Recruitment of Sites for Assignment of Corps Personnel Obligated Under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program, 27143-27145 [2016-10527]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 87 / Thursday, May 5, 2016 / Notices
Dated: May 2, 2016.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
Period of Performance: July 1, 2016, to
June 30, 2017.
Intended Recipient of the Award:
National Alliance of State and
Territorial AIDS Directors.
Amount of Non-Competitive Award:
$900,000.
[FR Doc. 2016–10559 Filed 5–4–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
CFDA Number: 93.145.
Health Resources and Services
Administration
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
Resource and Technical Assistance
Center for HIV Prevention and Care for
Black MSM
Health Resources and Services
Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of deviation from
competition requirements for Ryan
White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP)
Resource and Technical Assistance
Center for HIV Prevention and Care for
Black men who have sex with men
(MSM) (Grant#U69HA27173).
AGENCY:
The HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB)
is requesting a deviation from the
competition requirements in order to
provide a 1 year extension with funds
to the Resource and Technical
Assistance Center for HIV Prevention
and Care for Black MSM cooperative
agreement recipient, the National
Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS
Directors. The purpose of the program is
to develop a Resource and Technical
Assistance Center for HIV prevention
and care of models and interventions
that increase the capacity, quality, and
effectiveness of HIV/AIDS service
providers to screen, diagnose, link, and
retain, the adult and young Black MSM
community in HIV clinical care. The 2year project period ends June 30, 2016.
The extension through June 30, 2017,
for this project provides necessary
funding and time to complete
previously approved project activities,
an orderly phase out, and transition to
the next stage of evaluation for the
models of HIV clinical care and best
practices needed for HIV viral
suppression. The next stage of planning
by HAB is to use the models, tools, and
best practices developed for improved
health outcomes by this recipient for
fiscal year 2017 competitive funding
under the HAB Special Projects of
National Significance Program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Antigone Dempsey, Director, Division of
Policy and Data, HRSA/HAB/DPD, 5600
Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857,
email: adempsey@hrsa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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SUMMARY:
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Authority: Sections 2606, 2654, 2671, and
2692 of Title XXVI of the Public Health
Service Act, as amended by the Ryan White
HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009
(Pub. L. 111–87)
Justification: The National Alliance of
State and Territorial AIDS Directors has
been very successful at collecting,
developing, and analyzing clinical
models of care and best practices for
HIV care and treatment. Additional time
is needed to complete analyses and
disseminate them across the country to
grant recipients, health centers, and HIV
stakeholder communities. This funding
reflects the amount needed to complete
the final phase of program activities,
which is the dissemination of models
and best practices for HIV treatment and
care through Ryan White Part C and D
grant recipients, AIDS Education and
Training Centers, and HRSA Bureau of
Primary Health Care Health Centers to
improve engagement of and retention in
care for young Black MSM, one of the
highest risk populations identified in
the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for HIV
transmission. The aim and purpose of
dissemination of these interventions is
to increase the capacity, quality, and
effectiveness of HIV/AIDS service
providers to screen, diagnose, link, and
retain the adult and young Black MSM
community in HIV clinical care.
Dated: April 29, 2016.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016–10533 Filed 5–4–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services
Administration
Recruitment of Sites for Assignment of
Corps Personnel Obligated Under the
National Health Service Corps
Scholarship Program
Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA), HHS.
ACTION: General notice.
AGENCY:
HRSA announces that the
listing of entities, and associated Health
Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
scores, that will receive priority for the
SUMMARY:
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27143
assignment of National Health Service
Corps (NHSC) scholarship recipients
available for service during the period
October 1, 2016, through September 30,
2017, is posted on the NHSC Jobs Center
Web site at https://nhscjobs.hrsa.gov.
The NHSC Jobs Center includes sites
that are approved for performance of
service by NHSC scholars; however,
note that entities on this list may or may
not have current job vacancies.
