IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 4 August 2023 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20230001806 APPLICANT REQUESTS: payment of Health Professions Officer Incentive Pay (HPO IP). APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record) * Fellowship in Surgical Critical Care Certificate * Application for Clinical Privileges/Medical Staff Appointment * Memorandum, Subject: Request for HPO IP * Physician License FACTS: 1. The applicant states, in effect, he completed his Trauma Critical Care Fellowship on 30 June 2022 and passed the critical care boards in September 2022. He had his HPO IP contract redone with his new Area of Concentration (AOC), which changed to Trauma Critical Care from General Surgery. His G-1 stated they were only able to initiate HPO IP as of 1 October 2022 because of the fiscal year change over. The G-1 stated he needed to petition the Board for correction. His new HPO IP should have been redone as of 1 July 2022 after he completed his Critical Care Fellowship and initiated his credentialling as critical care staff. 2. The applicant's service record contains the following documents for the Board's consideration: a. DA Form 5074-R (Record of Award of Entry Grade Credit (Medical and Dental Officers)) dated 11 February 2011 shows the applicant attended the University of Toledo from 20 August 2007 through 3 June 2011 and was awarded the Doctor of Medicine. b. DA Form 71 (Oath of Office - Military Personnel) shows the applicant completed the oath of office and was appointed as a Regular Army officer in the Medical Corps on 5 June 2011. c. DA Form 3492 (General Surgery Residency Certificate) shows the applicant completed general surgery residency from 1 July 2012 through 30 June 2017. d. Fellowship in Surgical Critical Care, showing the applicant completed his fellowship from 1 July 2021 through 30 June 2022. e. The applicant's service record is void of a request for HPO IP for the time period requested. 3. The applicant provides the following documents, not previously considered, for the Board's consideration: a. Application for Clinical Privileges/Medical Staff Appointment, which shows the applicant's privileges were granted on 27 July 2022 and would expire on 20 March 2024 in the Medical Corps AOC of 61J (General Surgeon), Trauma Department. b. Memorandum, Subject: Request for HPO IP, dated 2 December 2022, shows the applicant requested and was approved for HPO IP, effective 1 October 2022 at a rate of $59,000 per year, prorated monthly. c. Texas Medical Board Physician License with an expiration date of 28 February 2023. 4. On 13 March 2023, the Office of the Surgeon General, Chief, Army Medical Department Special Pay Branch Human Resources, G-1, provided an advisory opinion for the Board's consideration, which states, in effect: a. The applicant requests retroactive HPO IP at the rate of $59,000.00 per year effective 1 July 2022, Trauma/Critical Care Fellowship. b. A review of the supporting documentation, policy, special pay, and finance data shows the applicant was eligible to receive the HPO IP on 1 July 2020 [sic] but finance records indicate 1 October 2022 as the effective date. c. The applicant received $52,000.00 per year prorated at $4,333.33 a month from 1 July 2022 through 30 September 2022. He is eligible to receive $59,000.00 per year prorated monthly at $4,916. 66 for the same period. Total amount the applicant is eligible to receive is $1,749.99. The exact arrears payment is determined by Defense Finance Accounting Service. 5. On 17 April 2023, the advisory opinion was provided to the applicant to allow him the opportunity to respond. 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 relief was warranted. The Board carefully considered applicant s contentions, the military record, regulatory guidance and other supporting documentation as provided. The Board agreed that the applicant was eligible for Health Professions Officer Incentive Pay, Trauma/Critical Care Fellowship with an effective date of 20221001. Board further agreed that based on the effect date, the applicant is due the remaining portion of the incentive pay. BOARD VOTE: Mbr 1 Mbr 2 Mbr 3 :xx :xx :xx GRANT FULL RELIEF : : : GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF : : : GRANT FORMAL HEARING : : : DENY APPLICATION 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 to show the applicant was authorized Health Professions Officer Incentive Pay for the period 20220701-20220930 and is eligible to receive is $1,749.99. The exact arrears payment is to be determined by Defense Finance 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. REFERENCES: 1. Title 37, United States Code, Section 335 (Special Bonus and Incentive Pay Authorities for Officers in Health Professions) states Health Professions Incentive Pay. The Secretary concerned may pay incentive pay under this section to an officer in a regular or reserve component of a uniformed service who (1) is entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this title or compensation under section 206 of this title; and (2) is serving on active duty or in an active status in a designated health profession specialty or skill. 2. Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation 7000.14, chapter 5, table 5-4 states a fully qualified physician in Trauma/Critical Care Surgery is entitled to HPO IP at a rate of $59,000.00 per year, prorated monthly. //NOTHING FOLLOWS// ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20230001806 1 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1