0230 site factsheet

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS
INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND SITES
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is dedicated to improving the health of the Nation’s neediest
communities. Over the past 35 years, we have brought thousands of dedicated clinicians to communities
that need them most. Our efforts have fostered commitments from clinicians and communities to meet the
unique health care needs of millions of people.

Recruitment and Retention Assistance
The NHSC helps communities recruit and retain caring health professionals who are committed to serving
in the communities that need them most. The NHSC seeks clinicians who demonstrate a strong personal
commitment to service and an appreciation for the unique needs of the underserved. Some of these health
professionals have committed to serve in community-based systems of care in return for scholarship or
loan repayment support. Currently, two-thirds of NHSC clinicians remain in underserved communities
after fulfilling their NHSC service commitments. We encourage an interdisciplinary team approach to
health care delivery. Primary health care teams are made up of health professionals who combine their
skills to meet their patients' needs. The NHSC can help as you consider your staffing needs for primary
care services. We help communities recruit:
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Primary care physicians (family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and
general psychiatry)
Primary care nurse practitioners
Primary care physician assistants
Certified nurse-midwives
Dentists and dental hygienists
Mental and behavioral health professionals (clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, licensed
professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychiatric nurse specialists)

Getting Started
Support from NHSC often involves developing and preparing sites and communities by helping them
identify innovative solutions. The NHSC can help:
• Build partnerships and relationships in the community to mobilize local resources
• Design and implement a discounted fee schedule or other means for providing affordable care
• Maximize revenue from Federal programs such as the Rural Health Clinic and Federally Qualified
Health Center Programs
• Identify ways to support uncompensated care through other grant programs (State and/or Federal) to
ensure that the site remains fiscally sound
• Establish an integrated system of care that includes the uninsured and underinsured
• Link with other communities and sites that have "done it"
For sites that meet the eligibility requirements, a simple two-page application is all that’s needed to get
started.

Benefits of Working With the NHSC
Sites and communities benefit from working with the NHSC in a number of important ways, including
opportunities to:
• Post vacancies and site profiles on the NHSC Web site
• Receive referrals of clinicians seeking employment in their area
• Develop linkages to academic institutions and other organizations and resources
• Receive community and site development assistance
• Network with other NHSC sites
In addition, communities with the greatest need may also have opportunities to recruit clinicians
participating in the NHSC Scholarship Program or utilize the NHSC Loan Repayment Program to
recruit or retain health professionals.

Eligibility Requirements for NHSC Assistance
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Located in a federally designated health professional shortage area (HPSA)* (A HPSA is a
geographic area, population group, or medical facility that has been designated by the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services as having a shortage of health professionals.)
Urban or rural communities serving high-need populations
Accept Medicaid/Medicare assignments
Maintain a discounted fee schedule that assures there is no financial barrier to care for those who are
at or below 200 percent of the federally designated poverty level
Function as part of a system of care that assures access to the full continuum of services (referral and
hospitalization)
Maintain full-time practice hours

*To determine if your community or area in which the site is located is already designated as a HPSA, go
to http://hpsafind.hrsa.gov/. If there is no designation in place, please contact the State Primary Care
Office (PCO) about submitting a request for a designation. The State PCO directory is located at
http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/resources/info/pco.asp or contact the Shortage Designation Branch analyst for
your state at the Shortage Designation Branch of Office of Workforce Evaluation and Quality Assurance
in the Bureau of Health Professions at 1-800-400-2742.

Together, We Build Healthier Communities
For more information on how your community can get involved, call our toll-free help line or visit our
Web site.

National Health Service Corps
Toll-Free Help Line:
1-800-221-9393
http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov
The National Health Service Corps is part of the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA). HRSA improves the Nation's health by assuring equal access to comprehensive, culturally competent,
quality health care for all.
Rev. 04/2007 GE102G