Eligible HPSAs and Entities
To be eligible to receive assignment of
Corps members, entities must: (1) Have
a current HPSA status of ‘‘designated’’
by the Division of Policy and Shortage
Designation, Bureau of Health
Workforce, HRSA, as of January 1, 2016,
for placements October 1, 2016, through
December 31, 2016, or as of January 1,
2017, for placements January 1, 2017,
through September 30, 2017; (2) not
deny requested health care services or
discriminate in the provision of services
to an individual because the individual
is unable to pay for the services, because
payment for the services would be made
under Medicare, Medicaid, or the
Children’s Health Insurance Program
(CHIP), or based upon the individual’s
race, color, sex, national origin,
disability, religion, age, or sexual
orientation; (3) enter into an agreement
with the state agency that administers
Medicaid and CHIP, accept assignment
under Medicare, see all patients
regardless of their ability to pay and
post such policy, and use and post a
discounted fee plan; and (4) be
determined by the Secretary to have (a)
a need and demand for health
manpower in the area; (b) appropriately
and efficiently used Corps members
assigned to the entity in the past; (c)
general community support for the
assignment of Corps members; (d) made
unsuccessful efforts to recruit health
professionals; (e) a reasonable prospect
for sound fiscal management by the
entity with respect to Corps members
assigned there; and (f) demonstrated a
willingness to support and facilitate
mentorship, professional development,
and training opportunities for Corps
members.
Priority in approving applications for
assignment of Corps members goes to
sites that (1) provide primary medical
care, mental health, and/or oral health
services that matches the discipline to a
primary medical care, mental health, or
dental HPSA of greatest shortage,
respectively; (2) are part of a system of
care that provides a continuum of
services, including comprehensive
primary health care and appropriate
referrals (e.g., ancillary, inpatient, and
specialty referrals) or arrangements for
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 87 / Thursday, May 5, 2016 / Notices
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secondary and tertiary care; (3) have a
documented record of sound fiscal
management; (4) will experience a
negative impact on its capacity to
provide primary health services if a
Corps member is not assigned to the
entity, and (5) are a nonprofit or public
entity to which Corps members may be
assigned. Sites that provide specialized
care, or a limited set of services, will
receive greater scrutiny and may not
receive approval as NHSC service sites.
This may include clinics that focus on
one disease or disorder or offer limited
services, such as a clinic that only
provides immunizations or a substance
abuse clinic.
Entities at which NHSC scholars are
performing their service obligations
must assure that (1) the position will
permit the full scope of practice and
that the clinician meets the
credentialing requirements of the state
and site; and (2) the NHSC scholar
assigned to the entity is engaged in the
requisite amount of clinical practice, as
defined below, to meet his or her service
obligation:
Full-Time Clinical Practice
‘‘Full-time clinical practice’’ is
defined as a minimum of 40 hours per
week for at least 45 weeks per service
year. The 40 hours per week may be
compressed into no less than 4 work
days per week, with no more than 12
hours of work to be performed in any
24-hour period. Time spent on-call does
not count toward the full-time service
obligation, except to the extent the
provider is directly treating patients
during that period.
For all health professionals, except as
noted below, at least 32 of the minimum
40 hours per week must be spent
providing patient care in the outpatient
ambulatory care setting(s) at the NHSCapproved service site(s) during normally
scheduled office hours. The remaining 8
hours per week must be spent providing
patient care for patients at the approved
practice site(s), providing patient care in
alternative settings as directed by the
approved practice site(s), or performing
clinical-related administrative activities.
Teaching activities at the approved
service site shall not exceed 8 hours of
the minimum 40 hours per week, unless
the teaching takes place in a HRSAfunded Teaching Health Center (see
Section 340H of the Public Health
Service Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 256h).
Teaching activities in a HRSA-funded
Teaching Health Center shall not exceed
20 hours of the minimum 40 hours per
week.
