IN THE CASE OF:  

		BOARD DATE: 24 January 2023

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20220006411


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  to receive retroactive Health Professions Officer Incentive 
Pay (HPOIP).

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

*	DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
*	, Department of Safety and Professional Services, Medical and Surgery license 
certificate and wallet license, 16 December 2021
*	Memorandum for Surgeon General of the Army, Subject:  Request for HPOIP, 
11 February 2022

FACTS:

1.  The applicant states she is requesting incentive back pay for the duration of her 
post-graduate second year as a Physician from July 2021 to January 2022. Following 
the completion of her internship on 30 June 2021, her incentive pay was supposed to 
increase to $8,000.00 annually. Her initial residency program began on 1 July 2021 and 
her license was processed through her human resources in February 2022 which is 
when her board certification pay started and was reflected on her Leave and Earning 
Statement (LES). The incentive pay was reflected on her LES as Save Pay. In 
accordance with Title 37, United States Code (USC), Section 335 (Special bonus and 
incentive pay authorities for officers in health professions) and Department of Defense 
Instruction (DODI) 6000.13 (Accession and Retention Policies, Programs, and 
Incentives for Military HPOs), she qualifies for the HPOIP as a credentialed health care 
provider in her initial residency.

2.  The applicant's service record shows:

	a.  DA Form 71 (Oath of Office – Military Personnel), dated 5 May 2016, appointed 
the applicant as a Reserve commissioned officer.

	b.  USAREC Form 601-37.28 (Department of the Army Service Agreement, F. 
Edward Hebert Armed Force Health Professions Scholarship Program (AFHPSP)), 
dated 29 June 2016, shows the applicant enrolled in a graduate course of study in 
medicine leading to a degree in Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

	c.  Orders Number C-08-610173 issued by the U.S. Army Human Resources 
Command (HRC), dated 3 August 2016, released the applicant from appointment and 
assigned her to the U.S. Army Reserve Control Group (Officer Active Duty Obligor), 
effective 5 May 2016

	d.  On 19 March 2020:

		(1) Orders Number 0320-79-SG19-1 issued by HRC appointed the applicant as a 
Regular Army Medical Corps officer, effective on the execution of the oath of office.

		(2) Orders Number A-03-000247 issued by HRC ordered the applicant to active 
duty for acceptance of a Regular Army appointment, effective 30 May 2020, with 
assignment to Student Detachment, Tripler Army Medical Center.

	e.  Orders Number A-03-000247A01 issued by HRC, dated 30 March 2020, 
amended Orders Number A-03-000247, dated 19 March 2020, to change the report 
date from 30 May 2020 to 1 June 2020.

	f.  Memorandum for Surgeon General of the Army, Subject: Request for HPOIP, 
dated 11 February 2022, shows the applicant qualified for incentive pay at a rate of 
$8,000.00 per year prorated monthly. Her Area of Concentration (AOC) was 60J 
(Obstetrics and Gynecology) and she is licensed in through 
31 October 2023. Her period of continuous active duty was effective 1 February 2022.

3.  The applicant provides the State of, Department of Safety and Professional Services, 
Medical and Surgery license certificate and wallet license, dated 16 December 2021, 
showing the applicant was issued her license and it expires on 31 October 2023.

4.  In the processing of this case, an advisory opinion was obtained from the Office of 
the Surgeon General, Army Medical Department Special Pay Branch on 
19 September 2022. The advisory official recommended approval of the applicant's 
request. It states in pertinent part:

	a.  A review of the applicant's supporting documentation determined her Residency 
HPOIP was effective on 1 February 2022 at the $8,000.00 per year rate. Her date of 
privileging was 1 July 2020.

	b.  She is eligible for $4,666.66 from 1 July 2020 to 30 January 2021; based on the 
$8,000.00 per year rate. She already received $700.00 for the same period. She is 
eligible to receive approximately $3,966.66; based on the difference of $4,666.66 minus 
$700.00. The exact arrears payment will be calculated by Defense Finance Accounting 
Service (DFAS).

	c.  In accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 37-104-4 (Military Pay and Allowances 
Policy), Chapter 20 (Settlement Actions Resulting from Correction of Records by the 
Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR)); only the Director of DFAS 
may make settlement actions affecting the military pay accounts of soldiers as a result 
of correction of records by the ABCMR. Therefore, any ABCMR relief granted should be 
addressed for action to the DFAS Corrections and Claims Section.

5.  The advisory opinion was provided to the applicant to afford her the opportunity to 
respond to its content. She did not respond.

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 Residency Health Professions Officer Incentive 
Pay (HPOIP) effective 20210701. A review of the relevant supporting documentation, 
special pay and finance data indicate the Residency HPOIP effective date was 
20220201. Per the HPO Pay Plan, is the latter date of qualifying training or date of 
privileging. Officer effective date of privileging was 20200701. The applicant’s date of 
privileging is 20200701 and was eligible to for the Residency HPOIP at the $8,000/year 
rate. As such, the applicant is eligible for $4,666.66 for the period 20200701-20210130 
($8,000/year rate). The applicant already received $700.00 for the same period. The 
applicant is eligible to receive is approximately $3,966.66 ($4,666.66-$700.00). The 
exact arrears payment is 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 1 July 2020 
•	showing his contract was timely received and processed by the appropriate office 
•	paying him any back pay, for the period 1 July 2020 to 30 January 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.


REFERENCES:

1.  Title 37, USC, section 335 states:

	a.  Health Professions Bonus. The Secretary concerned may pay a health 
professions bonus to an officer in the uniformed services who is a graduate of an 
accredited school in a health profession and who:
		(1)  Accepts a commission or appointment as an officer in a regular or reserve 
component of a uniformed service, or affiliates with a reserve component of a uniformed 
service, and agrees to serve on active duty in a regular component or in an active status 
in a reserve component in a health profession;

		(2)  Accepts a commission or appointment as an officer and whose health 
profession specialty is designated by the Secretary of Defense as a critically short 
wartime specialty; or

		(3)  Agrees to remain on active duty or continue serving in an active status in a 
reserve component in a health profession.

	b.  HPOIP. The Secretary concerned may pay incentive pay to an officer in a regular 
or reserve component of a uniformed service who:

		(1)  Is entitled to basic pay or compensation; and 

		(2)  Is serving on active duty or in an active status in a designated health 
profession specialty or skill.

	c.  Board Certification Incentive Pay. The Secretary concerned may pay board 
certification incentive pay to an officer in a regular or reserve component of a uniformed 
service who:

		(1)  Is entitled to basic pay or compensation;

		(2)  Is board certified in a designated health profession specialty or skill; and

		(3)  Is serving on active duty or in an active status in such designated health 
profession specialty or skill.

	d.  Additional Eligibility Criteria. The Secretary concerned may impose additional 
criteria for the receipt of a bonus or incentive pay as the Secretary determines to be 
appropriate.

2.  Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation 7000.14, Volume 7A, 
table 5-4 (Medical Corps IP) states initial residency physicians are entitled to HPOIP at 
a rate of $8,000.00 annually prorated monthly. 

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	AR20220006411


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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


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