IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 7 July 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160005025 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: 7 July 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160005025 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: a. showing he applied for Non-Physician Board Certification Pay to be effective 30 June 2015 and his request was approved in a timely manner; and b. paying him Non-Physician Board Certification Pay for the period 30 June 2015 through 30 September 2015 using a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance Medical Specialty-Pay-Date of 30 June 2015 for the correct pay rate as a result of this correction. ___________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: 7 July 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20160005025 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 payment of Non-Physician Board Certification Pay (NPBCP) for the period 30 June 2015 to 30 September 2015. 2. The applicant states: * his NPBCP began on 1 October 2015 * it was supposed to be paid beginning on 30 June 2015 * the months of July, August, and September 2015 were not paid * for unknown reasons his DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action) was overlooked and not paid * it was likely a clerical error 3. The applicant provides: * DA Form 4187, dated 12 August 2015 * Officer Record Brief * board certification * license verification CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant was commissioned as a Reserve officer on 2 August 2003 and he was promoted to major effective 1 April 2014. He is currently serving on active duty in the Army Nurse Corps at Fort Bliss, Texas. 2. He provided documentation showing he is board certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. The period of certification is effective 30 June 2015 to 31 July 2017. 3. In the processing of this case an advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief of the Army Medical Department Special Pay Branch of the Office of the Surgeon General. The advisory official states: a. The eligibility criteria for the discretionary category of NPBCP requires the officer to hold the specialty identifier, be board certified in that specialty by his or her national professional specialty board, and be trained at the master's degree level of education for his or her specialty. In turn, requests for NPBCP are initiated by the officer through his or her supporting human resources/personnel/ S-1 office to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, for official file updating. In turn, the U.S. Army Human Resources Command notifies the Army Medical Department Special Pay Branch to authorize NPBCP. If board certification renewals are issued, they must also be submitted to ensure NPCBP continues uninterrupted. Receipt of monthly NPBCP can be verified by the officer reviewing his or her monthly leave and earnings statement entitlements column. b. Upon receipt of documentation and eligibility verification, this office initiated NPBCP payments at a rate of $2,000.00 per year; payable at a rate of $166.66 per month effective 1 October 2015, with a current expiration of 31 July 2017. There is no previous record of submission, authorization, or payment of NPBCP for the period 30 June 2015 to 30 September 2015. c. A review of supporting documentation, and available special pay and finance data indicates the applicant met all criteria. He would have been eligible to receive the discretionary NPBCP for the missing 3-month period of 30 June 2015 to 30 September 2015. d. The retroactive payment for this total period is approximately $500.00 prior to withholding, the exact payment to be determined by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service utilizing a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance Medical Specialty-Pay-Date of 30 June 2015 for the correct pay rate. 4. The advisory opinion was furnished to the applicant for comment. He did not respond. REFERENCES: The Office of the Surgeon General publishes policies and procedures for entitlement to board certification pay for non-physician health care providers, known as NPBCP. This pay is authorized for personnel who are not physicians but who are caregivers such as psychologists, dieticians, physical and occupational therapists, podiatrists, and nurse practitioners. The annual rate of pay ranges from $2,000.00 for 10 to 12 years of service to $5,000.00 for over 18 years of service as a health professional. The authority to grant award of NPBCP to nurse practitioners is based on completion of a post Baccalaureate Degree, proof of board certification and evidence of a privilege to practice. The Office of the Surgeon General policies and procedures require that NPBCP cannot be awarded prior to the date the individual received privilege to practice authorization. DISCUSSION: The advisory official states the applicant did not receive NPBCP for the period 30 June 2015 to 30 September 2015 and indicates he is eligible to receive NPBCP for the 3-month period using a Health Professions Pay Entry Date or finance Medical Specialty-Pay-Date of 30 June 2015 for the correct pay rate. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings AR20150000953 Enclosure 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160005025 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20160005025 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Enclosure 2