For obstetrician/gynecologists,
certified nurse midwives, family
medicine physicians who practice
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obstetrics on a regular basis, providers
of geriatric services, and pediatric
dentists, at least 21 of the minimum 40
hours per week must be spent providing
patient care in the outpatient
ambulatory care setting(s) at the NHSCapproved service site(s) during normally
scheduled office hours. The remaining
19 hours per week must be spent
providing patient care for patients at the
approved practice site(s), providing
patient care in alternative settings as
directed by the approved practice
site(s), or performing clinical-related
administrative activities. Of the
remaining 19 hours per week, no more
than 8 hours can be spent performing
clinical-related administrative activities.
Teaching activities at the approved
service site shall not exceed 8 of the
minimum 21 hours per week providing
patient care, unless the teaching takes
place in a HRSA-funded Teaching
Health Center, as noted above.
For physicians (including
psychiatrists), physician assistants,
nurse practitioners (including those
specializing in psychiatry or mental
health), and certified nurse midwives
serving in a Critical Access Hospital
(CAH) that is certified by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
as a CAH under section 1820 of the
Social Security Act, the full-time service
requirements are as follows: At least 16
of the minimum 40 hours per week
must be spent providing patient care in
the CAH-affiliated outpatient
ambulatory care setting(s) specified in
the NHSC’s Customer Service Portal,
during normally scheduled office hours.
The remaining 24 hours of the
minimum 40 hours per week must be
spent providing patient care for patients
at the CAH(s) or the CAH-affiliated
outpatient ambulatory care setting
specified in the Customer Service
Portal, providing patient care in the
CAH’s skilled nursing facility or swing
bed unit, or performing clinical-related
administrative activities. Of the
remaining 24 hours per week, no more
than 8 hours can be spent on clinicalrelated administrative activities.
Teaching activities at the approved
service site(s) shall not exceed 8 of the
minimum 16 hours per week providing
patient care, unless the teaching takes
place in a HRSA-funded Teaching
Health Center (see Section 340H of the
Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C
Section 256h). Teaching activities in a
HRSA-funded Teaching Health Center
shall not exceed 20 hours of the
minimum 40 hours per week.
Half-Time Clinical Practice
‘‘Half-time clinical practice’’ is
defined as a minimum of 20 hours per
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week (not to exceed 39 hours per week),
for at least 45 weeks per service year.
The 20 hours per week may be
compressed into no less than 2 work
days per week, with no more than 12
hours of work to be performed in any
24-hour period. Time spent on-call does
not count toward the half-time service
obligation, except to the extent the
provider is directly treating patients
during that period.
For all health professionals, except as
noted below, at least 16 of the minimum
20 hours per week must be spent
providing patient care in the outpatient
ambulatory care setting(s) at the NHSCapproved service site(s), during
normally scheduled office hours. The
remaining 4 hours per week must be
spent providing patient care for patients
at the approved practice site(s),
providing patient care in alternative
settings as directed by the approved
practice site(s), or performing clinicalrelated administrative activities.
Teaching and clinical-related
administrative activities shall not
exceed a total of 4 hours of the
minimum 20 hours per week.
For obstetrician/gynecologists,
certified nurse midwives, family
medicine physicians who practice
obstetrics on a regular basis, providers
of geriatric services, and pediatric
dentists, at least 11 of the minimum 20
hours per week must be spent providing
patient care in the outpatient
ambulatory care setting(s) at the NHSCapproved service site(s), during
normally scheduled office hours. The
remaining 9 hours per week must be
spent providing patient care for patients
at the approved practice site(s),
providing patient care in alternative
settings as directed by the approved
practice site(s), or performing clinicalrelated administrative activities.
Teaching and clinical-related
administrative activities shall not
exceed 4 hours of the minimum 20
hours per week.
