National Health Service Corps Programs

The Health Care Access Branch works cooperatively with the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) in bringing health professionals (medical, dental, and mental health) to rural underserved communities.  NHSC is a competitive program that recruits fully trained and licensed health professionals to provide primary health services in NHSC community sites in selected Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

The most notable aspect of being accepted into the NHSC program is the Loan Repayment Program (LRP).

If you are a primary health care professional who wants to make a difference in a community of greatest need, the NHSC is looking for you.

The following health professionals are eligible to apply to be a NHSC Clinician:

• Allopathic (MDs) or Osteopathic (DOs) physicians
• Primary Care Certified Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
• Certified Nurse-Midwives (NMs)
• Primary Care Physician Assistants (PAs)
• General Practice or Pediatric Dentists (DDSs or DMDs)
• Registered Clinical Dental Hygienists (DHs)
• Health Service Psychologists (HSPs)
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
• Psychiatric Nurse Specialists (PNSs)
• Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs)
• Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)
  

National Health Service Corps job opportunities can by found at:
NHSC Job Opportunities

Note:  NHSC Job Opportunities will take you to a site where you may download an Excel sheet with current job opportunities.  You may filter this by state and by categories (Loan Repayment noted as LR).

The NHSC uses numerous abbreviations and acronyms in their job opportunties listing.  For your convenience, NHSC has provide the NHSC Acronym list to assist for interpretation purposes.

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP) is a competitive program that recruits fully training and licensed health professionals to provide primary care, dental care, and mental health services at NHSC-approved sites.  In return, the NHSC LRP assists clinicians with repayment of qualifying educational loans that are still owed.

To be eligible, a clinician must be fully trained, licensed and working at (or in the final stages of employment negotiations with) an NHSC-approved site.  Job opportunities at NHSC-approved sites are posted on the NHSC Job Opportunities List located above.  Loan repayment opportunities are listed as category LR.  However, job opportunities with a category of HP are also eligible for the Loan Repayment Program.

While employment at an eligible site is a requirement to qualify for the Loan Repayment Program, it is not a guarantee of an award.  Awards are granted first to those professionals serving at NHSC-approved sites with the greatest need.  NHSC-approved sites with less need are awarded as resources allow. Need is determined by using the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation score - the higher the score, the higher  the need. These scores are indicated on the NHSC Job Opportunities List. 

You may apply for the program at the NHSC Loan Repayment Program.

Frequently Asked Questions about the NHSC Loan Repayment Program.

In addition to the NHSC Loan Repayment program, Kentucky participates in the State Loan Repyment Program (SLRP).  SLRP is managed by the State Office for Rural Health and works cooperatively with the Health Care Access Branch Primary Care Office (PCO) and the Primary Care Association (PCA).

In this program, the Federal government provides up to fifty percent (50%) of the funds to make loan repayment awards to primary health care clinicians. The remaining fifty percent (50%) of the funding comes from the employees sponsoring agency or community resources.

To learn more about SLRP, visit the State Office of Rural Health's website.

SLRP Fact Sheet

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is committed to increasing access to primary care services and reducing health disparities for people in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) by assisting communities through recruitment and retention, site development, practice management, and quality assurance activities.

Sites may apply for assistance from the NHSC in recruiting and retaining community-responsive, culturally competent primary care clinicians. To begin the application process for NHSC assistance, sites must complete the NHSC Recruitment and Retention Assistance Application. Please note that in order to be considered, sites must meet several criteria, including:

• Located in a federally designated HPSA. 
• Documentation of sound fiscal management.
• Use a sliding-fee schedule or other documented methods to reduce fees that ensure no financial barriers to care exist, accept assignment of Medicare, and enter into an agreement with the State agency that administers Medicaid.
• Proof of the capacity to maintain a competitive salary, benefits, and malpractice coverage package must provide requested health care services regardless of the individuals ability or method of payment.
• NHSC sites must not discriminate in the provision of services to an individual because of (1) the individual's ability to pay for the services; or (2) because payment for the services would be made under the Medicare, Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Programs.

For more information and to apply, visit NHSC's Recruitment and Retention Application site.