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C. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATION FACTORS AND
FUNDING PREFERENCES
1. Eligibility Requirements to Participate
a. Citizenship
Applicants for the NHSC LRP must be citizens of the United
States (either U.S. born or naturalized). All applicants
must submit documentation to verify U.S. citizenship or
status as a U.S. national (e.g., a copy of a birth certificate,
a certificate of citizenship, passport or naturalization
certificate) with the application material. Permanent
residents of the U.S. are not eligible to apply.
b.Training and Licensure Requirements for Clinicians
Applicants must meet discipline and specialty-specific
education and training requirements as described below.
In addition, applicants must possess and maintain
a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional
license (or, if applicable, a current full, permanent, unencumbered
certificate or registration) to practice in the State in
which they intend to practice to fulfill their NHSC LRP
service obligation.
Primary Care
- Allopathic (MD) or Osteopathic (DO) physicians
must have:
- certification in a primary care specialty from a specialty
board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties
or the American Osteopathic Association, OR
- completed a residency program in a primary care specialty,
approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical
Education or the American Osteopathic Association, AND
- a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional
license (or, if applicable, a current full, permanent,
unencumbered certificate or registration) which is from
the State in which the applicant intends to practice to
fulfill his/her NHSC LRP service obligation.
**Residents who will complete their residency training
by June 30, 2009, must submit a letter of
verification from their current Residency Director that
certifies their 1) enrollment in the residency training
program; 2) academic standing, and 3) projected residency
completion date. The letter must be received by January
31, 2009 (postmark date). A letter verifying
the completion of the residency or a completion certificate
must be submitted by July 7, 2009 (postmark date).
Residents who will complete their residency training
by June 30, 2009 must be licensed, and mail or
fax a copy of the license to Discovery Logic at 240-912-1978,
in the State in which they intend to practice by August
15, 2009 or they will not be considered for loan
repayment.
Per statute, the primary care specialties for physicians
are family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, general internal
medicine, general pediatrics, or general psychiatry.
Although general psychiatrists must meet the above qualifications
for physicians, this specialty is placed exclusively in
mental health HPSAs.
- Primary Care Certified Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
must have:
- a master's degree, post-master’s certificate, or doctoral
degree from a school accredited by the National League
for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Commission on
Collegiate Nursing Education, in one of the primary care
nurse practitioner specialties listed below, AND
- national certification by the American Nurses Credentialing
Center (ANCC), the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
(AANP), the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (formerly
the National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
and Nurses), or the National Certification Corporation,
AND
- a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional
license (or, if applicable, a current, unencumbered certificate
or registration) which is from the State in which the
applicant intends to practice to fulfill his/her NHSC
LRP service obligation.
The primary care specialties for nurse practitioners are
adult, family, pediatric, psychiatry/mental health, gerontology,
or women’s health.
- Certified Nurse-Midwives (NMs) must have:
- a master's degree or post-baccalaureate certificate,
from a school accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives
(ACNM), AND
- national certification by the American Midwifery Certification
Board (formerly know as the ACNM Certification Council)
AND
- a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional
license (or, if applicable, a current, unencumbered certificate
or registration) which is from the State in which the
applicant intends to practice to fulfill his/her NHSC
LRP service obligation.
- Primary Care Physician Assistants (PAs) must
have:
- a certificate of completion or an associate, bachelor’s
or master's degree from a physician assistant educational
program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission
on Education for the Physician Assistant at a college,
university or educational institution that is accredited
by a U.S. Department of Education nationally recognized
regional or State institutional accrediting agency, AND
- national certification by the National Commission on
Certification of Physician Assistants, AND
- a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional
license (or, if applicable, a current, unencumbered certificate
or registration) which is from the State in which the
applicant intends to practice to fulfill his/her NHSC
LRP service obligation.
Dental Health
- General Practice Dentists must have:
- a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree, from a program
accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA), Commission
on Dental Accreditation, AND
- a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional
license which is from the State in which the applicant
intends to practice to fulfill his/her NHSC LRP service
obligation.
