Commissioned Corps BulletinDecember 3rd, 2018

2019 HPSP Agreements and Pay Schedule

New 2019 Health Professions Special Pays (HPSP) agreements, instructions, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are now available on the HPSP webpage. There are significant changes in 2019 to the HPSP agreement routing and processing. It is critical that you carefully read and follow the new instructions.

Key Changes to 2019 Agreements (Do NOT Use 2018 Agreements):

• It is required that agreements are routed in the following order:
  1. Officer initiates, completes, and signs the agreement.
  2. Immediate supervisor signs completed agreement provided by the officer.
  3. Officer submits complete package, with all required documents, to the Commissioned Corps Agency Liaison (CC Liaisons).
  4. The CC Liaison will obtain authorization for the agreement from an agency certifying official and submit the agreement to the Division of Commissioned Corps Personnel and Readiness (DCCPR).
• Payment of HPSP will commence within 90 days after receipt of the completed agreement in DCCPR or within 90 days after DCCPR receives all necessary supporting documentation beginning on January 1, 2019.
• A new 2019 IP agreement is required for all eligible officers, with the exception of:
  1. Officers without a rate change (only the Pharmacy category in 2019).
  2. Officers with 28 or more years of service toward retirement who cannot enter into a two-year service commitment for a new Retention Bonus (RB).
• A new 2019 Board Certified Incentive Pay (BCIP) agreement is NOT required if you have a 2018 agreement in place, unless your eligibility or certification lapses at any time.

Payment schedules for Incentive Pay (IP) will shift in 2019. IP payments in 2018 were on the first of the month in advance of the month (i.e. payment May 1 for April 28 through May 27). In 2019, payment will occur at the end of the month (i.e. payment May 1for April 1-31).

What does this shift in the payment schedule mean to you? Officers will receive a final payment for 2018 IP in their January 1, 2019 paychecks. The January 1st payment covers December 28, 2018 to January 27, 2019 HPSP. The pay schedule will then shift and most officers will receive the next payment on March 1, 2019.

Key Changes to 2019 IP Payments:

• The 2019 IP will be paid monthly on a pro-rated daily basis at the end of the month (i.e. payment for April on May 1). The 2018 payments were paid for the month in advance (i.e. payment March 1 for February 28 through March 27).
• The first 2019 HPSP payment for newly received and processed agreements is March 1 and will contain payment for 33 days.
• For officers who do receive a payment on February 1st, that payment will only contain the pro-rated three days due to the 2019 pay schedule change.

For more information, please view the HPSP webpage on the Commissioned Corps Management Information System (CCMIS). If you have additional questions, please email the Commissioned Corps Help Desk at CCHelpDesk@hhs.gov.