The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for eligible health care facilities interested in becoming new National Health Services Corps (NHSC)-approved sites. Eligible sites must provide comprehensive primary health care services to individuals in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
NHSC-approved sites are eligible to hire clinicians participating in the NHSC Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs. Under these programs, primary care, dental, and behavioral health clinicians may receive scholarships and loan repayment funds in return for a commitment of two years’ service at an NHSC-approved site. This year, the American Rescue Plan Act provided $800 million in new funding for the NHSC program, which HRSA states will support the largest number of NHSC clinicians ever.
Applicant sites may include, among others:
- Community outpatient clinics (hospital-affiliated or not);
- Private practices (individual or group); and
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facilities.
The full eligibility requirements are available here. For this opportunity, applicants should either:
- Have never received approval for NHSC (which may include sites that have applied and had their application denied or cancelled); or
- Be currently an inactive NHSC site, due to expiration or past compliance issues.
Behavioral and mental health providers are required to practice in a community-based setting that provides access to comprehensive mental and behavioral health services. NHSC sites that do not offer all required services must demonstrate a formal affiliation with a facility that provides these services.
Applications will be accepted until May 25th. A technical assistance webinar will be held on May 5th at 2pm (registration here). Further information, including the Site Reference Guide and past webinars, can be found on the HRSA website here.