Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 60 / Friday, March 28, 1997 / Notices 14925

Federal Responsibilities Under

Cooperative Agreements

Federal responsibilities under the

cooperative agreement, in addition to

the usual monitoring and technical

assistance, will include: (1)

Participation in the development and

approval of an initial workplan, in

accord with changing events in

government policies and in the

environmental/occupational health care

environment, and modification thereof,

as appropriate; (2) consultation and

cooperation with the recipient regarding

the recipient’s preparation and

dissemination of materials; (3) approval

of specific studies and projects; and (4)

participation in the design, planning,

setting target task completion dates and

final approval of work plans for

activities under the cooperative

agreement, including the selection of

migrant health centers which will

receive technical and non-financial

assistance.

Other Award Information

These awards are not subject to the

provision of Executive Order 12372 or

the Public Health System Reporting

Requirement.

Dated: March 24, 1997.

Claude Earl Fox,

Acting Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97–7839 Filed 3–27–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160–15–P

Availability of Funds for the National

Health Service Corps Loan Repayment

Program

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services

Administration, PHS, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Health Resources and

Services Administration (HRSA)

announces that applications will be

accepted for fiscal year (FY) 1997 for

awards for educational loan repayment

under the National Health Service Corps

(NHSC) Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

(Section 338B of the Public Health

Service (PHS) Act).

The HRSA, through this notice,

invites health professionals to apply for

participation in the NHSC LRP. The

HRSA estimates that approximately 664

NHSC Loan Repayment awards (465

new awards and 199 extension awards)

totaling $37 million will be made to

health professionals providing primary

health services.

The PHS is committed to achieving

the health promotion and disease

prevention objectives of Healthy People

2000, a PHS-led national activity for

setting health priority areas. These

programs will contribute to the Healthy

People 2000 objectives by improving

access to primary health care services

through coordinated systems of care for

medically underserved populations in

both rural and urban areas. Potential

applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy

People 2000 (Full Report, Stock No.

017–001–00474–01) or Healthy People

2000 (Summary Report; Stock No. 017–

001–00473–1) through the

Superintendent of Documents,

Government Printing Office,

Washington, D.C. 20402–9325

(telephone 202–783–3238).

PHS strongly encourages all grant

recipients to provide a smoke-free

workplace and promote the non-use of

all tobacco products. In addition, Public

Law 103–227, the Pro-Children Act of

1994, prohibits smoking in certain

facilities (or in some cases, any portion

of a facility) in which regular or routine

education, library, day care, health care

or early childhood development

services are provided to children.

ADDRESSES: Application materials may

be obtained by calling or writing to:

National Health Service Corps Loan

Repayment Program, 2070 Chain Bridge

Road, Suite 450, Vienna, Virginia

22182–2536, 1–800–221–9393 or (703)

821–8955. Completed applications must

be returned to: Loan Repayment

Programs Branch, Division of

Scholarships and Loan Repayments,

Bureau of Primary Health Care, HRSA,

4350 East-West Highway, 10th Floor,

Bethesda, Maryland 20814, (301) 594–

4400. The 24-hour toll-free phone

number is 1–800–435–6464, and the

FAX number is 301–594–4981.

Applicants for the NHSC LRP will use

HRSA Form 873 approved under Office

of Management and Budget (OMB)

Number 0915–0127.

DATES: The deadline for applications is

June 30, 1997, or until all appropriated

funds have been obligated, whichever

occurs first. Due to limited funding, it

is anticipated that all appropriated

funds will be obligated prior to June 30,

1997. The volume of applications is

historically three times greater than the

number of contracts that can be

awarded. Therefore, to receive

consideration for funding, health

professionals must submit an

application and proof of a job offer at an

approved NHSC LRP Service Site.

Applications will be considered to be

on time if they are either: (1) Received

on or before the deadline date; or (2)

postmarked on or before the established

deadline date and received in time for

orderly processing. 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 announced closing date will

not be considered for funding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

further program information and

technical assistance, please contact

Sharley L. Chen, Chief, Loan Repayment

Programs Branch, HRSA/BPHC/DSLR,

at the above address, phone or FAX

number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

338B of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 254l–1)

authorizes the Secretary to establish the

NHSC LRP to help in assuring, with

respect to the provision of primary

health services, an adequate supply of

trained primary care health

professionals for the NHSC. The NHSC

is used by the Secretary to provide

primary health services in federally

designated health professional shortage

areas (HPSAs). Primary health services

are services regarding family medicine,

general internal medicine, general

pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology,

dentistry, or mental health, that are

provided by physicians or other health

professionals.

Under the NHSC LRP, the Secretary

will repay qualifying graduate and

undergraduate educational loans

incurred by primary care health

professionals. For the first 2 years of

full-time clinical practice at an

approved site in a federally designated

HPSA, the Secretary will repay up to

$25,000 per year of the educational

loans of such individual. (There is a

minimum 2-year service obligation.) For

subsequent years of full-time clinical

practice, if the NHSC LRP contract is

extended, the Secretary will repay up to

$35,000 per year. Participants must use

the loan repayment funds for payment

of their qualifying educational loans.

The Secretary shall, in addition to such

payments, make payments to the

individual in an amount equal to 39

percent of the total amount of loan

repayments made for the taxable year

involved. The 39% payment is

authorized to reimburse participants for

all or a part of the tax liability incurred

as a result of their LRP funding. In

addition to these amounts, NHSC LRP

participants will receive a salary from

the private or public entity which

employs them while they are serving.

