17, 2015, Kincaid requested Director, Office of Scientific Integrity.
Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, a hearing and indicated that the [FR Doc. 2018–00719 Filed 1–17–18; 8:45 am]
Rockville, MD 20852 between 9 a.m. information justifying the hearing BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. would be forthcoming. More than 60
Publicly available submissions may be days have passed from the date Kincaid
seen in the docket. received FDA’s letter, and Kincaid has DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie not filed any additional information to HUMAN SERVICES
Finegan, Office of Scientific Integrity, support his request.
Food and Drug Administration, 10903 Under the authority delegated to him Office of the Secretary
New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 1, Rm. by the Commissioner of Food and Annual Update of the HHS Poverty
4218, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 301– Drugs, the Director of the Office of Guidelines
796–8618. Scientific Integrity (OSI) has considered
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Kincaid’s request for a hearing. Hearings AGENCY: Department of Health and
will not be granted on issues of policy Human Services.
I. Background or law, on mere allegations, denials, or ACTION: Notice.
On June 24, 2013, the U. S. District general descriptions of positions and
Court for the Eastern District of contentions, or on data and information SUMMARY: This notice provides an
Tennessee entered a criminal judgment insufficient to justify the factual update of the Department of Health and
against William Ralph Kincaid pursuant determination urged (see 21 CFR Human Services (HHS) poverty
to his guilty plea. Kincaid pled guilty to 21.24(b)). guidelines to account for last calendar
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
a felony under the FD&C Act, namely Because Kincaid has not presented year’s increase in prices as measured by
receiving in interstate commerce a any information to support his hearing the Consumer Price Index.
misbranded drug with intent to defraud request, OSI concludes that Kincaid DATES: Applicable beginning January 13,
or mislead, in violation of sections failed to raise a genuine and substantial 2018, unless an office administering a
301(c) and 303(a)(2) of the FD&C Act (21 issue of fact requiring a hearing. program using the guidelines specifies a
U.S.C. 331(c) and 333(a)(2)) and 18 Therefore, OSI denies Kincaid’s request different applicability date for that
U.S.C. 2. The basis for this conviction for a hearing. particular program.
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![2644 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2018 / Notices
the U.S. Department of Health and ACTION: General notice. Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C.
Human Services under the authority of 1484(a)(1)(A)) by revising the
42 U.S.C. 9902(2).’’ SUMMARY: This document announces requirement to make and complete
Some federal programs use a that the Automated Commercial customs entry by submitting
percentage multiple of the guidelines Environment (ACE) will be the sole
documentation to CBP to allow, in the
(for example, 125 percent or 185 percent electronic data interchange (EDI) system
alternative, the electronic transmission
of the guidelines), as noted in relevant authorized by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) for processing of such entry information pursuant to a
authorizing legislation or program CBP-authorized electronic data
regulations. Non-Federal organizations electronic drawback filings under part
181 (NAFTA drawback) and part 191 interchange (EDI) system. CBP created
that use the poverty guidelines under the Automated Commercial System
their own authority in non-Federally- (non-TFTEA drawback) of Title 19 of
the Code of Federal Regulations. This (ACS) to track, control, and process all
funded activities also may choose to use commercial goods imported into the
a percentage multiple of the guidelines. document also announces that the
Automated Commercial System (ACS) United States. CBP established the
The poverty guidelines do not make a
will no longer be a CBP-authorized EDI specific requirements and procedures
distinction between farm and non-farm
families, or between aged and non-aged system for purposes of processing such for the electronic filing of entry and
units. (Only the Census Bureau poverty filings. This notice further announces entry summary data for imported
thresholds have separate figures for aged the deployment of a new ACE filing merchandise through the Automated
and non-aged one-person and two- code for all electronic drawback filings, Broker Interface (ABI) to ACS.
person units.) replacing the six distinct drawback
codes previously filed in ACS. II. Transition Into the Automated
Note that this notice does not provide Commercial Environment
definitions of such terms as ‘‘income’’ or DATES: As of February 24, 2018, ACE
‘‘family,’’ because there is considerable will be the sole CBP-authorized EDI In an effort to modernize the business
variation in defining these terms among system for processing drawback filings processes essential to securing U.S.