Note: The following four paragraphs were added December 23, 2008
** Dental students who will complete their last year of education by June 30, 2009, must submit, with their application package, a letter of verification from their Program Director by January 31, 2009 (postmark date). The letter of verification must certify
1) enrollment in the academic program,
2) academic standing, and
3) projected graduation date.
Dental students must provide a letter from their State Licensing Board, stating that all of the state’s requirements for licensure have been met, by August 15, 2009 (postmark date). Dental students must provide a copy of a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional license from the State in which the applicant intends to practice immediately upon receipt.
Dental students must begin their service obligation for the NHSC LRP at the NHSC-approved site(s) no later than September 1, 2009 to be eligible for the Fiscal Year 2009 NHSC LRP award cycle.
All required documents are to be mailed to the
NHSC LRP,
c/o Discovery Logic,
1375 Piccard Drive, Suite 350,
Rockville, MD 20850
or faxed to Discovery Logic at 240-912-1978. ** (end of December 23 addition)
- Pediatric Dentists must have:
- a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree, from a program accredited
by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on
Dental Accreditation, AND
- have completed a 2-year training program in the specialty
of pediatric dentistry that is accredited by the ADA Commission
on Dental Accreditation, AND
- a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional
license which is from the State in which the applicant
intends to practice to fulfill his/her NHSC LRP service
obligation.
** Residents who will complete pediatric or general
dentistry training by June 30, 2009, must
submit a letter of verification from their current Residency
Program Director that certifies their 1) enrollment in the
residency training program, 2) academic standing, and 3)
projected residency completion date. The letter must
be submitted by January 31, 2009 (postmark date).
A letter verifying the completion of the residency or a
completion certificate is due July 7, 2009 (postmark
date). Residents not licensed
in the State in which they intend to practice by August
15, 2009 will not be considered
for loan repayment. A copy of the license must be
mailed or faxed to Discovery Logic at 240-912-1978 by August
15, 2009, or the applicant will not be considered
for loan repayment.
- Registered Clinical Dental Hygienists (DHs) must
have:
- graduated from a 4-year program with a bachelor's degree
in dental hygiene, OR
- graduated from a 2-year dental hygiene training program
with a diploma, certificate or associate degree and
have at least one year of experience as a licensed clinical
dental hygienist, AND
- successfully passed the National Board Dental Hygiene
Examination, AND
- a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional
license (or if applicable, a current unrestricted, unencumbered
certificate or registration) to practice in the State
in which they intend practice to fulfill his/her NHSC
LRP service obligation.
The programs must be accredited by the American Dental
Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Behavioral and Mental Health
The NHSC recognizes that States have varying educational,
experience and testing requirements for the licensing of
behavioral and mental health clinicians. It is important
to note that the purpose of the NHSC LRP is to ensure an
adequate supply of health professionals to provide primary
health services to populations located in health professional
shortage areas (HPSAs) throughout the United States.
Consequently, the NHSC adheres to national certification
and licensing standards detailed below to assure that its
clinicians have the ability to obtain licensure in multiple
States throughout the country as community needs dictate
or arise.
- Health Service Psychologists (HSP) (formerly
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists) must have:
- a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) directly related
to full professional work in clinical or counseling psychology
from a school accredited by the American Psychological
Association, Committee on Accreditation, AND
- a minimum of one year of post-graduate supervised clinical
experience, AND
- successfully passed the Examination for Professional
Practice of Psychology (EPPP), AND
- the ability to practice independently and unsupervised
as a health service psychologist, AND
- a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional
license (or if applicable, a current, unencumbered certificate
or registration) to engage in the independent and unsupervised
practice of clinical or counseling psychology in the State
in which they intend to practice to fulfill their NHSC
LRP service obligation.
Individuals practicing as school psychologists are
not eligible to participate in the NHSC LRP.