For physicians (including
psychiatrists), physician assistants,
nurse practitioners (including those
specializing in psychiatry or mental
health), and certified nurse midwives
serving in a Critical Access Hospital
(CAH), the half-time service
requirements are as follows: At least 8
of the minimum 20 hours per week
must be spent providing patient care in
the CAH-affiliated outpatient
ambulatory care setting(s) specified in
the Customer Service Portal, during
normally scheduled office hours. The
remaining 12 hours of the minimum 20
hours per week must be spent providing
patient care for patients at the CAH(s) or
the CAH-affiliated outpatient
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ambulatory care setting specified in the
Practice Agreement, providing patient
care in the CAH’s skilled nursing
facility or swing bed unit, or performing
clinical-related administrative activities.
Teaching and clinical-related
administrative activities shall not
exceed 4 hours of the minimum 20
hours per week. Half-time clinical
practice is not an option for scholars
serving their obligation through the
Private Practice Option.
In addition to utilizing NHSC scholars
in accordance with their full-time or
half-time service obligation (as defined
above), NHSC service sites are expected
to (1) report to the NHSC all absences
through clinician in-service
verifications every six months,
including those in excess of the
authorized number of days (up to 35
full-time days per service year in the
case of full-time service and up to 35
half-time days per service year in the
case of half-time service); (2) report to
the NHSC any change in the status of an
NHSC clinician at the site; (3) provide
the time and leave records, schedules,
and any related personnel documents
for NHSC scholars (including
documentation, if applicable, of the
reason(s) for the termination of an
NHSC clinician’s employment at the site
prior to his or her obligated service end
date); and (4) submit the NHSC Site
Data Tables, which replace the former
Uniform Data System (UDS)/Site Survey
reporting tool. The NHSC collects the
Site Data Tables from sites at the time
of application, recertification, and
NHSC site visits. Providers fulfilling
NHSC commitments are approved to
serve at a specific site or, in some cases,
more than one site.
Evaluation and Selection Process
In order for a site to be eligible for
placement of NHSC scholars, it must be
approved by the NHSC following the
site’s submission of a Site Application.
Processing of site applications from solo
or group practices will involve
additional screening, including a site
visit by NHSC representatives. The Site
Application approval is good for a
period of 3 years from the date of
approval.
In approving applications for the
assignment of Corps members, the
Secretary shall give priority to any such
application that is made regarding the
provision of primary health services in
a HPSA with the greatest shortage. For
the program year October 1, 2016,
through September 30, 2017, HPSAs of
greatest shortage for determination of
priority for assignment of NHSC
scholarship-obligated Corps personnel
will be defined as follows: (1) Primary
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18:06 May 04, 2016
Jkt 238001
medical care HPSAs with scores of 17
and above are authorized for the
assignment of NHSC scholars who are
primary care physicians, family nurse
practitioners, physician assistants or
certified nurse midwives; (2) mental
health HPSAs with scores of 17 and
above are authorized for the assignment
of NHSC scholars who are psychiatrists
or mental health nurse practitioners;
and (3) dental HPSAs with scores of 17
and above are authorized for the
assignment of NHSC scholars who are
dentists. The NHSC has determined that
a minimum HPSA score of 17 for all
service-ready NHSC scholars will enable
it to meet its statutory obligation to
identify a number of entities eligible for
NHSC scholar placement that is at least
equal to, but not greater than, twice the
number of NHSC scholars available to
serve in the 2016–2017 placement cycle.
The number of new NHSC placements
through the Scholarship Program
allowed at any one site is limited to one
(1) of the following provider types:
Physician (MD/DO), nurse practitioner,
physician assistant, certified nurse
midwife, or dentist. The NHSC will
consider requests for up to two (2)
scholar placements at any one site on a
case-by-case basis. Factors that are taken
into consideration include community
need, as measured by demand for
services, patient outcomes and other
similar factors. Sites wishing to request
an additional scholar must complete an
Additional Scholar Request form
available at https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/
downloads/additionalrequestform.pdf.
