$200 million to support student loan repayments

Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, the NHSC has provided scholarships and loan repayments for more than 30,000 doctors, dentists and other health professionals who provide health care in the most geographically isolated and economically distressed regions of the country.

Nearly $200 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will be made available to support student loan repayments for primary care medical, dental and mental health clinicians who are willing to work at National Health Service Corps (NHSC) sites.

Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, the NHSC has provided scholarships and loan repayments for more than 30,000 doctors, dentists and other health professionals who provide health care in the most geographically isolated and economically distressed regions of the country.

In exchange for the loan repayments, clinicians serve for two years with the Corps.

Under this program, in addition to $50,000 for loan repayment, each clinician receives a competitive salary and a chance to have a significant impact on a community.

Primary care practitioners interested in applying for loan repayments should visit http://nhsc.hrsa.gov.

To see a list of opportunities available by state, CLICK HERE .

The new funds are expected to double the number of NHSC clinicians – and make 3,300 awards to clinicians that serve in health centers, rural health clinics and other health care facilities that care for uninsured and underserved people.

Announcing the funding, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, “The Recovery Act has laid the foundation for health reform and is supporting our effort to give more people access to the quality, affordable care they need.”

Mary Wakefield, administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration that oversees the NHSC said, “The health care professionals who heed this call to serve will join thousands of dedicated NHSC primary care clinicians already in the field… These funds will double both the number of (NHSC) clinicians and the number of patients they care for, and spark economic growth in communities hit hard by the economic downturn.”

To track the progress of U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services activities funded through the ARRA, visit www.hhs.gov/recovery. To track all programs receiving federal funds through the ARRA, visit www.recovery.gov.

Posted June 13, 2009