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
must have:
- a master’s degree or doctoral degree in social work
from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work
Education and a U.S. Department of Education nationally
recognized regional or State institutional accrediting
agency, AND
- two years post-graduate supervised clinical experience,
AND
- successfully passed the Association of Social Work Boards
(ASWB) Clinical or Advanced licensing exam prior to July
1,1998, or the ASWB Clinical exam on or after July
1,1998, AND
- the ability to practice independently and unsupervised
as a licensed clinical social worker, AND
- a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health professional
license (or, if applicable, a current, unencumbered certificate
or registration) to practice, at the level of licensure
that allows them to practice independently and unsupervised
as a Clinical Social Worker, in the State in which they
intend to practice to fulfill their NHSC LRP service obligation.
- Psychiatric Nurse Specialists (PNSs) must be
registered nurses, AND
- have a master's degree or higher degree in nursing from
an accredited program with a specialization in psychiatric/mental
health and 2 years of post-graduate supervised
clinical experience in psychiatric/mental health nursing,
OR
- have a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing from
an accredited program, AND
- be certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center
as a Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse, Clinical Specialist
in Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, or Clinical
Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric and Mental
Health Nursing, AND
- must be licensed as a registered nurse (or a PNS if
applicable) in the State in which they intend to practice,
AND
- have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health
professional license (or if applicable, a current, unencumbered
certificate or registration) to practice in the State
in which they intend to practice to fulfill their NHSC
LRP service obligation.
Nursing programs must be accredited by the National League
for Nursing Accrediting Commission or the Commission on
Collegiate Nursing Education
- Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs)
must:
- have completed a master's or doctoral program in marriage
and family therapy from a program accredited by the American
Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Commission
on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
(COAMFTE) or earned a graduate degree in another mental
health field (psychiatry, psychology, clinical social
work, psychiatric nursing, etc.) and completed a COAMFTE
accredited post-graduate degree clinical training program
in marriage and family therapy, AND
- have at least 2 years of post-graduate supervised clinical
experience in practice as a marital and family therapist,
OR
- be clinical members of the American Association for
Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), AND
- have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health
professional license (or if applicable, a current, unencumbered
certificate or registration) to practice independently
and unsupervised as a MFT in the State in which they intend
to practice to fulfill their NHSC LRP service obligation,
OR
- if such licensure is not available in the State of intended
practice, have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered
health professional license (or if applicable, a current,
unencumbered certificate or registration) to practice
independently and unsupervised as a MFT in a State.
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) must:
- have a master’s degree or higher degree with a major
study in counseling from a school accredited by a U.S.
Department of Education nationally recognized regional
or State institutional accrediting agency, AND
- have at least 2 years of post-graduate supervised counseling
experience, AND
- be certified as a National Certified Counselor (NCC)
or a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC)
by the National Board for Certified Counselors, AND
- have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered health
professional license (or if applicable, a current, unencumbered
certificate or registration) to practice independently
and unsupervised as an LPC in the State in which they
intend to practice to fulfill their NHSC LRP service obligation,
OR
- if such licensure is not available in the State of intended
practice, have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered
health professional license (or if applicable, a current,
unencumbered certificate or registration) to practice
independently and unsupervised as an LPC in a State.
NOTE: School and Career LPCs are not eligible
to participate in the NHSC LRP.
c. Medicare/Medicaid/State Children’s Health
Insurance Program Participation
Applicants to the NHSC LRP must participate in or be eligible
to participate as a provider in the Medicare, Medicaid and
State Children’s Health Insurance Programs. All NHSC
community sites and clinicians must accept assignment under
the Medicare Program and enter into appropriate agreements
with the State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance
Programs. Therefore, all NHSC community sites and
their clinicians (NHSC and non-NHSC) must be eligible to
receive Medicare/Medicaid/State Children’ s Health Insurance
Program payment for any items or services they furnish,
order or prescribe.
d. No Other Service Obligations
All applicants who have an outstanding contractual obligation
for health professional service to the Federal Government
(e.g., an active military obligation or a Nursing Education
Loan Repayment Program obligation), a State (e.g., State
Loan Repayment Program or Scholarship Program obligation)
or other entity are ineligible to participate in the NHSC
LRP, unless that service obligation will be satisfied completely
before June 30, 2009. Beware that certain
bonus clauses in employment contracts may impose a service
obligation. The applicant is required to submit a
letter, on business letterhead, indicating the date the
service obligation will be completed.