the different programs that use the under part 181 (NAFTA drawback) and borders, facilitating the flow of
guidelines. These variations are part 191 (non-TFTEA drawback) of Title legitimate shipments, and targeting
traceable to the different laws and 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations, illicit goods pursuant to the Mod Act
regulations that govern the various and ACS will no longer be a CBP- and the Security and Accountability for
programs. This means that questions authorized EDI system for such purpose. Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006 (Pub. L.
such as ‘‘Is income counted before or FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 109–347, 120 Stat. 1884), CBP
after taxes?’’, ‘‘Should a particular type Randy Mitchell, Commercial Operations developed the Automated Commercial
of income be counted?’’, and ‘‘Should a and Entry Division, Trade Policy and Environment (ACE) to eventually
particular person be counted as a Programs, Office of Trade at (202) 863– replace ACS as the CBP-authorized EDI
member of the family/household?’’ are 6532 or RANDY.MITCHELL@
system. Over the last several years, CBP
actually questions about how a specific CBP.DHS.GOV.
has tested ACE and provided significant
program applies the poverty guidelines. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
All such questions about how a specific public outreach to ensure that the trade
program applies the guidelines should I. Background community is fully aware of the
be directed to the entity that administers transition from ACS to ACE.
Section 484 of the Tariff Act of 1930,
or funds the program, since that entity as amended (19 U.S.C. 1484), On October 13, 2015, CBP published
has the responsibility for defining such establishes the requirement for an Interim Final Rule in the Federal
terms as ‘‘income’’ or ‘‘family,’’ to the importers of record to make entry for Register (80 FR 61278) that designated
extent that these terms are not already merchandise to be imported into the ACE as a CBP-authorized EDI system.
defined for the program in legislation or customs territory of the United States. The designation of ACE as a CBP-
regulations. Customs entry information is used by authorized EDI system was effective
Dated: January 12, 2018. U.S. Customs and Border Protection November 1, 2015. In the Interim Final
Eric D. Hargan, (CBP) and Partner Government Agencies Rule, CBP stated that ACS would be
Acting Secretary of Health and Human (PGAs) to determine whether phased out and anticipated that ACS
Services. merchandise may be released from CBP would no longer be supported for entry
[FR Doc. 2018–00814 Filed 1–12–18; 4:15 pm] custody. Importers of record are also and entry summary filing. Filers were
BILLING CODE 4150–05–P
obligated to complete the entry by filing encouraged to adjust their business
an entry summary declaring the value, practices so that they would be prepared
classification, rate of duty applicable to when ACS was decommissioned.
the merchandise and such other
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND information as is necessary for CBP to CBP developed a staggered transition
SECURITY properly assess duties, collect accurate strategy for decommissioning ACS. The
statistics and determine whether any phases of the transition were announced
U.S. Customs and Border Protection other applicable requirement of law is in several Federal Register notices. See
met. 81 FR 10264 (February 29, 2016); 81 FR
Automated Commercial Environment 30320 (May 16, 2016); 81 FR 32339
(ACE) Becoming the Sole CBP- The customs entry requirements were
amended by Title VI of the North (May 23, 2016); 82 FR 38924 (August 16,
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Authorized Electronic Data 2017); and 82 FR 51852 (November 8,
Interchange (EDI) System for American Free Trade Agreement
Implementation Act (Pub. L. 103–182, 2017). This notice announces another
Processing Electronic Drawback
107 Stat. 2057, December 8, 1993), transition as the processing of electronic
Filings
commonly known as the Customs drawback filings under parts 181 and
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Modernization Act, or Mod Act. In 191 of title 19 of the Code of Federal
Protection, Department of Homeland particular, section 637 of the Mod Act Regulations (CFR) is transitioning into
Security. amended section 484(a)(1)(A) of the ACE.
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Document Created: 2018-01-18 00:42:42
Document Modified: 2018-01-18 00:42:42
| 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. | |
| Dates | Applicable beginning January 13, 2018, unless an office administering a program using the guidelines specifies a different applicability date for that particular program. | |
| Contact | For information about how the guidelines are used or how income is defined in a particular program, contact the Federal, state, or local office that is responsible for that program. For information about poverty figures for immigration forms, the Hill-Burton Uncompensated Services Program, and the number | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 2642 |
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