Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions Educational Loans
| Published date | 13 October 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 64483 |
| Record Number | 2020-22649 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Indian Health Service |
64483
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 198 / Tuesday, October 13, 2020 / Notices
registrants requesting to present will be
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Selected presenters planning to use an
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electronic copy of their PowerPoint
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FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
) with the
subject line ‘‘Potential Approach for
Ranking of Antimicrobial Drugs
According to Their Importance in
Human Medicine: A Risk Management
Tool for Antimicrobial New Animal
Drugs’’ on or before November 9, 2020.
If presenters choose not to use a slide
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Transcripts: Please be advised that as
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ADDRESSES
). A
link to the transcript will also be
available on the Agency’s website at
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/
workshops-conferences-meetings/fda-
public-meeting-potential-approach-
ranking-antimicrobial-drugs-according-
their-importance-human.
Dated: October 7, 2020.
Lauren K. Roth,
Acting Principal Associate Commissioner for
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020–22581 Filed 10–9–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
[Cfda Number: 93.164]
Loan Repayment Program for
Repayment of Health Professions
Educational Loans
Announcement Type: Initial
Key Dates: February 15, 2021, first
award cycle deadline date; August 15,
2021, last award cycle deadline date;
September 15, 2021, last award cycle
deadline date for supplemental loan
repayment program funds; September
30, 2021, entry on duty deadline date.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The Indian Health Service (IHS)
estimated budget for fiscal year (FY)
2021 includes $34,800,000 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 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 $24,283,777 to support
approximately 539 competing awards
averaging $45,040 per award for a two-
year contract. The estimated amount
available is approximately $14,203,650
to support approximately 575
competing awards averaging $24,702
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 2021 program
cycle will be expected to begin their
service period no later than September
30, 2021.
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
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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 the Indian Health
Care Improvement Act.
25 U.S.C. 1616a, authorizes the IHS to
determine specific health professions
for which IHS LRP contracts will be
awarded. Annually, the Director,
Division of Health Professions Support,
sends a letter to the Director, Office of
Clinical and Preventive Services, IHS
Area Directors, Tribal health officials,
and Urban Indian health programs
directors to request a list of positions for
which there is a need or vacancy. The
list of priority health professions that
follows is based upon the needs of the
IHS as well as upon the needs of
American Indians and Alaska Natives.
(a) Medicine—Allopathic and
Osteopathic doctorate degrees.
(b) Nursing—Associate Degree in
Nursing (ADN) (Clinical nurses only).
(c) Nursing—Bachelor of Science
(BSN) (Clinical nurses only).
(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.
(s) Clinical Laboratory Science—BS.
(t) Diagnostic Radiology Technology,
Ultrasonography, and Respiratory
Therapy: Associate and B.S.
(u) Environmental Health (Sanitarian):
BS and Master’s level.
(v) Engineering (Environmental): BS
and MS (Engineers must provide
environmental engineering services to
be eligible.).
(w) Chiropractor: Licensed.
(x) Acupuncturist: Licensed.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
Not applicable.
C. Other Requirements
Interested individuals are reminded
that the list of eligible health and allied
health professions is effective for
applicants for FY 2021. 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:
•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—Transcripts do not
need to be official.
•If applicable, if you are a member
of a federally recognized Tribe or an
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 2021 LRP will
be accepted and evaluated monthly
beginning February 15, 2021, and will
continue to be accepted each month
thereafter until all funds are exhausted
for FY 2021 awards. Subsequent
monthly deadline dates are scheduled
for the fifteenth of each month until
August 15, 2021.
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 with 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, 2020,
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 February 15, 2021, to
ensure the highest possibility of being
funded a contract extension.
V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria
The IHS will utilize the Health
Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
score developed by the Health
Resources and Services Administration
for each Indian health program for
which there is a need or vacancy. At
each Indian health facility, the HPSA
score for mental health will be utilized
for all behavioral health professions, the
HPSA score for dental health will be
utilized for all dentistry and dental
hygiene health professions, and the
HPSA score for primary care will be
used for all other approved health
professions.
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 with have a site score of 17 or
above through March 1, 2021, if funding
is available.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 198 / Tuesday, October 13, 2020 / Notices
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.
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
Indian Health Service 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, 2021, and must be
in compliance with 25 U.S.C. 1616a. 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 their Health Professions
Shortage Areas (HPSA) scores. 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 HPSA scores 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 their HPSA
scores.
Michael D. Weahkee,
Assistant Surgeon General, RADM, U.S.
Public Health Service, Director, Indian Health
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–22649 Filed 10–9–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165–16–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National
Institute of Child Health & Human
Development; Notice of Closed
Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended, notice is hereby given of the
following meeting.
The meeting will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications
and/or contract proposals and the
discussions could disclose confidential
trade secrets or commercial property
such as patentable material, and
personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications, the disclosure of which
would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development
Special Emphasis Panel; Pediatric Critical
Care Research Network.
Date: December 4, 2020.
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications.
Place: National Institute of Child Health
and Human Development, 6710B Rockledge
Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Video Assisted
Meeting).
Contact Person: Joanna Kubler-Kielb,
Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Scientific
Review Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Institute of Child Health and
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