Lists of Designated Primary Medical Care, Mental Health, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas, 28863-28864 [2017-13313]

Download as PDF sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 121 / Monday, June 26, 2017 / Notices determine eligibility for programs providing training for (1) disadvantaged individuals, (2) individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, or (3) individuals from low-income families. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Many health professions and nursing grant and cooperative agreement awardees use these low-income levels to determine whether potential program participants are from an economicallydisadvantaged background and would be eligible to participate in the program, as well as to determine the amount of funding the individual receives. Awards are generally made to accredited schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, public health, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, allied health, podiatric medicine, nursing, and chiropractic; public or private nonprofit schools which offer graduate programs in behavioral health and mental health practice; and other public or private nonprofit health or education entities to assist the disadvantaged to enter and graduate from health professions and nursing schools. Some programs provide for the repayment of health professions or nursing education loans for disadvantaged students. A ‘‘low-income family/household’’ for programs included in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act is defined as having an annual income that does not exceed 200 percent of the Department’s poverty guidelines. A family is a group of two or more individuals related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together. Most HRSA programs use the income of a student’s parent(s) to compute lowincome status. However, a ‘‘household’’ may potentially be only one person. Other HRSA programs, depending upon the legislative intent of the program, the programmatic purpose related to income level, as well as the age and circumstances of the participant, will apply these low-income standards to the individual student to determine eligibility, as long as he or she is not listed as a dependent on the tax form of his or her parent(s). Each program announces the rationale and choice of methodology for determining lowincome levels in program guidance. Low-income levels are adjusted annually based on HHS’s poverty guidelines. HHS’s poverty guidelines are based on poverty thresholds published by the U.S. Census Bureau, adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index. The income figures below have been updated to reflect HHS’s 2017 poverty guidelines as published in 82 FR 8831 (January 31, 2017). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:04 Jun 23, 2017 Jkt 241001 LOW-INCOME LEVELS BASED ON THE 2017 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 28863 Dated: June 16, 2017. George Sigounas, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2017–13312 Filed 6–23–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165–15–P Persons in family/household * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Income level ** ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ $24,120 32,480 40,840 49,200 57,560 65,920 74,280 82,640 For families with more than 8 persons, add $8,360 for each additional person. LOW-INCOME LEVELS BASED ON THE 2017 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR ALASKA Persons in family/household * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Income level ** ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ $30,120 40,580 51,040 61,500 71,960 82,420 92,880 103,340 For families with more than 8 persons, add $10,460 for each additional person. LOW-INCOME LEVELS BASED ON THE 2017 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR HAWAII Persons in family/household * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Income level ** ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ ............................................ $27,720 37,340 46,960 56,580 66,200 75,820 85,440 95,060 For families with more than 8 persons, add $9,620 for each additional person. * Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms. ** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2016. Separate poverty guidelines figures for Alaska and Hawaii reflect Office of Economic Opportunity administrative practice beginning in the 1966–1970 period since the U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds do not have separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii. The poverty guidelines are not defined for Puerto Rico and other outlying jurisdictions. Puerto Rico and other outlying jurisdictions must use the lowincome levels table for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Resources and Services Administration Lists of Designated Primary Medical Care, Mental Health, and Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice informs the public of the availability of the complete lists of all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities designated as primary medical care, mental health, and dental health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) as of May 1, 2017. The lists are available on HRSA’s HPSAFind Web site. ADDRESSES: The complete lists of HPSAs designated as of May 1, 2017, are available on the HPSAFind Web site at https://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/tools/ analyzers/hpsafind.aspx. Frequently updated information on HPSAs is available at https:// datawarehouse.hrsa.gov. Information on shortage designations is available at https://bhw.hrsa.gov/shortagedesignation. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the HPSA designations listed on the HPSAFind Web site or to request an additional designation, withdrawal, or reapplication for designation, please contact Melissa Ryan, Operations Director, Division of Policy and Shortage Designation, Bureau of Health Workforce, HRSA, 11SWH03, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, (301) 594–5168 or MRyan@ hrsa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background Section 332 of the Public Health Services (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 254e, provides that the Secretary shall designate HPSAs based on criteria established by regulation. HPSAs are defined in section 332 to include (1) urban and rural geographic areas with shortages of health professionals, (2) population groups with such shortages, and (3) facilities with such shortages. Section 332 further requires that the E:\FR\FM\26JNN1.SGM 26JNN1 28864 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 121 / Monday, June 26, 2017 / Notices sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Secretary annually publish lists of the designated geographic areas, population groups, and facilities. The lists of HPSAs are to be reviewed at least annually and revised as necessary. Final regulations (42 CFR part 5) were published in 1980 that include the criteria for designating HPSAs. Criteria were defined for seven health professional types: Primary medical care, dental, psychiatric, vision care, podiatric, pharmacy, and veterinary care. The criteria for correctional facility HPSAs were revised and published on March 2, 1989 (54 FR 8735). The criteria for psychiatric HPSAs were