Note: The following paragraph was added December 23, 2008
** Current NHSC Scholars who will complete their Scholarship Program (SP) service obligation no later than August 31, 2009, may be considered for an FY 2009 NHSC LRP award. The applicant must
1) remain at the site where they are currently fulfilling their NHSC SP service obligation and,
2) begin the NHSC LRP service obligation by September 1, 2009 (no break in service permitted). ** (end of December 23 addition)
Exception: Members of a Reserve Component of the
Armed Forces. Individuals in a Reserve component
of the Armed Forces or National Guard are eligible to participate
in the NHSC LRP. However, reservists should understand
the following:
- Placement opportunities for reservists may be limited
by the NHSC in order to minimize the negative impact that
a deployment would have on the vulnerable populations
served by the reservist.
- Military training or service performed by reservists
will not satisfy the NHSC service commitment. If
a participant's military training and/or service, in combination
with the participant's other absences from the service
site, will exceed 7 weeks (35 workdays) per service year,
the participant should request a suspension. See
Sections H (full-time
clinical practice) and K
(suspension of the obligation for military duty) of this
Bulletin for more information. The NHSC service
obligation end date will be extended to compensate for
the break in NHSC service.
- If the approved NHSC community site where the reservist
is serving at the time of his/her deployment is unable
to reemploy that reservist, the NHSC will reassign the
participant to another NHSC-approved community site to
complete his or her remaining NHSC service commitment.
Because it is sometimes difficult to identify short-term
assignments, a participant may be asked by the community
site to sign an employment contract which extends beyond
the completion date of his or her NHSC service commitment.
e. No Breach of a Prior Service Obligation
Applicants in breach of a prior service obligation for
health professions service to the Federal government or
a State or local government are not eligible to participate
in the NHSC LRP.
f. No Judgment Lien for a Federal Debt
An applicant must be free of any judgment liens against
his/her property arising from a debt owed to the United
States. Debtors with judgment liens for Federal debts
are ineligible to receive Federal financial assistance.
Please be advised that a credit check will be conducted
as part of the application process.
g. Not Excluded, Debarred, Suspended, or Disqualified
By a Federal Agency
The receipt of funding under the NHSC LRP is a “covered
transaction” pursuant to Title 2 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) Part 180, as adopted by HHS pursuant to
2 CFR Part 376. Before entering into a LRP contract,
the applicant is required, under Subpart C of Part 180,
to report certain information which is described in the
“Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Disqualification
and Related Matters.” The applicant should
sign the Certification that is applicable to his/her situation.
Individuals who are currently excluded (suspended or debarred)
or disqualified by a Federal Agency from participating in
covered transactions are ineligible to receive an award
under the NHSC LRP. (Individuals with reportable problems
other than exclusion or disqualification may, or may not,
be selected to participate in the NHSC LRP, based on the
Program’s consideration and evaluation of the applicant’s
circumstances.)
As a condition of participating in the NHSC LRP, a participant
must agree to comply with the requirements of Subpart C
of Part 180, which include providing immediate written notice
to BCRS if the applicant learns that he/she failed to make
a required disclosure or that a disclosure is now required
due to changes or circumstances.
h. Submission of Complete Application
The Checklist and the Summary
of Important Dates describe the application, forms and
supporting documentation that must be submitted by January
31, 2009 (postmark date). If the application,
other forms, and supporting documentation required to be
submitted by the January 31, 2009 are incomplete,
the application will not be reviewed or considered
for funding
2. Qualification Factors
Applications from eligible applicants will also be evaluated
based on the following factors relevant to selecting qualified
applicants to participate in the NHSC LRP.