NHSC-approved sites that do not meet
the authorized threshold HPSA score of
17 may post job openings on the NHSC
Jobs Center; however, scholars seeking
placement between October 1, 2016, and
September 30, 2017, will be advised that
they can only compete for open
positions at sites that meet the threshold
placement HPSA score of 17. While not
eligible for scholar placements in the
2016–2017 cycle, vacancies in HPSAs
scoring less than 17 will be used by the
NHSC in evaluating the HPSA threshold
score for the next scholarship placement
cycle.
Application Requests, Dates and
Address
The list of HPSAs and entities that are
eligible to receive priority for the
placement of NHSC scholars may be
updated periodically. New entities may
be added to the NHSC Jobs Center
during a Site Application competition.
Likewise, entities that no longer meet
eligibility criteria, including those sites
whose 3-year approval as an NHSC
service site has lapsed or whose HPSA
designation has been withdrawn or
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27145
proposed for withdrawal, will be
removed from the priority listing.
Additional Information
Entities wishing to provide additional
data and information in support of their
inclusion on the proposed list of entities
that would receive priority in
assignment of NHSC Scholars, or in
support of a higher priority
determination, must do so in writing no
later than June 6, 2016. This information
should be submitted to: Beth Dillon,
Director, Division of Regional
Operations, Bureau of Health
Workforce, 1961 Stout Street, Denver,
Colorado 80294. This information will
be considered in preparing the final list
of entities that are receiving priority for
the assignment of scholarship-obligated
Corps personnel.
The program is not subject to the
provisions of Executive Order 12372,
Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs (as implemented through 45
CFR part 100).
Dated: April 28, 2016.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016–10527 Filed 5–4–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services
Administration
Providing Support for the
Collaborative Improvement and
Innovation Network (CoIIN) To Reduce
Infant Mortality
Health Resources and Services
Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of a single-award
deviation from competition
requirements for providing support for
the Collaborative Improvement and
Innovation Network (CoIIN) to Reduce
Infant Mortality.
AGENCY:
HRSA announces the award
of an extension in the amount of
$3,000,000 for the Providing Support for
the Collaborative Improvement and
Innovation Network (CoIIN) to Reduce
Infant Mortality cooperative agreement.
The purpose of the CoIIN is to develop
and disseminate evidence-based
interventions to reduce infant mortality
across states in Regions I, II, III, VII, VIII,
IX, and X by planning, implementing,
and managing regional CoIINs;
providing technical assistance to CoIIN
teams to improve approaches to address
infant mortality in their respective
regions through the understanding of
SUMMARY:
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05MYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 87 (Thursday, May 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27143-27145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10527]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
Recruitment of Sites for Assignment of Corps Personnel Obligated
Under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS.
ACTION: General notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: HRSA announces that the listing of entities, and associated
Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores, that will receive
priority for the assignment of National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
scholarship recipients available for service during the period October
1, 2016, through September 30, 2017, is posted on the NHSC Jobs Center
Web site at https://nhscjobs.hrsa.gov. The NHSC Jobs Center includes
sites that are approved for performance of service by NHSC scholars;
however, note that entities on this list may or may not have current
job vacancies.
Eligible HPSAs and Entities
To be eligible to receive assignment of Corps members, entities
must: (1) Have a current HPSA status of ``designated'' by the Division
of Policy and Shortage Designation, Bureau of Health Workforce, HRSA,
as of January 1, 2016, for placements October 1, 2016, through December
31, 2016, or as of January 1, 2017, for placements January 1, 2017,
through September 30, 2017; (2) not deny requested health care services
or discriminate in the provision of services to an individual because
the individual is unable to pay for the services, because payment for
the services would be made under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children's
Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or based upon the individual's race,
color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, age, or sexual
orientation; (3) enter into an agreement with the state agency that
administers Medicaid and CHIP, accept assignment under Medicare, see
all patients regardless of their ability to pay and post such policy,
and use and post a discounted fee plan; and (4) be determined by the
Secretary to have (a) a need and demand for health manpower in the
area; (b) appropriately and efficiently used Corps members assigned to
the entity in the past; (c) general community support for the
assignment of Corps members; (d) made unsuccessful efforts to recruit
health professionals; (e) a reasonable prospect for sound fiscal
management by the entity with respect to Corps members assigned there;
and (f) demonstrated a willingness to support and facilitate
mentorship, professional development, and training opportunities for
Corps members.