expanded to mental health HPSAs on January 22, 1992 (57 FR 2473). Currently-funded PHS Act programs use only the primary medical care, mental health, or dental HPSA designations. HPSA designation offers access to potential federal assistance. Public or private nonprofit entities are eligible to apply for assignment of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) personnel to provide primary medical care, mental health, or dental health services in or to these HPSAs. NHSC health professionals enter into service agreements to serve in federallydesignated HPSAs. Entities with clinical training sites located in HPSAs are eligible to receive priority for certain residency training program grants administered by HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW). Other federal programs also utilize HPSA designations. For example, under authorities administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, certain qualified providers in geographic area HPSAs are eligible for increased levels of Medicare reimbursement. Content and Format of Lists The three lists of designated HPSAs are available on the HPSAFind Web site and include a snapshot of all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities that were designated HPSAs as of May 1, 2017. This notice incorporates the most recent annual reviews of designated HPSAs and supersedes the HPSA lists published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2016 (81 FR 43214). In addition, all Indian Tribes that meet the definition of such Tribes in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1976, 25 U.S.C. 1603(d), are automatically designated as population groups with primary medical care and dental health professional shortages. Further, the Health Care Safety Net Amendments of 2002 provides eligibility for automatic facility HPSA designations for all federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:04 Jun 23, 2017 Jkt 241001 clinics that offer services regardless of ability to pay. Specifically, these entities include FQHCs funded under section 330 of the PHS Act, FQHC Look-Alikes, and Tribal and urban Indian clinics operating under the Indian SelfDetermination and Education Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 450) or the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. Many, but not all, of these entities are included on this listing. Absence from this list does not exclude them from HPSA designation; facilities eligible for automatic designation are included in the database when they are identified. Each list of designated HPSAs is arranged by state. Within each state, a list is presented by county. If only a portion (or portions) of a county is (are) designated, a county is part of a larger designated service area, or a population group residing in a county or a facility located in a county has been designated, the name of the service area, population group, or facility involved is listed under the county name. A county that has a whole county geographic HPSA is indicated by the phrase ‘‘Entire county HPSA’’ following the county name. Development of the Designation and Withdrawal Lists Requests for designation or withdrawal of a particular geographic area, population group, or a facility as a HPSA are received continuously by BHW. Under a Cooperative Agreement between HRSA and the 54 state and territorial Primary Care Offices (PCOs), PCOs conduct needs assessments and submit the majority of the applications to HRSA to designate areas as HPSAs. Requests that come from other sources are referred by BHW to PCOs for review. In addition, interested parties, including Governors, state Primary Care Associations, and state professional associations, are notified of requests so that they may submit comments and recommendations. BHW reviews each recommendation for possible addition, continuation, revision, or withdrawal. Following review, BHW notifies the appropriate agency, individuals, and interested organizations of each designation of a HPSA, rejection of recommendation for HPSA designation, revision of a HPSA designation, and/or advance notice of pending withdrawal from the HPSA list. Designations (or revisions of designations) are effective as of the date on the notification from BHW and are updated daily on the HPSAFind Web site. The effective date of a withdrawal will be the next publication of a notice regarding the lists in the Federal Register. PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: June 16, 2017. George Sigounas, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2017–13313 Filed 6–23–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165–15–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Resources and Services Administration National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program; List of Petitions Received Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: HRSA is publishing this notice of petitions received under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (the program), as required by the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended. While the Secretary of HHS is named as the respondent in all proceedings brought by the filing of petitions for compensation under the program, the United States Court of Federal Claims is charged by statute with responsibility for considering and acting upon the petitions. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about requirements for filing petitions, and the program in general, contact Lisa L. Reyes, Acting Clerk, United States Court of Federal Claims, 717 Madison Place NW., Washington, DC 20005, (202) 357–6400. For information on HRSA’s role in the program, contact the Director, National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 08N146B, Rockville, MD 20857; (301) 443–6593, or visit our Web site at: https:// www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/ index.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The program provides a system of no-fault compensation for certain individuals who have been injured by specified childhood vaccines. Subtitle 2 of Title XXI of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C. 300aa– 10 et seq., provides that those seeking compensation are to file a petition with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and to serve a copy of the petition on the Secretary of HHS, who is named as the respondent in each proceeding. The Secretary has delegated this responsibility under the program to HRSA. The Court is directed by statute to appoint special masters who take evidence, conduct hearings as appropriate, and make initial decisions as to eligibility for, and amount of, compensation. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26JNN1.SGM 26JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 121 (Monday, June 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28863-28864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13313]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Lists of Designated Primary Medical Care, Mental Health, and 
Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the availability of the 
complete lists of all geographic areas, population groups, and 
facilities designated as primary medical care, mental health, and 
dental health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) as of May 1, 2017. 
The lists are available on HRSA's HPSAFind Web site.