a. Professional Competence and Conduct
Applicants must demonstrate satisfactory professional competence
and conduct and, therefore, must submit the following:
- Letters of recommendation from at least two individuals
in a position to evaluate the applicant’s current
clinical skills. At least one letter
of reference must be from the applicant’s current employer
unless the applicant is self-employed. If the applicant
is self-employed, one of the reference letters must be
from the Chief of the medical staff or the credentials
committee at the hospital where the applicant has admitting
privileges (if he/she is a physician), or from an objective
source such as a hospital or clinic credentials committee,
a physician with whom the applicant has a collaborative
practice agreement, or the Director of the applicant’s
training program (if he/she is not a physician).
If the applicant is a student or in a residency program
(with a graduation date of June 30, 2009),
one reference letter can be from the Director of the applicant’s
training program. Reference letters must be current.
If the applicant has been working in his/her present position
less than 1 year, then two additional reference
letters must be from the applicant’s previous position.
Program assessments and evaluations are not acceptable
forms of reference; AND
- A copy of the entire response the applicant receives
from a self-query of both the National Practitioner Data
Bank (NPDB) and the Healthcare Integrity
and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB) (and if necessary,
information from State licensing and/or professional review
boards, etc.). To submit the NPDB and HIPDB self-query,
applicants must complete an “Individual Self-Query” form
which is available only on the NPDB-HIPDB
web site or by calling 1-800-767-6732.
Each data bank self-query form request is assessed an
$8.00 fee for each Data Bank, for a total of $16.00.
The fee must be paid by credit card (VISA, MasterCard,
or Discover); AND
- A current resume/curriculum vitae; AND
- Biographical Statements. Biographical statements
must be typed, dated and signed and must provide, at a
minimum, information regarding:
- Student or work experience with medically underserved
populations (e.g., community or migrant health centers,
free clinics, public health departments, and rural health
clinics) during or after the applicant’s health professions
training. The Statement should include:
- Location
- Start and end dates for each student/work experience
- Number of hours per week spent on the student/work
experience
- Brief description of the experience
- The knowledge, skills, or abilities gained from
the experience
- Community effort which lead to improved delivery
of health services to underserved populations
- Total number of years/months as a clinician providing
primary care to underserved populations
- Published primary care articles
- Awards for primary care community efforts
- Language skills (including level of proficiency), if
any, that the applicant uses or will use to provide services
to the patient population of the NHSC community site.
- Awareness of the values, beliefs, and practices as they
relate to the health of the population served by the NHSC
community site. Include any knowledge, skills, and abilities
that will be incorporated into practice to improve the
delivery of health services to the population of the community
site.
- A description of the applicant’s current duties and
responsibilities and, if different, a description of the
applicant’s duties and responsibilities at the community
site(s) identified in the applicant’s Community Site Information
Form.
b. Full-time Clinical Employment at an
NHSC-Approved Community Site
The NHSC LRP is seeking clinicians able to commence service
prior to the end of this Fiscal Year. Consequently,
before applying to the NHSC LRP, a clinician must have successfully
completed negotiations for employment at a one or more community
site(s), as evidenced by 1) a signed job offer from the
site and acceptance letter signed by the applicant or 2)
a signed contract for employment with the community site.
The employment status of the clinician at the NHSC-approved
site(s) will be verified.
The community site(s) must be located in a designated health
professional shortage area (HPSA) and have a current and
approved NHSC Recruitment and Retention Assistance (R&R)
Application. All NHSC sites must be approved every
three (3) years through the submission and approval of an
R&R
Application.
If an applicant’s site does not have a current and
approved R&R Application at the time of the application
submission (on or before January 31, 2009),
the site must submit an R&R
Application no later than March 27, 2009.
For more information about eligible NHSC-approved community
sites, see Section G
of this Bulletin.
An applicant’s employment must meet NHSC LRP full-time
clinical practice requirements (e.g., work a minimum of
40 hours per week, providing direct patient care, in an
outpatient setting, etc.).
