These regulations apply to the Special Repayment Program authorized under section 204 of Pub. L. 100-177, which provides a time-limited opportunity for persons who were, on November 1, 1987, in breach of a written contract under the Public Health and National Health Service Corps Scholarship Training Program or the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program to satisfy their scholarship obligations through full-time clinical service. These regulations do not apply to any Public Health and National Health Service Corps Scholarship Training Program or National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program obligation which the Secretary has determined was completely satisfied through service or monetary payment prior to November 1, 1987. The purpose of this program is to supply trained health professionals for the National Health Service Corps, which is used by the Secretary to improve the delivery of health services in health manpower shortage areas.

In addition to the definitions in § 62.2 of this part, the following definitions will apply for purposes of this subpart:

Eligible defaulters means those individuals who, as of November 1, 1987, were:

(1) In breach of a written contract entered into under section 338A of the Act and liable to the United States under section 338E(b) of the Act and/or in breach of a written contract entered into under section 225 of the Act (as in effect on September 30, 1977) and liable to the United States under section 225(f)(1) of the Act (as in effect on September 30, 1977); and

(2) Not already serving their obligations on December 1, 1987, under a judgment, forbearance agreement, or other written agreement to serve.

HPOL means the Health Manpower Shortage Area Placement Opportunity List described in section 204(b) of Pub. L. 100-177.

Match means that the Secretary has received documentation of:

(1) An offer of employment from a HPOL or SHPOL site which specifies at least the agreed upon salary and start date; and

(2) The Program participant's acceptance of that offer. Provided, however, that if the Program participant would be self-employed, a match means that the Secretary has approved a program participant's private practice option application under section 338D(a) of the Act.

Prior approved service means service performed prior to a Program participant's service start date under the Special Repayment Program:

(1) As a member of the National Health Service Corps pursuant to an assignment by the Secretary under section 333 of the Act;

(2) Under a written private practice option agreement signed by the Secretary pursuant to section 338D of the Act; or

(3) In compliance with section 338C(e) of the Act.

Program participant means an eligible defaulter whose contract under section 204 of Pub. L. 100-177 has been accepted and signed by the Secretary.

Scholarship amount means the sum of any amounts paid to, or on the behalf of, a scholarship recipient under the PH/NHSC Scholarship Training Program and/or the Scholarship Program.

SHPOL means the Supplemental Health Manpower Shortage Area Placement Opportunity List described in section 204(d) of Pub. L. 100-177.

Special Repayment Program or Program means the program authorized by section 204 of Pub. L. 100-177.

Total debt means the debt that would be owed by a Program participant under section 225(f)(1) of the Act, as in effect on September 30, 1977, and/or section 338E(b) of the Act, as if no payments had been made on the debt.

(a) Notice of eligibility for participation in the program. On or before February 29, 1988, the Secretary will, subject to paragraph (h) of this section, send written notice to each eligible defaulter of the opportunity provided under this Program. The notice will be sent to the last known address of each eligible defaulter and will describe the special repayment options available under the Program.

(b) Selection of repayment method. On or before May 29, 1988, eligible defaulters who wish to participate in this Program must sign and submit to the Secretary a written contract to provide service in accordance with either section 204(b) or section 204(c) of Pub. L. 100-177. The election between section 204(b) and section 204(c) of Pub. L. 100-177 is binding on the eligible defaulters.

(c) Service sites. Program participants will receive a listing of approved sites appropriate to the service option they have selected. Program participants electing service under section 204(b) of Pub. L. 100-177 will receive a HPOL. Program participants electing service under section 204(c) of Pub. L. 100-177 will receive a SHPOL. The HPOL or SHPOL sent to the Program participant will be specific to the Program participant's profession and his or her specialty training which is most needed by the National Health Service Corps. The Secretary is not required to identify placements for Program participants in a medical specialty for which the National Health service Corps has no need.

