National Health Service Corps

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is a program of the Department of Health and Human Services created to eliminate federally designated HPSAs throughout the United States.  Toward that end, the NHSC strives to provide an adequate supply of primary health care professionals to the neediest areas around the nation by means of scholarships and loan repayment for primary care physicians, dentists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, mental health providers, and dental hygienists.

Qualifying Criteria
In order to qualify for recruitment and retention assistance from NHSC, an area must be a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).  The neediest shortage areas take priority for NHSC scholarship and loan re-payment recipients; however, all approved sites receive recruitment assistance from the U.S. Public Health Service.  Sites applying to NHSC are given a degree of shortage score based on patient-physician ratios, poverty levels, incidence of infant mortality/low birth weight and area access to providers who will not deny care because of inability to pay.

Please note that in order to be considered, sites must meet several criteria, including:

• 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 Kansas Health Policy Authority to participate in Medicaid and HealthWave, the State Children's Health Insurance Program
• Ensure access to services for patients who come from or reside in the federally-designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) where the practice is located.
• Maintain a competitive salary, benefits, and malpractice coverage package