In an effort to assist loan repayment

participants to reduce their educational

debt with as little interest expense as is

possible, the LRP will disburse

payments to participants on an

advanced basis. Three methods of
14926 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 60 / Friday, March 28, 1997 / Notices

advanced payments are currently

available to LRP participants:

• Advanced Quarterly Payment

Method—The participant will receive

two payments in the first quarter of the

service obligation. The first payment

will be disbursed approximately 30 days

after the beginning of service and the

second payment will be disbursed at the

end of the first quarter, thereby placing

the payment schedule one quarter in

advance for the remainder of the service

commitment.

• Advanced Annual Lump Sum

Payment Method—The participant will

be paid one advanced annual lump sum

payment up to $25,000 (plus 39% of

that payment for tax assistance),

approximately 90 days after the

beginning of the first year of service,

and another advanced annual lump sum

payment up to $25,000 (plus 39% of

that payment for tax assistance),

approximately 90 days after the

beginning of the second year of service.

• Advanced Biennial Lump Sum

Payment Method—The participant will

receive one advanced biennial lump

sum payment up to $50,000 (plus 39%

of that payment for tax assistance)

approximately 90 days after the

beginning of the first year of service.

The Secretary will identify and make

available annually a list of those HPSA

sites which will be available for service

repayment under the NHSC LRP. The

Secretary will select applicants for

consideration for participation in the

NHSC LRP according to the following

criteria:

(1) The extent to which an

individual’s training in a health

profession or specialty is determined by

the Secretary to be needed by the NHSC

in providing primary health services.

From time to time, the Secretary will

publish a notice detailing the

professions and specialties most needed

by the NHSC. Current professional and

specialty priorities are outlined at the

end of this notice.

(2) The extent to which an individual

is determined by the Secretary to be

committed to serve in a HPSA.

(3) The extent of an individual’s

demonstrated interest in providing

primary health services.

(4) The immediacy of an individual’s

availability for service. Individuals who

have a degree, have completed all

necessary postgraduate training in their

profession and specialty (i.e., in the case

of physicians, are certified or eligible to

sit for the certifying examinations of a

specialty board, and in the case of other

health professions, are certified in their

specialty), and have a current and

unrestricted license to practice their

profession in the State in which they

intend to serve, will receive highest

consideration.

(5) The individual’s academic

standing, prior professional experience

in a HPSA, board certification,

residency achievements, peer

recommendations, and other criteria

related to professional competence or

conduct will also be considered.

In providing contracts under the

NHSC LRP, priority will be given to an

applicant:

• Whose health profession or

specialty is most needed by the NHSC;

• Who has and whose spouse, if any,

has characteristics that increase the

probability of continuing to serve in a

HPSA upon completion of his or her

service obligation;

• Who is from a disadvantaged

background, subject to the preceding

paragraph.

Eligible Participants

To be eligible to participate in the

NHSC LRP, an individual must:

(1) (a) Have a degree in allopathic or

osteopathic medicine, dentistry, or other

health profession, or be certified, in

accordance with State licensure

requirements, as a nurse midwife, nurse

practitioner, or physician assistant.

Other health professions include

clinical psychology, clinical social

work, and dental hygiene;

(b) Be enrolled in an approved

graduate training program in allopathic

or osteopathic medicine, dentistry, or

other health profession; or

(c) Be enrolled as a full-time student

at an accredited school in a State and in

the final year of a course of study or

program leading to a degree in

allopathic or osteopathic medicine,

dentistry, or other health profession.

(2) Be eligible for, or hold an,

appointment as a commissioned officer

in the Regular or Reserve Corps of the

PHS or be eligible for selection for

civilian service in the NHSC (e.g., must

be a citizen or national of the United

States); and

(3) Submit an application for a

contract to participate in the NHSC LRP

which contract describes the repayment

of educational loans in return for the

individual serving for an obligated

period.

Any individual who previously

incurred an obligation for health

professional service to the Federal

Government, a State Government, or

other entity is ineligible to participate in

the NHSC LRP unless such obligation is

completely satisfied prior to the

beginning of service under this Program.

Any individual who has breached an

obligation to the Federal Government, a

State Government, or other entity is

ineligible to participate in the NHSC

LRP.

Any individual who has a judgment

lien against his or her property for a

debt to the United States is ineligible to

participate in the NHSC LRP until the

judgment is paid in full or otherwise

satisfied.

No loan repayments will be made for

any professional practice performed

prior to the effective date of the NHSC

LRP contract. All individuals must have

a current and unrestricted license to

practice their profession in the State of

practice prior to beginning service

under this Program.

Professions and Specialties Needed by

the NHSC

At this time, the Secretary has

determined, based on community

demand, that priority will be given to:

Physicians (M.D.s and D.O.s) who are

certified or eligible to sit for the

certifying examination in the specialty

boards of family practice, obstetrics/

gynecology, internal medicine, and

pediatrics.

Other Award Information

This program is not subject to the

provisions of Executive Order 12372,

Intergovernmental Review of Federal

Programs, since Executive Order 12372

does not cover payments to individuals.

In addition, this program is not subject

to the Public Health System Reporting

Requirements, since the requirements

do not cover payment to individuals.

The OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance number for this program is

93.162.

Dated: March 24, 1997.

Claude Earl Fox,

Acting Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97–7838 Filed 3–27–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160–15–P

National Institutes of Health

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request; Special Volunteer

and Guest Researcher Assignment

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of

Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the

Director, the National Institutes of

Health (NIH) has submitted to the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB) a

request to review and approve the

information collection listed below.

This proposed information collection

was previously published in the Federal

Register on January 10, 1997, (62 FR

1463) and allowed 60 days for public

comment. No comments were received.

The purpose of this notice is to allow an