Priority in approving applications for assignment of Corps members
goes to sites that (1) provide primary medical care, mental health,
and/or oral health services that matches the discipline to a primary
medical care, mental health, or dental HPSA of greatest shortage,
respectively; (2) are part of a system of care that provides a
continuum of services, including comprehensive primary health care and
appropriate referrals (e.g., ancillary, inpatient, and specialty
referrals) or arrangements for
[[Page 27144]]
secondary and tertiary care; (3) have a documented record of sound
fiscal management; (4) will experience a negative impact on its
capacity to provide primary health services if a Corps member is not
assigned to the entity, and (5) are a nonprofit or public entity to
which Corps members may be assigned. Sites that provide specialized
care, or a limited set of services, will receive greater scrutiny and
may not receive approval as NHSC service sites. This may include
clinics that focus on one disease or disorder or offer limited
services, such as a clinic that only provides immunizations or a
substance abuse clinic.
Entities at which NHSC scholars are performing their service
obligations must assure that (1) the position will permit the full
scope of practice and that the clinician meets the credentialing
requirements of the state and site; and (2) the NHSC scholar assigned
to the entity is engaged in the requisite amount of clinical practice,
as defined below, to meet his or her service obligation:
Full-Time Clinical Practice
``Full-time clinical practice'' is defined as a minimum of 40 hours
per week for at least 45 weeks per service year. The 40 hours per week
may be compressed into no less than 4 work days per week, with no more
than 12 hours of work to be performed in any 24-hour period. Time spent
on-call does not count toward the full-time service obligation, except
to the extent the provider is directly treating patients during that
period.
For all health professionals, except as noted below, at least 32 of
the minimum 40 hours per week must be spent providing patient care in
the outpatient ambulatory care setting(s) at the NHSC-approved service
site(s) during normally scheduled office hours. The remaining 8 hours
per week must be spent providing patient care for patients at the
approved practice site(s), providing patient care in alternative
settings as directed by the approved practice site(s), or performing
clinical-related administrative activities.
Teaching activities at the approved service site shall not exceed 8
hours of the minimum 40 hours per week, unless the teaching takes place
in a HRSA-funded Teaching Health Center (see Section 340H of the Public
Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 256h). Teaching activities in a
HRSA-funded Teaching Health Center shall not exceed 20 hours of the
minimum 40 hours per week.
For obstetrician/gynecologists, certified nurse midwives, family
medicine physicians who practice obstetrics on a regular basis,
providers of geriatric services, and pediatric dentists, at least 21 of
the minimum 40 hours per week must be spent providing patient care in
the outpatient ambulatory care setting(s) at the NHSC-approved service
site(s) during normally scheduled office hours. The remaining 19 hours
per week must be spent providing patient care for patients at the
approved practice site(s), providing patient care in alternative
settings as directed by the approved practice site(s), or performing
clinical-related administrative activities. Of the remaining 19 hours
per week, no more than 8 hours can be spent performing clinical-related
administrative activities. Teaching activities at the approved service
site shall not exceed 8 of the minimum 21 hours per week providing
patient care, unless the teaching takes place in a HRSA-funded Teaching
Health Center, as noted above.
