[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 41 (Thursday, March 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12698-12699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04446]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


``Low Income Levels'' Used for Various Health Professions and 
Nursing Programs Authorized in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public 
Health Service Act

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HRSA is updating income levels used to identify a ``low income 
family'' for the purpose of determining eligibility for programs that 
provide health professions and nursing training to individuals from 
disadvantaged backgrounds. These various programs are authorized in 
Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HHS periodically publishes in the Federal 
Register low-income levels to be used by institutions receiving grants 
and cooperative agreements to determine eligibility for programs 
providing training for (1) disadvantaged individuals, (2) individuals 
from disadvantaged backgrounds, or (3) individuals from low-income 
families.
    Many health professions and nursing grant and cooperative agreement 
awardees use the low-income levels to determine whether potential 
program participants are from an economically disadvantaged 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 educational entities to assist individuals from 
disadvantaged backgrounds to enter and graduate from health professions 
and nursing schools. Some programs provide for the repayment of health 
professions or nursing education loans for students from disadvantaged 
backgrounds.
    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 low income 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 low income levels in program 
funding opportunities or applications.
    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 the Department's 2021 poverty guidelines as published in 86 FR 
19 (February 1, 2021).

    Low Income Levels Based on the 2021 Poverty Guidelines for the 48
             Contiguous States and the District of Columbia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Income level
              Persons in family/household *                     **
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1.......................................................         $25,760
2.......................................................          34,840
3.......................................................          43,920
4.......................................................          53,000
5.......................................................          62,080
6.......................................................          71,160
7.......................................................          80,240
8.......................................................          89,320
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $9,080 for each additional
  person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2020.


    Low Income Levels Based on the 2021 Poverty Guidelines for Alaska
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Income level
              Persons in family/household *                     **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................         $32,180
2.......................................................          43,540
3.......................................................          54,900
4.......................................................          66,260
5.......................................................          77,620
6.......................................................          88,980
7.......................................................         100,340
8.......................................................         111,700
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $11,360 for each additional
  person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2020.


    Low Income Levels Based on the 2021 Poverty Guidelines for Hawaii
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                                                           Income level
              Persons in family/household *                     **
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................................         $29,640
2.......................................................          40,080
3.......................................................          50,520
4.......................................................          60,960
5.......................................................          71,400
6.......................................................          81,840
7.......................................................          92,280
8.......................................................         102,720
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $10,440 for each additional
  person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2020.

    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 or other outlying jurisdictions. Puerto 
Rico and other outlying jurisdictions shall use income

[[Page 12699]]

guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia.

Diana Espinosa,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-04446 Filed 3-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P