Applicant Information Bulletin: School Year 2009-2010
Suspension, Waiver, and Cancellation

The Secretary of Health and Human Services or his/her designee may suspend or waive, in whole or in part, a FLRP service or payment obligation.  Requests for suspensions and waivers are reviewed and processed by the Legal and Compliance Office (LCO) of the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service.  In addition, the Secretary may cancel a FLRP contract under very limited circumstances.

Suspension – A suspension of the FLRP obligation will be granted if compliance with the obligation by the participant (1) is temporarily impossible or (2) would involve a temporary extreme hardship such that enforcement of the obligation would be unconscionable.  A request for a suspension must be submitted in writing to the Division of Scholar and Clinician Support (DSCS), Clinician Service Support Branch (CSSB) at 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-15, Rockville, Maryland 20857.  Except as noted below, the LCO will respond to the clinician’s request.  Periods of approved suspension will extend a participant’s FLRP service obligation end date.  All periods of time away from the employing institution should be documented by the participant on the 6-month service verification form.

Medical/Personal Reasons Suspension – A suspension may be granted, for up to one year, if the participant provides independent medical documentation of a physical or mental health disability, or a terminal illness of an immediate family member, that results in the participant’s temporary inability to perform the FLRP obligation.  If the participant will be away from his/her faculty duties for an extended amount of time for illness, it should be documented on the 6-month service verification form and the participant should request a suspension in writing.  Upon receipt of the written suspension request, the LCO will mail the participant instructions for documenting that request. 

Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Suspensions – Participants must notify the DSCS/CSSB of pending maternity/paternity/adoption leave and provide documentation from the attending clinician or adoption agency.  The time away from the participant’s faculty duties should be documented on the 6-month service verification form. 

Call to Active Duty in the Armed Forces – FLRP reservists who are called to active duty will be granted a suspension, for up to one year, beginning on the activation date described in the call to active duty order.  In addition to the written request for a suspension, a copy of the order to active duty must be submitted to DSCS/CSSB.  The suspension will be extended if the applicable Armed Forces entity continues the period of active duty.  The period of active military duty will not be credited toward the FLRP service obligation.

Waiver – A waiver may be granted if compliance with the obligation by the participant (1) is permanently impossible or (2) would involve a permanent extreme hardship such that enforcement of the obligation would be unconscionable.  A waiver request must be submitted in writing to the DSCS/CSSB at 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-15, Rockville, Maryland 20857.  The waiver request must specify the reason(s) the waiver is being requested.  The participant will be contacted directly by the LCO regarding the medical and financial documentation necessary to process the waiver request.

Cancellation – The service and financial obligation will be cancelled in its entirety upon the death of the participant.

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