For physicians (including psychiatrists), physician assistants,
nurse practitioners (including those specializing in psychiatry or
mental health), and certified nurse midwives serving in a Critical
Access Hospital (CAH) that is certified by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) as a CAH under section 1820 of the Social
Security Act, the full-time service requirements are as follows: At
least 16 of the minimum 40 hours per week must be spent providing
patient care in the CAH-affiliated outpatient ambulatory care
setting(s) specified in the NHSC's Customer Service Portal, during
normally scheduled office hours. The remaining 24 hours of the minimum
40 hours per week must be spent providing patient care for patients at
the CAH(s) or the CAH-affiliated outpatient ambulatory care setting
specified in the Customer Service Portal, providing patient care in the
CAH's skilled nursing facility or swing bed unit, or performing
clinical-related administrative activities. Of the remaining 24 hours
per week, no more than 8 hours can be spent on clinical-related
administrative activities. Teaching activities at the approved service
site(s) shall not exceed 8 of the minimum 16 hours per week providing
patient care, unless the teaching takes place in a HRSA-funded Teaching
Health Center (see Section 340H of the Public Health Service Act, 42
U.S.C Section 256h). Teaching activities in a HRSA-funded Teaching
Health Center shall not exceed 20 hours of the minimum 40 hours per
week.
Half-Time Clinical Practice
``Half-time clinical practice'' is defined as a minimum of 20 hours
per week (not to exceed 39 hours per week), for at least 45 weeks per
service year. The 20 hours per week may be compressed into no less than
2 work days per week, with no more than 12 hours of work to be
performed in any 24-hour period. Time spent on-call does not count
toward the half-time service obligation, except to the extent the
provider is directly treating patients during that period.
For all health professionals, except as noted below, at least 16 of
the minimum 20 hours per week must be spent providing patient care in
the outpatient ambulatory care setting(s) at the NHSC-approved service
site(s), during normally scheduled office hours. The remaining 4 hours
per week must be spent providing patient care for patients at the
approved practice site(s), providing patient care in alternative
settings as directed by the approved practice site(s), or performing
clinical-related administrative activities. Teaching and clinical-
related administrative activities shall not exceed a total of 4 hours
of the minimum 20 hours per week.
For obstetrician/gynecologists, certified nurse midwives, family
medicine physicians who practice obstetrics on a regular basis,
providers of geriatric services, and pediatric dentists, at least 11 of
the minimum 20 hours per week must be spent providing patient care in
the outpatient ambulatory care setting(s) at the NHSC-approved service
site(s), during normally scheduled office hours. The remaining 9 hours
per week must be spent providing patient care for patients at the
approved practice site(s), providing patient care in alternative
settings as directed by the approved practice site(s), or performing
clinical-related administrative activities. Teaching and clinical-
related administrative activities shall not exceed 4 hours of the
minimum 20 hours per week.
For physicians (including psychiatrists), physician assistants,
nurse practitioners (including those specializing in psychiatry or
mental health), and certified nurse midwives serving in a Critical
Access Hospital (CAH), the half-time service requirements are as
follows: At least 8 of the minimum 20 hours per week must be spent
providing patient care in the CAH-affiliated outpatient ambulatory care
setting(s) specified in the Customer Service Portal, during normally
scheduled office hours. The remaining 12 hours of the minimum 20 hours
per week must be spent providing patient care for patients at the
CAH(s) or the CAH-affiliated outpatient
[[Page 27145]]
ambulatory care setting specified in the Practice Agreement, providing
patient care in the CAH's skilled nursing facility or swing bed unit,
or performing clinical-related administrative activities. Teaching and
clinical-related administrative activities shall not exceed 4 hours of
the minimum 20 hours per week. Half-time clinical practice is not an
option for scholars serving their obligation through the Private
Practice Option.
In addition to utilizing NHSC scholars in accordance with their
full-time or half-time service obligation (as defined above), NHSC
service sites are expected to (1) report to the NHSC all absences
through clinician in-service verifications every six months, including
those in excess of the authorized number of days (up to 35 full-time
days per service year in the case of full-time service and up to 35
half-time days per service year in the case of half-time service); (2)
report to the NHSC any change in the status of an NHSC clinician at the
site; (3) provide the time and leave records, schedules, and any
related personnel documents for NHSC scholars (including documentation,
if applicable, of the reason(s) for the termination of an NHSC
clinician's employment at the site prior to his or her obligated
service end date); and (4) submit the NHSC Site Data Tables, which
replace the former Uniform Data System (UDS)/Site Survey reporting
tool. The NHSC collects the Site Data Tables from sites at the time of
application, recertification, and NHSC site visits. Providers
fulfilling NHSC commitments are approved to serve at a specific site
or, in some cases, more than one site.
