National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (93.162)
Program
93.162 National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
Federal Agency
HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Section 338B, 42 U.S.C. 254l-1), as amended; National Health Service Corps Amendments Act of 1987, Title II, Public Law 101-597.
Program Number
93.162
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To ensure an adequate supply of trained health professionals by assisting the repayment of qualifying educational loans in return for service to populations located in selected health professional shortage areas identified by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Awards provide payments of up to $25,000 a year towards participants' qualified government and commercial health professions undergraduate and graduate education loans plus a tax assistance payment of 39 percent during the first 2 years of practice at a selected NHSC Loan Repayment Service Site under a written agreement with this program. For subsequent years, payments of up to $35,000 a year plus a tax assistance payment of 39 percent may be made available under a written agreement. Health professions given priority for selection are those identified as needed by communities. For fiscal year 2003, priority for selection was given to: (1) Primary care physicians; (2) dentists; (3) certified nurse midwives; (4) certified nurse practitioners; (5) physicians assistants; (6) clinical psychologists; (7) clinical social workers; (8) psychiatric nurse specialists; (9) marriage and family therapists; (10) licensed professional counselors; and (11) dental hygienists. Contracts may be awarded to those who are available for service no later than September 30, 2003.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Individuals are eligible to apply if they have (1) U.S. citizenship; (2) a health professions degree or are in professional practice (they must hold an unrestricted health professions license from the State in which they will be working, and be eligible for selection for a Federal civil service appointment, or hold an appointment as a commissioned officer in the Regular or Reserve Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service); (3) not defaulted on any Federal debt or do not have a court judgment against them; and (4) no existing service obligation.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Beneficiaries include (1) Primary care physicians; (2) dentists; (3) certified nurse midwives; (4) certified nurse practitioners; (5) physicians assistants; (6) clinical psychologists; (7) clinical social workers; (8) psychiatric nurse specialists; (9) marriage and family therapists; (10) licensed professional counselors; and (11) dental hygienists.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must submit: (1) Copy of all loan documentation; (2) proof of citizenship, if the applicant was not born in the United States; and (3) other documentation as required by the program.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
The application form to be used by this program has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Applications may be obtained from the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, by calling: 1-800-221-9393 or by emailing nhsc@hrsa.gov.
Award Procedure
Priority will be given to individuals whose training is in a health discipline or specialty determined by the Secretary for Health and Human Services to be needed by the NHSC, who are nearest to availability for service, and who the Secretary determines are committed to service in health professional shortage areas.
Deadlines
Applications for fiscal year 2004 must be postmarked by March 26, 2004.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Contract amendments will be considered according to the availability of appropriated funds and eligibility criteria applied to the individual and the site at which that individual is employed.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Loan repayments for 1 year of obligated service will be made no later than the end of the fiscal year in which the individual completes such year of service.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
None.
Audits
None.
Records
Financial records must be kept available for 3 years after the end of the service obligation.
Program Accomplishments
There were 671 new contract awards, 252 contract amendments, and 12 contract adjustments made in fiscal year 2002. It is expected that there will be 1,204 awards in fiscal year 2003 and 1,870 awards in fiscal year 2004.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0350-0-1-550.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $50,337,630; FY 03 est $75,900,000 and FY 04 $75,900,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$6,612 to $69,500; $62,509 for new contract awards; $11,471 to $48,650; $43,767 for contract amendments; $4,000 to $69,500; $40,859 for contract adjustments.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Pertinent information is contained in Section 338B of Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254) as amended by Title II, Public Law 100-177. The National Health Service Corps Amendments of 1987, 45 CFR 100, and PHS Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000, (Rev.) April 1, 1994. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is pending.
Related Programs
93.288, National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program; 93.342, Health Professions Student Loans, Including Primary Care Loans/Loans for Disadvantaged Students; 93.364, Nursing Student Loans.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Program Contact: Chief, Applicatiion and Award Branch, Division of the National Health Service Corps., Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8A-55, Rockville,MD 208578. Telephone: (301) 594-4400. Public Information Phone: 1-800-221-9393.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
During fiscal year 2001, the program matched a total of 621 contracts to eligible clinicians with health professions degrees or licenses.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Priority will be given to applicants who are individuals whose training is in a health profession or specialty determined by the Secretary to be needed by NHSC.
