IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 17 February 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20220008496 APPLICANT REQUESTS: back pay for Health Profession Officer Board Certification Pay (HPO BCP) and HPO Retention Bonus (HPO RB). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Board Certification Certificate FACTS: 1. The applicant states, in effect, though she passed her American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) boards in April 2021, her pay started in March 2022. She is requesting back pay. 2. The applicant's service records contain the following documents for the Board's consideration: a. DA Form 71 (Oath of Office Military Personnel) which shows the applicant completed the oath of office in the Regular Army on 17 June 2008. b. ANCC Certification shows the applicant was credentialed in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing from 10 January 2016 to 9 January 2021. c. Memorandum, Subject Request for HPO RB dated 7 February 2019, which shows the applicant agreed to serve in the Army for 4 years beginning on 15 March 2019 in Area of Concentration (AOC) 66C (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse) for a HPO RB of $20,000.00 per year. d. An ANCC Certification showing the applicant was credentialed in Psychiatric- Mental Health Nursing from 1 March 2021 to 28 February 2026. 3. In the processing of this case, the Office of the Surgeon General, Chief, Army Medical Department Special Pay Branch, provided an advisory opinion, on 21 November 2022, for the Board's consideration, which states in effect: a. The applicant is requesting retroactive HPO BCP at a rate of $6,000.00/year with an eligibility date of 1 April 2021. She also requested retroactive pay for the HPO RB with an effective date of 1 April 2021. b. Requests for HPO BCP are initiated by the applicant through their command's supporting Human Resources Personnel. If board certification renewals are issued, they must also be submitted to ensure HPO BCP continues uninterrupted. Receipt of monthly HPO IP and HPO BCP can be verified by the applicant by reviewing the monthly Leave and Earnings Statement entitlements column for disbursement as "Save Pay." c. A Review of supporting documentation, available personnel, special pay, and finance data indicates the applicant is currently receiving HPO RB effective 15 March 2019 through 14 March 2023. This renders the applicant ineligible for the requested effective date. The applicant is eligible for HPO BCP with an effective date of 28 May 2021. This is the effective date of the new AOC of 66R (Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner). The previous AOC was ineligible for the HPO BCP. d. The applicant was eligible for HPO BCP at $6,000.00/year for the period of 28 May 2021 to 28 February 2022. The current HPO BCP's effective date is 1 March 2022, one year following receipt of board certification and new fiscal year. The total amount the applicant is authorized is approximately $4,533.33. The exact arrears payment will be determined by Defense Finance and Accounting Service. The applicant's effective date of HPO RB is 15 March 2019 and no funds are due. 5. On 5 December 2022, the advisory opinion was provided to the applicant to allow her the opportunity to respond. She did not respond. BOARD DISCUSSION: 1. After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found that relief was warranted. The Board carefully considered the applicant's record of service, documents submitted in support of the petition and executed a comprehensive and standard review based on law, policy and regulation. Upon review of the applicant’s petition, available military records and, the Office of the Surgeon General, Chief, Army Medical Department Special Pay Branch advisory opinion, the Board concurred with the advising official finding the applicant is eligible for HPO BCP with an effective date of 28 May 2021. This is the effective date of the new AOC of 66R (Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner). Evidence in the record show the applicant was eligible for HPO BCP at $6,000.00/year for the period of 28 May 2021 to 28 February 2022. The current HPO BCP's effective date is 1 March 2022, one year following receipt of board certification and new fiscal year. The total amount the applicant is authorized is approximately $4,533.33. Recommend the exact arrears payment will be determined by Defense Finance and Accounting Service 2. However, the Board determined, based on the advising official, the applicant is currently receiving HPO RB effective 15 March 2019 through 14 March 2023. This renders the applicant ineligible for the requested effective date. The Board noted the applicant's effective date of HPO RB is 15 March 2019 and no funds are due. Based on this the Board grant partial relief. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF X X X GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: 1. The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for relief. As a result, the Board recommend that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be correct by showing the applicant is authorized back pay for Health Profession Officer Board Certification Pay (HPO BCP). The total amount the applicant is authorized is approximately $4,533.33. The exact arrears payment will be determined by Defense Finance and Accounting Service. 2. The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief. As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to back pay for HPO Retention Bonus (HPO RB). 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: Title 37 United States Code, Section 335 (Special Bonus and Incentive Pay Authorities for Officers in Health Professions) states the Secretary concerned may pay a health professions bonus to an officer of the uniformed service who accepts a commission and agrees to remain on active duty in a health profession. The Secretary concerned may also pay BCP. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20220008496 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1