DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service
Indian Health Service
Rockville MD 20857

                              AUG 13, 1999                Program #14

Authority Delegated

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Director, Indian Health Service by the Reorganization Order of January 4 , 1988, (52 FR 47053), which elevated the Indian Health Service to a PHS Agency, I hereby delegate to the officials listed below, the authority under Section 108 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, as amended, to sign Indian Health Service Educational Loan Repayment Program (LRP) contracts.

Authority to Redelegate

This authority may not be redelegated.

Special Restrictions Reporting Requirements on Delegation to Area Directors

This delegation of authority to each Area Director is not to exceed amounts identified on Attachment A.

Area Loan Repayment contracts must adhere to national priorities for health professions disciplines covered by the LRP. Deviations from national priorities must be documented and submitted to the Loan Repayment Branch ( L R B ) , Division of Health Professions Support (DHPS).

Area Directors will provide copies of LRP contracts to the LRB, DHPS, to be added to the overall LRP recipient listing.

Qualifications of applicants and verification of indebtedness will follow published Agency program guidelines.

Area Offices will be responsible for fund disbursements to recipients and tax reporting requirements.

Information and Guidance

Detailed guidance on default, debt management, and case management will be provided separately.

Supersession

This delegation of authority supersedes Indian Health Manual Exhibit 1-5.1E, transmitted as TN 88.10 dated September 14, 1988.

Effective Date

This delegation is effective on date of signature.

Addressees:

Director of Headquarters Operations
Director, Office of Management Support
Area Directors

Attachment

Attachment A 

The table below represents amounts authorized to be obligated for each Area office for Loan Repayment contracts consistent with this delegation of authority. The source of funds to be used by each Area Office for such contracts will be identified by each Area and reported to the IHS Division of Health Professions Support/Loan Repayment Branch, in order to comply with Agency reprogramming guidelines. Non-appropriated funds will not be used for this purpose.

The above distribution is based on the actual number of matched and unfunded applicants in the LRP pool as of August 10, 1999.