(d) Time frames for matching and commencing service. If a program participant electing to serve under section 204(b) of Pub. L. 100-177 chooses to serve at a remaining site on the 1988 HPOL, such participant must match to a site and must begin serving at the site by October 1, 1988. If a Program participant electing to serve under section 204(b) of Pub. L. 100-177 chooses to serve at a site on the 1989 HPOL, such participant must match to a HPOL site by February 15, 1989, and must begin service at the site by October 1, 1989. If a Program participant has elected to serve under section 204(c) of Pub. L. 100-177, such participant must match to a SHPOL site by May 15, 1989, and must begin service at that site by October 1, 1989.

(e) Site visits. The Program participant is responsible for the costs of any site visit(s) and any other contact with the site to obtain employment at the site.

(f) Effect of failure to meet established time frames. If a Program participant does not match to a site or begin service at that site within the time frames described in paragraph (d) of this section, the Secretary will determine that such individual is not relieved of his or her liability to the United States under the PH/NHSC Scholarship Training Program and/or Scholarship Program (including accrued interest and/or damages).

(g) Service. Service must be performed in accordance with subpart II of part D of title III of the Act. Service credit will begin after a Program participant has matched to a HPOL or SHPOL site and has commenced service at that site in accordance with subpart II of part D of title III of the Act.

(h) Secretary's exclusion authority. The Secretary is authorized, at any time, to deny or terminate an individual's participation in the Program for reasons related to the individual's professional competence or conduct.

(a) Prior approved service performed by a Program participant will be credited to the Program participant for the purpose of calculating the Program participant's remaining service obligation under this Program. Thus, the Program participant's remaining service obligation will be calculated by subtracting the number of days of the Program participant's prior approved service from the number of days of the Program participant's original service obligation under the PH/NHSC Scholarship Training Program and/or the Scholarship Program. If a Program participant has made monetary payments, his or her remaining service obligation will be reduced by converting the monetary payments into days of service credit as set forth in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, whichever is applicable.

(b) Program participants who elect to serve pursuant to section 204(b) and section 204(c)(2) of Pub. L. 100-177, will not receive a refund of any amounts previously paid but will receive service credit for those payments as follows:

(1) The number of days of service credit will be calculated by dividing the total amount paid by the Program participant prior to the Program participant's service start date by the total debt as of the service start date and multiplying the result of that division by the number of days of the participant's remaining service obligation (as determined by the formula set forth in the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this section).

(2) If the Program participant defaults on a contract under this Program, prior monetary payments will not be credited to service but will be applied to the monetary debt owed by the Program participant.

(c) Program participants who elect to serve under section 204(c)(1) of Pub. L. 100-177 must pay an amount equal to the scholarship amount. Any amounts paid by the Program participant prior to or after entry into the Program, in accordance with § 62.76 of this subpart, will be used to reduce the Program participant's financial obligation incurred under section 204(c)(1) of Pub. L. 100-177. In some cases, the amounts paid before or after entry into the Program will exceed the scholarship amount. These payments in excess of the scholarship amount will be converted into days of service credit under the formula set forth in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. If a Program participant defaults on a contract under this option, the monies paid in excess of the scholarship amount will not be credited to service but will be credited toward the monetary debt owed by the Program participant under section 338E(b) of the Act or section 225(f)(1) of the Act, as in effect on September 30, 1977. The scholarship amount paid upon entering this option will be forfeited.

(a) With respect to obligations under the Scholarship Program, a credit will be allowed for partial service under the Special Repayment Program and will result in a reduction of the Program participant's financial obligation in accordance with the following formula:

(b) With respect to obligations under the PH/NHSC Scholarship Training Program, if a Program participant fails to complete the period of obligated service under the Program (including any additional months of service incurred pursuant to section 204(c)(1) of Pub. L. 100-177), no credit for partial service under this Program will be allowed.

(c) Where participants have obligations under both the Scholarship Program and the PH/NHSC Scholarship Training Program, credit for service will be applied against the scholarship obligations in the order in which they were incurred.

Program participants who elect to serve under section 204(c)(1) of Pub. L. 100-177 will be required to pay the full scholarship amount at least 60 days prior to the service start date specified in the documentation submitted to the Secretary.