April 6, 2001
Request for Comments On Low-Income Levels
The Bureau of Health Professions published a notice in the March 30 Federal Register [66 FR 17433-4] requesting comments on increasing the low-income levels for various programs included in the Title VII and VIII health professions programs. These programs use low-income levels to determine institutions' eligibility for training grants for disadvantaged individuals or individuals from low-income families.
The notice proposes that for these programs, a low-income family be defined as having an annual income that does not exceed 200 percent of the Department of Health and Human Services' poverty guidelines. This would be an increase over the current level, which is 130 percent of the guidelines. The move to the 200 percent level is being proposed as it is consistent with the level used by the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and by HHS in determining whether an area is a Health Profession Shortage Area (HPSA). Written comments are due by April 20, 2001.
Information: Sarah Richards, Evaluation Office, Bureau of Health Professions, 301-443-5452.
