Announcement of Interim Business Meeting
Tuesday May 31, 2016.
The public is notified that the SHARP Advisory Council will meet in a special session for the
purposes of discussing SHARP-I Carryover – Behavioral Health Specific Solicitation, a
proposed SHARP-II solicitation, and SHARP-III proposal.
Details follow:
Purpose: To review and deliberate on the status of a SHARP-I Carryover – Behavioral Health
Specific Solicitation, a proposed SHARP-II solicitation, and SHARP-III proposal.
Dates & Time: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
This meeting will be by teleconference only. Use teleconference number (800) 944-8766. Please
contact Eric Peter eric.peter@alaska.gov (907) 465-8509) for the pass code.
Agenda:
3:00 Call to order: John Riley, Chair
3:05 New business and next steps
#1 Discuss letter from Commissioner Davidson.
#2 Discuss short term and long term implications for SHARP1 and SHARP2 funding.
#3 Discuss implications for immediately expiring contracts and implications for recipient clinical
sites.
# 4 Discuss implications for targeted SHARP1 Beh Health solicitation.
# 5 Discuss implications for return of federal funds and employer matching funds.
#6 Discuss implications for Trust funding
#7 Discuss SHARP3
#7 Discuss Council's formal response to Commissioner's letter.
#8 Confirm date of June regular Quarterly Council meeting.
4:15 Public comment
4:30 Adjourn
The public is welcome to participate, however public testimony or input will be taken only
during agenda-identified time-slot(s).
The federal grant that helps to fund SHARP-I is from U.S. Health Resources and Services
Administration, under “State Loan Repayment Program” (SLRP). SLRP provides cost-sharing
grants to States to operate their own educational loan repayment programs for primary care
SHARP – Public Notice – Council Meeting – 5/31/16 Page 2
providers working in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). SLRP was established in
Title III of the Public Health Service Act (1987) & was re-authorized via P.L. 110-355 (2008).
For more information about Alaska’s SHARP support-for-service program overall, see the DHSS
website at: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/healthplanning/sharp/ . Robert Sewell, Ph.D.,
SHARP Program Manager, is available for questions via e-mail at robert.sewell@alaska.gov or
by phone 907-465-4065.
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation to participate in this
process, contact Eric Peter at eric.peter@alaska.gov, or call 907-465-8509, to ensure that any
necessary accommodations can be provided.
The purpose of SHARP is to recruit and retain healthcare professionals to serve in DHSSdesignated
healthcare service shortage areas in exchange for the repayment of qualifying
education loans &/or payment of direct incentive, pursuant to a signed SHARP memorandum of
agreement with the State of Alaska. The first participants in SHARP began service in June 2010.
The SHARP Advisory Council is a deliberative body composed of 15 voting agencies, with 2
more as ex-officio. A permanent interagency advisory body that meets at least quarterly is
required by statute (AS 18.29). Council’s voting membership is outlined in state regulation, with
the specific members currently including: AK Academy of Physician Assistants, AK Behavioral
Health Association, AK Commission on Post-Secondary Education, AK Dental Society, AK
Department of Labor, AK Mental Health Trust Authority, AK Native Heath Board, AK Native
Tribal Health Consortium, AK Nurses Association, AK Pharmacists Association, AK Primary
Care Association, AK State Hospital & Nursing Home Association, AK State Medical
Association, National Association of Social Workers - Alaska, United Way of Anchorage, &
University of Alaska, College of Health. Ex-officio members include the AK Division of Public
Health, AK Division of Behavioral Health, and the Rasmuson Foundation.
Council identifies and recommends priority healthcare practitioners for award from the extant
pool of otherwise eligible applicants. Selected healthcare practitioners sign a multi-year
memorandum of agreement (service contract) stating their commitment to serve in identified
high-need areas and facilities. Both full-time and half-time FTE are considered. DHSS reserves
the right to not accept any or all applications received, &/or recommended by Council, and
further, it retains the option to solicit again for more candidates. Program details and an example
of the required service contract (MOA) are found at:
(http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/healthplanning/sharp/).