Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions Educational Loans, 8748-8750 [2011-3290]

Download as PDF 8748 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 15, 2011 / Notices trimester/quarter, or summer session, scholarship awardees must submit an Official Transcript showing the results of the classes taken during that period. C. Notification of Academic Problem/ Change If at any time during the semester/ trimester/quarter, scholarship awardees are advised to reduce the number of credit hours for which they are enrolled, below the minimum of the 12 (or the number of hours considered by their school as full-time) for a full-time student or at least six hours for parttime students; or if they experience academic problems, they must submit this report (Form IHS–856–11, page 65 of the Student Handbook). D. Change of Status • Change of Academic Status Scholarship awardees must immediately notify the IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator and their Scholarship Program Analyst if they are placed on academic probation, dismissed from school, or voluntarily withdraw for any reason (personal or medical). • Change of Health Discipline Scholarship awardees may not change from the approved IHS Scholarship Program health discipline during the school year. If an unapproved change is made, scholarship payments will be discontinued. • Change in Graduation Date Any time that a change occurs in a scholarship awardee’s expected graduation date, they must notify their IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator and their Scholarship Program Analyst immediately, in writing. Justification must be attached from the school advisor. jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES VII. Agency Contacts Please address application inquiries to the appropriate IHS Area Scholarship Coordinator. Other programmatic inquiries may be addressed to Dr. Dawn Kelly, Chief, Scholarship Program, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, Maryland 20852; Telephone (301) 443–6622. (This is not a toll-free number.) For grants information, contact the Grants Scholarship Coordinator, Division of Grants Management, Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, Maryland 20852; Telephone (301) 443–0243. (This is not a toll-free number.) VIII. Other Information The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 2020, a PHS-led activity for setting priority areas. This program announcement is VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:51 Feb 14, 2011 Jkt 223001 related to the priority area of Education and Community-Based Programs. Potential applicants may download a copy of Healthy People 2020, at https:// www.healthypeople.gov. Interested individuals are reminded that the list of eligible health and allied professions is effective for applicants for the 2011–2012 academic year. These priorities will remain in effect until superseded. Applicants who apply for health career categories not listed as priorities during the current scholarship cycle will not be considered for a scholarship award. Dated: February 7, 2011. Yvette Roubideaux, Director, Indian Health Service. [FR Doc. 2011–3291 Filed 2–14–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165–16–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions Educational Loans Announcement Type: Initial. CFDA Number: 93.164. DATES: Key Dates: February 25, 2011 first award cycle deadline date; August 19, 2011 last award cycle deadline date; September 16, 2011 last award cycle deadline date for supplemental loan repayment program funds; September 30, 2011 entry on duty deadline date. I. Funding Opportunity Description The Indian Health Service (IHS) estimated budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 includes $17,488,854 for the IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) for health professional educational loans (undergraduate and graduate) in return for full-time clinical service 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 Section 108 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), Public Law 94–437. The IHS invites potential applicants to request an application for participation in the LRP. II. Award Information The estimated amount available is approximately $17,488,854 to support approximately 390 competing awards PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 averaging $44,860 per award for a two year contract. One year contract continuations will receive priority consideration in any award cycle. Applicants selected for participation in the FY 2011 program cycle will be expected to begin their service period no later than September 30, 2011. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants Pursuant to Section 108(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 (E) 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. All Indian health program sites are annually prioritized within the Agency by discipline, based on need or vacancy. 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. Section 108 of the IHCIA, as amended by Public Laws 100–713 and 102–573, 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 E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM 15FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 15, 2011 / Notices 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. Section 4(n) of the IHCIA, as amended by the Indian Health Care Improvement Technical Corrections Act of 1996, Public Law 104–313, provides that: jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES ‘‘Health Profession’’ means allopathic medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatric medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, podiatric medicine, nursing, public health nursing, dentistry, psychiatry, osteopathy, optometry, pharmacy, psychology, public health, social work, marriage and family therapy, chiropractic medicine, environmental health and engineering, and allied health profession, or any other health profession. For the purposes of this program, the term ‘‘Indian health program’’ is defined in Section 108(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. Section 108 of the IHCIA, as amended by Public Laws 100–713 and 102–573, authorizes the IHS to determine specific health professions for which IHS LRP contracts will be awarded. 