An applicant may work at a maximum of 4 approved
NHSC sites (a primary site and 3 satellites) to meet the
NHSC full-time clinical practice requirement described in
this Bulletin. However, the majority of the
applicant’s time must be spent at the approved NHSC community
site with the highest HPSA score.
The applicant’s employment at the approved-NHSC site(s)
must begin no later than July 1, 2009.
Physician and dental residents who will complete a residency
program by June 30, 2009 must begin service
at the NHSC-approved site(s) no later than August
15, 2009.
If the applicant leaves or loses his/her job at the community
site identified in the application/Community Site Information
Form, the applicant must notify the NHSC LRP immediately.
c. History of Honoring Prior Obligations
The NHSC LRP will not select eligible applicants who have
a history of not honoring prior legal obligations, as evidenced
by one or more of the following factors:
- Default on any Federal payment obligations (e.g., Health
Education Assistance Loans, Nursing Student Loans, FHA
Loans, Federal income tax liabilities, etc.) or non-Federal
payment obligations (e.g., court-ordered child support
payments), even if the applicants are currently considered
to be in good standing by that creditor;
- Default on a prior service obligation to the Federal
government or a State or local government, even if
the applicants subsequently satisfied that obligation
through service, monetary payment or other means;
- Write off of any Federal or non-Federal debt as uncollectible
or waiver of any Federal service or payment obligation;
or
- Failure to apply all NHSC LRP funds previously received
toward the applicants’ qualifying educational loans.
Please be advised that a credit check will be performed
as part of the application process.
3. Funding Preferences
Among applicants who have been determined to be eligible
and qualified, the following funding preferences apply:
- Applicants with documented disadvantaged
background and/or EFN status will be funded regardless
of HPSA score.
- Applicants proposing to serve in an approved NHSC site
with a HPSA score of 17 or above (HPSAs
of greatest need) will be funded second. Awards
will be made on an ongoing basis to applicants who propose
to serve in an approved NHSC site with a HPSA score of
17 or above.
- To the extent funds remain available, applicants who
propose to serve in an approved NHSC site with a HPSA
score of less than 17 will be funded third, in order of
decreasing HPSA score until funds are exhausted.
- In order to distribute the number of NHSC LRP clinicians
across many NHSC community sites, the number of new NHSC
placements through the Loan Repayment Program allowed
at any one site (parent sites as well as satellite sites)
is limited to the following:
- Primary Health Care: no more than 2 allopathic (MD)
or osteopathic (DO) physicians, and no more than a combined
total of 2 Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants,
or Certified Nurse Midwives. (Mental health clinicians
in these disciplines are not included.)
- Dental Care: no more than 2 Dentists and 2 Dental
Hygienists.
- Behavioral and Mental Health: no more than 2 Psychiatrists
(MD or DO), and no more than a combined total of 2 Clinical
or Counseling Psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social
Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Marriage and
Family Therapists, or Psychiatric Nurse Specialists.
(Psychiatrists – see C.1.b. Eligibility – Primary Care)
- If funding is available after applying the above criteria,
the NHSC LRP may allow up to four 2-year contract awards
per discipline category for each community site.
Eligible applicants are funded by decreasing HPSA score.
- If the number of eligible clinician applicants at the
community sites exceeds the number of awards allowed per
site, the loan repayment awards will be offered to clinicians
in the order in which the clinicians are determined to
be eligible based on their completed applications.
- Community demand for each discipline category may be
considered, in the event funding is insufficient to fund
all eligible applicants at sites which have the same HPSA
score.
- All FY 2009 NHSC LRP 2-year contracts will be awarded
no later than September 30, 2009.
- Applicants who are not selected to participate in the
NHSC LRP will receive notice of their non-selection by
September 30, 2009.
next page: Service
Requirements
Questions? nhsc@discoverylogic.com
or 1-800-638-0824 Monday through Friday (except Federal
holidays) 8:30 am to 5 pm ET.
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