National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (93.162)

 

Program

93.162 National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

 

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Health Resources and Services Administration

 

Authorization

Public Health Service Act, Section 338B, 42 U.S.C. 254l-1), as amended; Health Care Safety Net Amendments of 2002,, Title II, Public Law 107-251.

 

Program Number

93.162

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

The National Health Service Corp (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program’s objective is to increase the supply of primary care physicians, dentists, dental hygientist, behavioral and mental health professionals, certified nurse midwives, certified family nurse practitioners, and physician assistants and, if needed by the National Health Service Corps, other health professionals in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) within the U.S.A and it’s territories by assisting the repayment of qualifying educational loans in return for service to populations located health professional shortage areas identified by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

 

Types of Assistance

DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED USE

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Awards provide payments of up to $35,000 a year towards participants' qualified government and commercial health professions undergraduate and graduate education loans during the first 2 years of practice at a selected National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Service Site under a written agreement with this program. For a 3rd and 4th subsequent year, payments of up to $35,000 a year may be made available under a written agreement, for a 5th subsequent year payments of up to $25,000 a year may be made available under a written agreement, for a 6th subsequent year payments of up to $20,000 a year may be available under a written agreement, and for a 7th subsequent year and beyond, payments of up to $15,000 may be available under a written agreement. Health professions given priority for selection are those identified by communities.

 

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

Primary care, oral health, and mental and behavioral health professions are eligible for the Loan Repayment Program (LRP). Specific specialties within these professions are selected for LRP awards based on community demand for health services.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants should review the individual HRSA Guidance documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov.

All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions

Award Procedure

NHSC loan repayment awards are made based on the highest need as determined by descending health professional shortage area scores. 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 and who the Secretary determines are committed to service in health professional shortage areas.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 120 Days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

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.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

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. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Direct Payments to recipients account through the PSC.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Audits

Not Applicable.

Records

Not applicable.

 

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: FY 08 1,535 were made. Fiscal Year 2009: In FY 09, approximately 1,600 awards are expected to be made. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0350-0-1-550.

Obligations

(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 08 $59,647,676; FY 09 est $72,878,669; FY 10 est $110,329,200

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

New awards range from $5,000 to $50,000, with an average award being $45,761.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Not Applicable.

 

Related Programs

93.288 National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program; 93.303 Nursing Scholarship Program; 93.342 Health Professions Student Loans, Including Primary Care Loans/Loans for Disadvantaged Students; 93.364 Nursing Student Loans; 93.908 Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Chief, National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Branch, Division of Applications and Awards, Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-37, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 594-4400. Public Information Phone: (1-800) 221-9393.

Headquarters Office

Division of Applications and Awards, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-37, Rockville, Maryland 20857 Phone: (301) 594-4400

Web Site Address

www.hrsa.gov .

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: During FY 08, the program awarded a total of 1,535 contracts to eligible clinicians with health professions degrees or licenses. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Priority will be given to applicants who are individuals whose training is in a health or specialty profession determined by the Secretary to be needed by NHSC.

Federal Grants Search

Tools

Browse Federal Grants

Federal Grant Resources

Related Health Resources and Services Administration Federal Grants

Other Department of Health and Human Services Agencies

 
Federal Grants Wire HomeLinking | Federal Grants WireAbout Federal Grants WireBrowse federal grants, government grants and loans.Federal Grants Wire Home