IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 11 August 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230001412 APPLICANT REQUESTS: retroactive payment for the Health Professions Officer Board Certification Pay (HPO BCP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 (22). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * American Board of Family Medicine diplomate diploma * American Board of Family Medicine Identification Card * American Board of Family Medicine letter * Request for HPO BCP FACTS: 1. The applicant states in effect, he requests retroactive pay for HPO BCP for FY 22. There was an error in his HPO BCP due to his HPO BCP contract not being signed after the beginning of the new FY. 2. A review of the applicant's service record shows: a. On 30 April 2015, the applicant completed his oath of office and was appointed a Reserve commissioned officer. b. On 27 May 2015, Orders Number C-05-507847, issued by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command (HRC), the applicant was appointed in the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) and assigned to the USAR Control Group Office Active Duty Obligor (OADO), effective 30 April 2015. c. On 12 March 2019, Orders Number A-03-900207, issued by the U.S. Army HRC, the applicant was ordered to active duty, effective 1 June 2019, to accept a Regular Army appointment. d. On 11 May 2019, the Doctor of Medicine degree was conferred upon the applicant. 3. The applicant provides: a. American Board of Family Medicine diplomate with shows the applicant is certified in Family Medicine. b. American Board of Family Medicine identification card with identification number XXXXXX. c. American Board of Family Medicine letter dated 22 September 2022 which states the applicant is certified with the American Board of Family Medicine, effective 22 July 2022. d. Request for HPO BCP shows the applicant requested and was approved for HPO BCP, effective 1 October 2022. The Army agrees to pay the applicant $6,000.00 per year to be paid monthly for his specialty in Family Medicine with the American Board of Medical Specialties. The applicant signed the agreement on 3 October 2022 and the senior commander approved it on 19 October 2022. 4. On 4 May 2023, in the processing of this case, the Office of the Surgeon General provided an advisory opinion regarding the applicant's request for retroactive HPO BCP. The advisory official stated although the applicant was eligible for HPO BCP as of 22 July 2022, his HPO BCP contract was not initiated until 1 October 2022. The applicant is eligible to receive $1,133.33 for the period of 22 July through 30 September 2022. The exact arrears payment will be calculated by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). 5. On 5 May 2023, the Army Review Boards Agency, Case Management Division provided the applicant the advisory opinion for review and comment. He did not respond. BOARD DISCUSSION: After reviewing the application, all supporting documents, and the evidence found within the military record, the Board found that partial relief was warranted. The Board carefully considered the applicant's contentions, the military record, and regulatory guidance were carefully considered. The Board agreed that the applicant was eligible for the Health Professions Officer Board Certification Pay as 22 June 2022; however, evidence of record shows that the contract was not initiated until 1 October 2022. As that date begins a new fiscal year, the Board agreed that that the applicant is eligible for that portion of the previous fiscal year from 22 July through 30 September 2022. Based on the preponderance of evidence available for review, the Board determined the evidence presented sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 : : : GRANT FULL RELIEF :xx :xx :xx GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of Army records of the individual concerned be corrected to show that he was eligible Health Professions Officer Board Certification Pay and that he be paid retroactive HPO BCP pay for the for the period 22 July through 30 September 2022. The exact arrears payment be calculated by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. 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. ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S): ? REFERENCE: 1. Title 37 United States Code (USC), section 335 (Special bonus and incentive pay authorities for officers in health professions), (c) (Board Certification Incentive Pay), the Secretary concerned may pay board certification incentive pay under this section to an officer in a regular or reserve component of a uniformed service who: * is entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this title or compensation under section 206 of this title; * is board certified in a designated health profession specialty or skill; and * is serving on active duty or in an active status in such designated health profession specialty or skill 2. Department of Defense Instruction 6000.13 (Accession and Retention Policies, Programs, and Incentives for Military Health Professions Officers (HPOs)) establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for: a. Military Department payment of incentives and bonuses to HPOs pursuant to section 335 of Title 37, USC, Paragraph 10 f. Board Certification Pay. To be eligible for BCP, an HPO must: (1) Be entitled to basic pay under section 204 of Reference (c) or compensation under section 206 of Reference (c). (2) Have a post-baccalaureate degree in a clinical specialty. A post-master's certificate acceptable to the Secretary concerned can satisfy this requirement. (3) Be certified by a professional board in a designated health profession clinical specialty. (4) Be serving on AD or in an active status in the specialty of the board certification. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20230001412 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1