ADDRESSES: The complete lists of HPSAs designated as of May 1, 2017, 
are available on the HPSAFind Web site at https://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/tools/analyzers/hpsafind.aspx. Frequently 
updated information on HPSAs is available at https://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov. Information on shortage designations is 
available at https://bhw.hrsa.gov/shortage-designation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the HPSA 
designations listed on the HPSAFind Web site or to request an 
additional designation, withdrawal, or reapplication for designation, 
please contact Melissa Ryan, Operations Director, Division of Policy 
and Shortage Designation, Bureau of Health Workforce, HRSA, 11SWH03, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, (301) 594-5168 or 
MRyan@hrsa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 332 of the Public Health Services (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 
254e, provides that the Secretary shall designate HPSAs based on 
criteria established by regulation. HPSAs are defined in section 332 to 
include (1) urban and rural geographic areas with shortages of health 
professionals, (2) population groups with such shortages, and (3) 
facilities with such shortages. Section 332 further requires that the

[[Page 28864]]

Secretary annually publish lists of the designated geographic areas, 
population groups, and facilities. The lists of HPSAs are to be 
reviewed at least annually and revised as necessary.
    Final regulations (42 CFR part 5) were published in 1980 that 
include the criteria for designating HPSAs. Criteria were defined for 
seven health professional types: Primary medical care, dental, 
psychiatric, vision care, podiatric, pharmacy, and veterinary care. The 
criteria for correctional facility HPSAs were revised and published on 
March 2, 1989 (54 FR 8735). The criteria for psychiatric HPSAs were 
expanded to mental health HPSAs on January 22, 1992 (57 FR 2473). 
Currently-funded PHS Act programs use only the primary medical care, 
mental health, or dental HPSA designations.
    HPSA designation offers access to potential federal assistance. 
Public or private nonprofit entities are eligible to apply for 
assignment of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) personnel to provide 
primary medical care, mental health, or dental health services in or to 
these HPSAs. NHSC health professionals enter into service agreements to 
serve in federally-designated HPSAs. Entities with clinical training 
sites located in HPSAs are eligible to receive priority for certain 
residency training program grants administered by HRSA's Bureau of 
Health Workforce (BHW). Other federal programs also utilize HPSA 
designations. For example, under authorities administered by the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, certain qualified providers 
in geographic area HPSAs are eligible for increased levels of Medicare 
reimbursement.

Content and Format of Lists

    The three lists of designated HPSAs are available on the HPSAFind 
Web site and include a snapshot of all geographic areas, population 
groups, and facilities that were designated HPSAs as of May 1, 2017. 
This notice incorporates the most recent annual reviews of designated 
HPSAs and supersedes the HPSA lists published in the Federal Register 
on July 1, 2016 (81 FR 43214).
    In addition, all Indian Tribes that meet the definition of such 
Tribes in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1976, 25 U.S.C. 
1603(d), are automatically designated as population groups with primary 
medical care and dental health professional shortages. Further, the 
Health Care Safety Net Amendments of 2002 provides eligibility for 
automatic facility HPSA designations for all federally qualified health 
centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics that offer services regardless 
of ability to pay. Specifically, these entities include FQHCs funded 
under section 330 of the PHS Act, FQHC Look-Alikes, and Tribal and 
urban Indian clinics operating under the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Act of 1975 (25 U.S.C. 450) or the Indian Health Care 
Improvement Act. Many, but not all, of these entities are included on 
this listing. Absence from this list does not exclude them from HPSA 
designation; facilities eligible for automatic designation are included 
in the database when they are identified.
    Each list of designated HPSAs is arranged by state. Within each 
state, a list is presented by county. If only a portion (or portions) 
of a county is (are) designated, a county is part of a larger 
designated service area, or a population group residing in a county or 
a facility located in a county has been designated, the name of the 
service area, population group, or facility involved is listed under 
the county name. A county that has a whole county geographic HPSA is 
indicated by the phrase ``Entire county HPSA'' following the county 
name.

Development of the Designation and Withdrawal Lists

    Requests for designation or withdrawal of a particular geographic 
area, population group, or a facility as a HPSA are received 
continuously by BHW. Under a Cooperative Agreement between HRSA and the 
54 state and territorial Primary Care Offices (PCOs), PCOs conduct 
needs assessments and submit the majority of the applications to HRSA 
to designate areas as HPSAs. Requests that come from other sources are 
referred by BHW to PCOs for review. In addition, interested parties, 
including Governors, state Primary Care Associations, and state 
professional associations, are notified of requests so that they may 
submit comments and recommendations.
    BHW reviews each recommendation for possible addition, 
continuation, revision, or withdrawal. Following review, BHW notifies 
the appropriate agency, individuals, and interested organizations of 
each designation of a HPSA, rejection of recommendation for HPSA 
designation, revision of a HPSA designation, and/or advance notice of 
pending withdrawal from the HPSA list. Designations (or revisions of 
designations) are effective as of the date on the notification from BHW 
and are updated daily on the HPSAFind Web site. The effective date of a 
withdrawal will be the next publication of a notice regarding the lists 
in the Federal Register.

    Dated: June 16, 2017.
George Sigounas,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2017-13313 Filed 6-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P
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