SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Information Collection Request Title: Health Professions Student Loan Program, Loans for Disadvantaged Students Program, Primary Care Loan Program, and Nursing Student Loan Program Administrative Requirements, OMB No. 0906-0088—Extension.

Abstract: The Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) Program, authorized by Public Health Service (PHS) Act sections 721-722 and 725-735, is a grant program where recipients provide long-term, low-interest loans to students attending schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, and pharmacy. The Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS) Program, authorized by PHS Act sections 721-722 and 724-735, is a grant program where recipients provide long-term, low interest loans to certain students attending schools of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. The Primary Care Loan (PCL), authorized by PHS Act sections 721-723 and 725-735, is a grant program where recipients provide long-term, low interest loans to students attending schools of allopathic medicine and osteopathic medicine to practice primary health care. The Nursing Student Loan (NSL) Program, authorized by PHS Act sections 835-842, is a grant program where recipients provide long-term, low-interest loans to students who attend eligible schools of nursing in programs leading to a ( printed page 53625) diploma degree, an associate degree, a baccalaureate degree, or a graduate degree in nursing. These programs have a number of recordkeeping and reporting requirements for academic institutions and loan applicants. The applicable program regulations are found in 42 CFR 57.201-218 and 57.301-318.

A 60-day notice was published in the Federal Register on May 27, 2026, vol. 91, No. 101; pp. 31465-67. There was one public comment from the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) that was largely supportive of the HPSL and LDS programs, the two programs listed in this ICR that support pharmacy education. APhA described challenges facing pharmacy students, especially in light of predicted pharmacist shortages in various regions. APhA encouraged HRSA to create pathways such as the HPSL program to help pharmacy students access federal loans given the important role pharmacists play related to the nation's public health efforts.

HRSA appreciates APhA's comments and continued support for the HPSL and LDS program objectives. HPSL and LDS program recipients with active revolving loan programs continue to issue loans to students, including pharmacy students, even in years when HRSA is not accepting applications for new grant awards. As the comment did not address any technical or burden-related aspects of this information collection; no changes were made to the information collection tool, methodology, or burden calculations.

The burden table listing estimated burden for reporting requirements (see Table 3) has been updated, estimating 10 burden hours each for record retention and reporting requirements associated with administrative hearings, as well as 10 hours for administrative hearings. The 60-day Federal Register notice estimated no respondents or burden hours associated with administrative hearings. This was modified for the 30-day Federal Register notice because it is not consistent with the currently approved ICR. As a result, the total administrative burden associated with reporting requirements increased by 30 hours compared to the 60-day Federal Register notice but not compared to the currently approved collection.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Participating HPSL, LDS, PCL, and NSL schools are responsible for determining the eligibility of applicants, making loans, and collecting monies owed by borrowers on their outstanding loans. Participating schools include schools that are no longer disbursing loans but are required to report and maintain program records, student records, and repayment records until all student loans are repaid in full, and all monies due to the federal government are returned.

Likely Respondents: Institutions who have received HPSL, LDS, PCL, and/or NSL Program awards.

Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide the information requested. This includes the time needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to a collection of information; to search data sources; to complete and review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for this ICR are summarized in the table below.

Table 2 shows the estimated burden for schools to maintain required records on the history and status for each loan account, which are necessary to complete the forms listed in Table 1 above.

Table 3 shows the estimated burden for schools to complete reporting requirements for loan records, which are necessary to complete the forms listed in Table 1 above.

91 FR 53624