[PDF Version of Document.]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
New Methodology and Increase in Low Income Levels for Various
Health Professions and Nursing Training and Assistance Programs
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: HRSA uses "low-income" levels to determine whether an
individual is from an economically disadvantaged background in making
eligibility and funding determinations for participants in various
health professions and nursing grant and cooperative agreement programs
authorized by Titles III, VII and VIII of the Public Health Service
(PHS) Act. In the past, an individual's economically disadvantaged
background status, as a basis for participation in certain programs,
was based on the income level of the individual's parents. However,
many potential program participants are well above the age of majority.
Accordingly, questions have been raised by potential program
participants and program officials regarding the feasibility and
fairness in determining economically disadvantaged status based solely
on the parent's income. This notice updates the low-income levels
published by HRSA on August 5, 2003 (68 FR 46199-46200), and changes
the methodology used to determine low income for use in these programs
beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2005.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HRSA publishes low-income levels of families
(68 FR 46199-46200, 8/5/03) for the use of various health professions
training and assistance programs funded under Titles III, VII, and VIII
of the PHS Act in making eligibility and funding determinations for
participants in the programs. HRSA establishes these low-income levels
based on the poverty guidelines that HHS publishes annually in the
Federal Register (68 FR 7336, 2/13/2004). HHS determines the poverty
guidelines based on the poverty
[[Page 8382]]
thresholds established by the U.S. Census Bureau, adjusted annually for
changes in the Consumer Price Index.
For FY 2005, HRSA has determined that:
- "Low-income level" as applied to a family is one with an
annual income that is below 200 percent of HHS's poverty guidelines, as
indicated in the table below, and
- A family is a group of two or more individuals related by
birth, marriage, or adoption who live together or an individual who is
not living with any relatives.
FY 2005 Low Income Levels
|
Persons in family
\1\
|
Income level \2\
|
|
1..............................
|
$18,620
|
|
2..............................
|
24,980
|
|
3..............................
|
31,340
|
|
4..............................
|
37,700
|
|
5..............................
|
44,060
|
|
6..............................
|
50,420
|
|
7..............................
|
56,780
|
|
8..............................
|
63,140
|
\1\ Includes only dependents reported on Federal Income tax forms for
calendar year 2003.
\2\ Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2003.
New Methodology: Beginning in FY 2005, various programs in HRSA
will use a new methodology in the application of low-income levels.
Depending on the legislative intent of the program, the programmatic
purpose of the low income level, as well as the age and circumstances
of the average participant, each program will either apply the low-
income levels to the family of the individual participant or to the
family of the parents of the individual participant. Each program will
announce the rationale and choice of methodology for determining low
income levels in their program guidance.
Dated: February 11, 2005.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-3175 Filed 2-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P
Posted February 22, 2005 on www.NASFAA.org, Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org