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. (b) Nurse: Associate, B.S., and M.S. Degree. (c) Clinical Psychology: Ph.D. and Psy.D. (d) Social Work: Masters level only. (e) Chemical Dependency Counseling: Baccalaureate and Masters level. (f) Dentistry: DDS and DMD. (g) Dental Hygiene. (h) Pharmacy: B.S., Pharm.D. (i) Optometry: O.D. (j) Physician Assistant, Certified. (k) Advanced Practice Nurses: Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife, Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Priority consideration will be given to Registered Nurse Anesthetists.). VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:51 Feb 14, 2011 Jkt 223001 (l) Podiatry: D.P.M. (m) Physical Rehabilitation Services: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, and Audiology: M.S. and D.P.T. (n) Diagnostic Radiology Technology: Certificate, Associate, and B.S. (o) Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Technology, Medical Laboratory Technician: Associate, and B.S. (p) Public Health Nutritionist/ Registered Dietitian. (q) Engineering (Environmental): B.S. (Engineers must provide environmental engineering services to be eligible.) (r) Environmental Health (Sanitarian): B.S. (s) Health Records: R.H.I.T. and R.H.I.A. (t) Respiratory Therapy. (u) Ultrasonography. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching Not applicable. 3. Other Requirements Interested individuals are reminded that the list of eligible health and allied health professions is effective for applicants for FY 2011. These priorities will remain in effect until superseded. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Address To Request Application Package Application materials may be obtained online at https:// www.loanrepayment.ihs.gov/ or by calling or writing to the address below. In addition, completed applications should be returned to: IHS Loan Repayment Program, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Telephone: 301/443–3396 [between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays]. 2. Content and Form of Application Submission Applications must be submitted on the form entitled ‘‘Application for the Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program,’’ identified with the Office of Management and Budget approval number of OMB #0917–0014, Expiration Date 02/29/2012. 3. Submission Dates and Times Completed applications may be submitted to the IHS Loan Repayment Program, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Applications for the FY 2011 LRP will be accepted and evaluated monthly beginning February 25, 2011, and will continue to be accepted each month PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 8749 thereafter until all funds are exhausted for FY 2011. Subsequent monthly deadline dates are scheduled for Friday of the second full week of each month until August 19, 2011. Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they are either: (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or (b) Sent 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 received 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, 2011, will be notified in writing. 4. Intergovernmental Review This program is not subject to review under Executive Order 12372. 5. Funding Restrictions Not applicable. 6. Other Submission Requirements All applicants must sign and submit to the Secretary, a written contract agreeing to accept repayment of educational loans and to serve for the applicable period of obligated service in a priority site as determined by the Secretary, and submit a signed affidavit attesting to the fact that they have been informed of the relative merits of the U.S. PHS Commissioned Corps and the Civil Service as employment options. V. Application Review Information 1. 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: (a) Historically critical shortages caused by frequent staff turnover; (b) Current unmatched vacancies in a health profession discipline; (c) Projected vacancies in a health profession discipline; (d) Ensuring that the staffing needs of Indian health programs administered by an Indian Tribe or Tribal health organization receive consideration on an equal basis with programs that are administered directly by the Service; and (e) Giving priority to vacancies in Indian health programs that have a need E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM 15FEN1 8750 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 15, 2011 / Notices 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. 2. 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 during the first quarter and the second month of the second quarter of FY 2011, 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. (a) An applicant’s length of current employment in the IHS, Tribal, or urban program. (b) Availability for service earlier than other applicants (first come, first served). (c) Date the individual’s application was received. 3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates VI. Award Administration Information 1. 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. jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES 2. 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 15:51 Feb 14, 2011 Jkt 223001 3. 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 Contacts Not applicable. VerDate Mar<15>2010 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. Please address inquiries to Ms. Jacqueline K. Santiago, Chief, IHS Loan Repayment Program, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Telephone: 301/443–3396 [between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EST) 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 $35,000 a 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; PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 (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, 2011, and must be in compliance with any limits in the appropriation and Section 108 of the IHCIA not to exceed the amount authorized in the IHS appropriation (up to $32,000,000 for FY 2011). 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 site-ranking list. For example, Chinle Service Unit identifies supplemental monies for pharmacists. The Chinle Service Unit consists of two facilities, namely the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility and the Tsaile PHS Indian Health Center. The national ranking will be used for the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility (Score = 44) and the Tsaile PHS Indian Health Center (Score = 46). With a score of 46, the Tsaile PHS Indian Health Center would receive priority over the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility. Dated: February 7, 2011. Yvette Roubideaux, Director, Indian Health Service. [FR Doc. 2011–3290 Filed 2–14–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165–16–P E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM 15FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8748-8750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3290]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Loan Repayment Program for Repayment of Health Professions 
Educational Loans