Evaluation and Selection Process
In order for a site to be eligible for placement of NHSC scholars,
it must be approved by the NHSC following the site's submission of a
Site Application. Processing of site applications from solo or group
practices will involve additional screening, including a site visit by
NHSC representatives. The Site Application approval is good for a
period of 3 years from the date of approval.
In approving applications for the assignment of Corps members, the
Secretary shall give priority to any such application that is made
regarding the provision of primary health services in a HPSA with the
greatest shortage. For the program year October 1, 2016, through
September 30, 2017, HPSAs of greatest shortage for determination of
priority for assignment of NHSC scholarship-obligated Corps personnel
will be defined as follows: (1) Primary medical care HPSAs with scores
of 17 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who
are primary care physicians, family nurse practitioners, physician
assistants or certified nurse midwives; (2) mental health HPSAs with
scores of 17 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC
scholars who are psychiatrists or mental health nurse practitioners;
and (3) dental HPSAs with scores of 17 and above are authorized for the
assignment of NHSC scholars who are dentists. The NHSC has determined
that a minimum HPSA score of 17 for all service-ready NHSC scholars
will enable it to meet its statutory obligation to identify a number of
entities eligible for NHSC scholar placement that is at least equal to,
but not greater than, twice the number of NHSC scholars available to
serve in the 2016-2017 placement cycle.
The number of new NHSC placements through the Scholarship Program
allowed at any one site is limited to one (1) of the following provider
types: Physician (MD/DO), nurse practitioner, physician assistant,
certified nurse midwife, or dentist. The NHSC will consider requests
for up to two (2) scholar placements at any one site on a case-by-case
basis. Factors that are taken into consideration include community
need, as measured by demand for services, patient outcomes and other
similar factors. Sites wishing to request an additional scholar must
complete an Additional Scholar Request form available at https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/downloads/additionalrequestform.pdf.
NHSC-approved sites that do not meet the authorized threshold HPSA
score of 17 may post job openings on the NHSC Jobs Center; however,
scholars seeking placement between October 1, 2016, and September 30,
2017, will be advised that they can only compete for open positions at
sites that meet the threshold placement HPSA score of 17. While not
eligible for scholar placements in the 2016-2017 cycle, vacancies in
HPSAs scoring less than 17 will be used by the NHSC in evaluating the
HPSA threshold score for the next scholarship placement cycle.
Application Requests, Dates and Address
The list of HPSAs and entities that are eligible to receive
priority for the placement of NHSC scholars may be updated
periodically. New entities may be added to the NHSC Jobs Center during
a Site Application competition. Likewise, entities that no longer meet
eligibility criteria, including those sites whose 3-year approval as an
NHSC service site has lapsed or whose HPSA designation has been
withdrawn or proposed for withdrawal, will be removed from the priority
listing.
Additional Information
Entities wishing to provide additional data and information in
support of their inclusion on the proposed list of entities that would
receive priority in assignment of NHSC Scholars, or in support of a
higher priority determination, must do so in writing no later than June
6, 2016. This information should be submitted to: Beth Dillon,
Director, Division of Regional Operations, Bureau of Health Workforce,
1961 Stout Street, Denver, Colorado 80294. This information will be
considered in preparing the final list of entities that are receiving
priority for the assignment of scholarship-obligated Corps personnel.
The program is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order
12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs (as implemented
through 45 CFR part 100).
Dated: April 28, 2016.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-10527 Filed 5-4-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P