Arizona Department of Health Services - Office of Health Systems Development

Bureau of Health Systems Development

Update: Through funds received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the NHSC has reopened their Loan Repayment Program, effective June 2, 2009. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until September 31, 2010 or funds are expended.

Please visit the ARRA NHSC Loan Repayment Program Information Bulletin for more information

HSD Contact:

Purpose:

The National Health Services Corps (NHSC) recruits and places health professionals at eligible sites within federally designated HPSAs. NHSC recruits primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse-midwives, dentists, dental hygienists, and mental health professionals. These providers serve in community-based systems of care in return for scholarship or loan repayment assistance.

For additional details on NHSC programs, see the National Health Service Corps Website (NHSC).

Requirements:

Check the NHSC Opportunities List for possible site locations.

Eligibility:

For a site to qualify for inclusion in the NHSC Recruitment and Retention Assistance List, it must:

Be part of a system of care which provides a service continuum that includes comprehensive primary care and appropriate arrangements for secondary and tertiary care.
Be located in a federally designated primary care HPSA. (to determine if a site or an area is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P), visit the Shortage Designation Advisor website.)
Have a documented record of sound fiscal management.
Be accessible to individuals regardless of ability to pay.
Accept Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries.
Maintain a sliding discount fee schedule that assures there is no financial barrier to care for those below 200 percent of poverty.
Agree that NHSC providers will be employed full time and their work weeks will not be less than four days.
Maintain a retention component to encourage retention of all health professionals including NHSC providers.
Maintain a salary and benefits package equal or greater than that offered to Federal civil service employees.
Maintain malpractice coverage which includes full payment for any tail coverage which may be required.

Apply

Application deadlines are annually in March. Provider applications are released in the last quarter of the calendar year. Interested clinicians can call the NHSC at 1-800-221-9393 to be placed on a mail list for the provider application or check the NHSC website for downloadable applications once they are released. Recruitment and Retention Assistance applications and Site Profile Forms are available year round. Sites requesting approval for an applying applicant must observe the March deadline also.

News:

NHSC Loan Repayment funds are now exempt from gross income and employment taxes!

The Arizona Department of Health Services is proud to announce that we currently have 33 NHSC Ambassadors in Arizona representing the academic and community settings. Check out your Arizona NHSC Ambassadors and feel free to contact your respective Ambassadors with any NHSC program questions.

If you would like to become an Ambassador please Contact Us for more information.

Notice:

Looking for volunteer opportunities for healthcare professionals? The Arizona Emergency System for the Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (AZ-ESAR-VHP) is a secure, Web-based system used to register, qualify and credential Arizona health care professionals before a major public health or medical emergency.