    Announcement Type: Initial.
    CFDA Number: 93.164.

DATES: Key Dates: February 25, 2011 first award cycle deadline date; 
August 19, 2011 last award cycle deadline date; September 16, 2011 last 
award cycle deadline date for supplemental loan repayment program 
funds; September 30, 2011 entry on duty deadline date.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

     The Indian Health Service (IHS) estimated budget request for 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 includes $17,488,854 for the IHS Loan Repayment 
Program (LRP) for health professional educational loans (undergraduate 
and graduate) in return for full-time clinical service 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 Section 108 of the Indian Health Care 
Improvement Act (IHCIA), Public Law 94-437. The IHS invites potential 
applicants to request an application for participation in the LRP.

II. Award Information

    The estimated amount available is approximately $17,488,854 to 
support approximately 390 competing awards averaging $44,860 per award 
for a two year contract. One year contract continuations will receive 
priority consideration in any award cycle. Applicants selected for 
participation in the FY 2011 program cycle will be expected to begin 
their service period no later than September 30, 2011.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Pursuant to Section 108(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
    (E) 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. All Indian health program sites are annually 
prioritized within the Agency by discipline, based on need or vacancy.
    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.
    Section 108 of the IHCIA, as amended by Public Laws 100-713 and 
102-573, 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

[[Page 8749]]

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.

    Section 4(n) of the IHCIA, as amended by the Indian Health Care 
Improvement Technical Corrections Act of 1996, Public Law 104-313, 
provides that:

    ``Health Profession'' means allopathic medicine, family 
medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatric medicine, 
obstetrics and gynecology, podiatric medicine, nursing, public 
health nursing, dentistry, psychiatry, osteopathy, optometry, 
pharmacy, psychology, public health, social work, marriage and 
family therapy, chiropractic medicine, environmental health and 
engineering, and allied health profession, or any other health 
profession.

For the purposes of this program, the term ``Indian health program'' is 
defined in Section 108(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.
    Section 108 of the IHCIA, as amended by Public Laws 100-713 and 
102-573, authorizes the IHS to determine specific health professions 
for which IHS LRP contracts will be awarded. 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.
    (b) Nurse: Associate, B.S., and M.S. Degree.
    (c) Clinical Psychology: Ph.D. and Psy.D.
    (d) Social Work: Masters level only.
    (e) Chemical Dependency Counseling: Baccalaureate and Masters 
level.
    (f) Dentistry: DDS and DMD.
    (g) Dental Hygiene.
    (h) Pharmacy: B.S., Pharm.D.
    (i) Optometry: O.D.
    (j) Physician Assistant, Certified.
    (k) Advanced Practice Nurses: Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse 
Midwife, Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Priority consideration will be 
given to Registered Nurse Anesthetists.).
    (l) Podiatry: D.P.M.
    (m) Physical Rehabilitation Services: Physical Therapy, 
Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, and Audiology: M.S. 
and D.P.T.
    (n) Diagnostic Radiology Technology: Certificate, Associate, and 
B.S.
    (o) Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Technology, Medical 
Laboratory Technician: Associate, and B.S.
    (p) Public Health Nutritionist/Registered Dietitian.
    (q) Engineering (Environmental): B.S. (Engineers must provide 
environmental engineering services to be eligible.)
    (r) Environmental Health (Sanitarian): B.S.
    (s) Health Records: R.H.I.T. and R.H.I.A.
    (t) Respiratory Therapy.
    (u) Ultrasonography.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

     Not applicable.

