IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 5 May 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160000685 BOARD VOTE: ____X___ ____X___ ____X___ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ________ ________ ________ DENY APPLICATION 2 Enclosures 1. Board Determination/Recommendation 2. Evidence and Consideration IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 5 May 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160000685 BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by showing the applicant applied for and was authorized payment of board certification pay for the period 1 September 2013 through 30 September 2015. ____________X____________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 5 May 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160000685 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests, in effect, retroactive Board Certification Pay (BCP). 2. The applicant states: * he is a physician assistant on active duty. In 2009, he applied and received a 4-year $100,000.00, Critical Skills Retention Bonus (CSRB) * in the summer of 2013, his CSRB expired. In that same month, he transferred to Fort Benning, GA. When he arrived at the Martin Army Community Hospital, he visited the special pay office. Since he was no longer receiving his CSRB, he was eligible for BCP and Incentive Pay (IP) * he filled out and signed all the necessary paperwork; but found out he was only receiving the IP and therefore should be authorized 2 years of retroactive BCP * he has always maintained the appropriate credentials and practiced within the guidelines outlined by his local hospitals 3. The applicant provides memorandums for Surgeon General of the Army, Human Resources, Special Pay Branch, Falls Church, VA, requesting IP and BCP. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. After having prior enlisted service in the Army National Guard (ARNG), the applicant was appointed in the Indiana ARNG (INARNG) as a second lieutenant (2LT)/O-1. 2. On 22 April 2005, the applicant completed the Interservice Physician Assistant Program at the Academy of Health Sciences. 3. On 5 July 2006, the applicant executed an oath of office in the Regular Army as a 2LT/O-1E. 4. He provides documentation stating that he is licensed in the state of Georgia and will keep his license current during the IP agreement, and has his National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants for his BCP. 5. In the processing of this case an advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief, Army Medical Department Special Pay Branch, Office of The Surgeon General (OTSG). The advisory opinion stated: a. The applicant was requesting retroactive payment of the Health Professions Officer Board Certification Pay (HPOBCP) at $6,000.00/year from 2013 for 2-years, for which they claim no payments have been made, even though they completed the necessary contract with their local supporting Human Resource (HR)/Personnel office. b. A review of supporting documentation, and available special pay and finance data indicated that upon notification that the HOPBCP contract was not being paid, this office authorized the retroactive payments for HPOBCP commencing on 1 October 2015, with no mandated expiration. Although the officer met the requirements of the All Army Activities (ALARACT) message 195/2010, there is no record of submission, authorization, or payment of HPOBCP for the missing period of 1 September 2013 through 30 September 2015. c. Officer was eligible for HPOBCP contract at $6,000.00/year, payable at $500.00/month for the period 1 September 2013 through 30 September 2015, a period of approximately 25-months and $12,000.00 prior to any withholding. 6. On 23 March 2016, the advisory opinion was forwarded to the applicant for acknowledgement/rebuttal. He did not respond. REFERENCES: 1. Title 37, U.S. Code, section 302 (Special Pay: Medical Officers of the Armed Forces) states that variable, additional, and BCP is authorized to officers of the Medical Corps of the Army or the Navy or an officer of the Air Force designated as a medical officer and who are on active duty under a call or order to active duty for a period of not less than 1 year. This pay is authorized concurrently with Medical Additional Special Pay and Incentive Special Pay. 2. In accordance with ALARACT message 195/2010, Subject: ALARACT Army Special Pay Plan for Licensed Clinical Psychologist(s), Social Workers, Physician Assistant(s), and Veterinarians to be eligible for HPO special pays indicate an officer must be a commissioned HPO who is a graduate of the Army Medical Department Officer Basic Course, and fully qualified by award of area of concentration (AOC) in the specialty. Additionally, subparagraph 4c(5) indicates that an officer, as a Health Care Provider, must be currently credential and privileged, or actively seeking privileges at the Medical Treatment Facility in the specialty for which the HPO is to be paid. DISCUSSION: An advisory opinion from the OTSG states that the evidence of record shows the applicant met the requirements of the ALARACT message for the receipt of BCP for the missing period from 1 September 2013 through 30 September 2015, and was authorized payment of BCP. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160000685 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160000685 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2