This link might help...
http://www.hrsa.gov/about/budget/summarybudgetjust2012.pdf
It looks like they are requesting 277 million more dollars than FY2011... Lets keep our fingers crossed that congress passes the budget!
Awesome, Atticus! Our scholarship money will come from the FY2012 budget, not the FY2011!!!! Then, it makes absolutely sense why they can't commit until after October 1st. However, they can "guess-estimated" whether their budget request would be approved by talking to an appropriation committee aide if they were to grant the scholarship prior to Oct. 1st. Hmm, it all makes sense now!!!
That's why I love this site, we all add a little bit of this or that to complete the puzzle!