3. Other Requirements

    Interested individuals are reminded that the list of eligible 
health and allied health professions is effective for applicants for FY 
2011. These priorities will remain in effect until superseded.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    Application materials may be obtained online at https://www.loanrepayment.ihs.gov/ or by calling or writing to the address 
below. In addition, completed applications should be returned to: IHS 
Loan Repayment Program, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852, Telephone: 301/443-3396 [between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
(EST) Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays].

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    Applications must be submitted on the form entitled ``Application 
for the Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program,'' identified with 
the Office of Management and Budget approval number of OMB 
0917-0014, Expiration Date 02/29/2012.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    Completed applications may be submitted to the IHS Loan Repayment 
Program, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, Maryland 20852. 
Applications for the FY 2011 LRP will be accepted and evaluated monthly 
beginning February 25, 2011, and will continue to be accepted each 
month thereafter until all funds are exhausted for FY 2011. Subsequent 
monthly deadline dates are scheduled for Friday of the second full week 
of each month until August 19, 2011.
    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are either:
    (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (b) Sent 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 received 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, 2011, will be notified in writing.

4. Intergovernmental Review

    This program is not subject to review under Executive Order 12372.

5. Funding Restrictions

    Not applicable.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    All applicants must sign and submit to the Secretary, a written 
contract agreeing to accept repayment of educational loans and to serve 
for the applicable period of obligated service in a priority site as 
determined by the Secretary, and submit a signed affidavit attesting to 
the fact that they have been informed of the relative merits of the 
U.S. PHS Commissioned Corps and the Civil Service as employment 
options.

V. Application Review Information

1. 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:
    (a) Historically critical shortages caused by frequent staff 
turnover;
    (b) Current unmatched vacancies in a health profession discipline;
    (c) Projected vacancies in a health profession discipline;
    (d) Ensuring that the staffing needs of Indian health programs 
administered by an Indian Tribe or Tribal health organization receive 
consideration on an equal basis with programs that are administered 
directly by the Service; and
    (e) Giving priority to vacancies in Indian health programs that 
have a need

[[Page 8750]]

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.

2. 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 during the 
first quarter and the second month of the second quarter of FY 2011, 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.
    (a) An applicant's length of current employment in the IHS, Tribal, 
or urban program.
    (b) Availability for service earlier than other applicants (first 
come, first served).
    (c) Date the individual's application was received.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Not applicable.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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 Contacts

    Please address inquiries to Ms. Jacqueline K. Santiago, Chief, IHS 
Loan Repayment Program, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852, Telephone: 301/443-3396 [between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
(EST) 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 $35,000 a 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, 2011, and must be in compliance with any 
limits in the appropriation and Section 108 of the IHCIA not to exceed 
the amount authorized in the IHS appropriation (up to $32,000,000 for 
FY 2011). 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 site-ranking list. 
For example, Chinle Service Unit identifies supplemental monies for 
pharmacists. The Chinle Service Unit consists of two facilities, namely 
the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility and the Tsaile PHS Indian 
Health Center. The national ranking will be used for the Chinle 
Comprehensive Health Care Facility (Score = 44) and the Tsaile PHS 
Indian Health Center (Score = 46). With a score of 46, the Tsaile PHS 
Indian Health Center would receive priority over the Chinle 
Comprehensive Health Care Facility.

    Dated: February 7, 2011.
Yvette Roubideaux,
Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-3290 Filed 2-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-P
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