IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 31 January 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20220005199 APPLICANT REQUESTS: amendment of her entitlement to Health Professions Officer Incentive Pay (HPO IP) to reflect an effective date of 6 September 2019. APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * State of Board of Psychology License, 29 July 2019 * Credentialing Profile * Memorandum – Subject: Request for HPO IP, 11 April 2022 FACTS: 1. The applicant states in pertinent part that she completed her Clinical Psychologist licensing requirements and credentialing on 6 September 2019. However, the processing of her Special Pay (SP) entitlements was delayed due to her being aligned under U.S. Army Forces Command. She contests that she was assigned to Fort Riley, KS from February 2019 – December 2021. Her unit of assignment did not have a SP representative and the representative at the hospital was not afforded the opportunity to assist because she was not assigned there. On or about 3 April 2022, her SP entitlement was back dated to 20 December 2021. She is now requesting entitlement to SP from 6 September 2019 – 20 December 2021. She declines having a break in service and notes that she attended the Captains Career Course (CCC) from 15 September 2022 – 18 November 2022. 2. A review of the applicant's available service records reflects the following: a. On 10 June 2016, the U.S. Army Human Resource Command issued Orders Number A-06-601727 ordered the applicant to active duty with a report date of 29 June 2016 (Fort Sam Houston, TX). b. On 29 June 2016, the applicant was appointed a Regular Army commission within the Medical Service Corps and subsequently enrolled in the Clinical Psychology Internship Program. c. On or about 20 October 2016, the applicant proceeded to Tripler Army Medical Center, HI, to participate in a 1 year Clinical Psychology Internship Program. d. On 26 October 2018, Headquarters Tripler Army Medical Center issued Orders Number 299-016 assigning the applicant to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Combat Support, Fort Riley, KS, on 31 January 2019 to serve as a 67D (Behavioral Sciences Officer). e. On 31 December 2018, the applicant completed the Post-Doctoral Residency in Clinical Military Psychology at Tripler Army Medical Center, HI. f. On 29 July 2019, the State of Iowa, Board of Psychology issued the applicant's license to practice as a psychologist. 3. The applicant provides the following a: a. Credentialing Profile reflective of the applicant's historical clinical credentialing information from 29 August 2019 – 13 December 2021. b. Memorandum – Subject: Request for HPO IP dated 11 April 2022, reflective of the applicant's approved request for HPO IP as a 73B (Clinical Psychologist) at a rate of $5,000.00 per year, paid on a prorated monthly basis effective 20 December 2021. 4. On 2 December 2022, the Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General, Chief, Army Medical Department, Special Pay Branch, provided an advisory opinion. The Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Special Pay Branch provides the following advisory opinion based on policy, plan, procedures, and rates. a. Officer requests the Health Professions Officer Incentive Pay (HPO IP) effective date be amended to reflect the date privileged to practice, 20190906. b. Review of the relevant supporting documentation, special pay and finance data indicate the officer did not enter until 20211220, but was eligible on 20190606. As such, the officer is eligible to receive the HPO IP for the requested date. Officer is eligible for a total of $6,430.35 for the 20190906-20211219 timeframe. The exact arrears payment will be calculated by DFAS-IN. c. In accordance with AR 37-104-4, Military Pay and Allowances Policy, 8 June 2005, Chapter 20 - Settlement Actions Resulting from Correction of Records by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR); only the Director, DFAS–IN may make settlement actions affecting the military pay accounts of soldiers as a result of correction of records by the ABCMR per provisions of AR 15-185. Therefore, any ABCMR relief granted should be addressed for action to the Corrections-Claims Section, DFAS–IN. 5. On 5 December 2022, the applicant was provided a copy of the advisory opinion and afforded 15 days to provide comments. As of 24 January 2023, the applicant had not responded. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the applicant's military records, the Board found that relief was warranted. The applicant's contentions, military records, and regulatory guidance were carefully considered. The applicant requests the Health Professions Officer Incentive Pay (HPOIP) effective date be amended to reflect the date privileged to practice, 20190906. The Board reviewed and agreed with the advisory official’s finding that review of the relevant supporting documentation, special pay and finance data indicate the applicant did not enter until 20211220 but was eligible on 20190606. As such, the applicant is eligible to receive the HPOIP for the requested date. She is eligible to receive this pay for the 20190906-20211219 timeframe. The exact arrears payment will be calculated by DFAS-IN. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 :X :X :X GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined that the evidence presented was 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 executed an HPOIP contract at the authorized annual rate commencing 6 September 2019 * showing her contract was timely received and processed by the appropriate office * paying her any HPOIP back pay, for the period 6 September 2019 to 19 December 2021 (less any monies received during this period) as a result of this correction 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. ? REFERENCE: Memorandum – Subject; Health Professions Officer Special and Incentive Pay Plan provides that subject to acceptance by the Secretary of the Army, a Health Professions Officer (HPO) who is eligible for and not in an existing Retention Bonus agreement, and who is no longer obligated pursuant to a previous IP agreement, may enter into a new 1-year IP agreement at the rate in the Health Professions Specialty and Incentive Pay plan. IP agreements must be for at least 1 year and cannot be prorated. To be eligible for HPO IP, an Officer must be a Health Care Provider (HCP), possess an unrestricted license (or approved waiver), and be qualified in his or her specialty. Social workers, Clinical Psychologists and Physicians Assistants have been designated as HCPs. Subject to acceptance by the Secretary concerned, a HCP must be currently credentialed and privileged at a military treatment facility in the specialty for which the incentive pay is to be paid. The Secretary concerned may also approve recommendations for incentive pay payments to fully qualified HCPs assigned to positions requiring a substantial portion of time performing military-unique duties under adverse conditions or in remote locations outside the United States, or that preclude the ability to spend appropriate time in a clinical setting. Licensed Clinical Psychologist are entitled to $5,000.00 per year. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20220005199 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1