[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10452-10453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03590]
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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 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 workforce training 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
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 the Department's 2020 poverty guidelines as published in 85 FR
12 (January 17, 2020).
Low Income Levels Based on the 2020 Poverty Guidelines for the 48
Contiguous States and the District of Columbia
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Income level
Persons in family/household * **
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1....................................................... $25,520
2....................................................... 34,480
3....................................................... 43,440
4....................................................... 52,400
5....................................................... 61,360
6....................................................... 70.320
7....................................................... 79,280
8....................................................... 88,240
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $8,960 for each additional
person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2019.
Low Income Levels Based on the 2020 Poverty Guidelines for Alaska
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Income level
Persons in family/household * **
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1....................................................... $31,900
2....................................................... 43,100
3....................................................... 54,300
4....................................................... 65,500
5....................................................... 76,700
6....................................................... 87,900
7....................................................... 99,100
8....................................................... 110,300
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $11,200 for each additional
person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
[[Page 10453]]
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2019.
Low Income Levels Based on the 2020 Poverty Guidelines for Hawaii
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Income level
Persons in family/household * **
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1....................................................... $29,360
2....................................................... 39,660
3....................................................... 49,960
4....................................................... 60,260
5....................................................... 70,560
6....................................................... 80,860
7....................................................... 91,160
8....................................................... 101,460
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For families with more than 8 persons, add $10,300 for each additional
person.
* Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms.
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2019.
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 guidelines for
the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia.
Dated: February 18, 2020.
Thomas J. Engels,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-03590 Filed 2-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P