Call for Help with your required six-month verification
The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment program provides many benefits. Be sure you stay in compliance with the requirements of your contract, which obligates you to
- provide two years of full-time clinical practice [+]
- at the approved NHSC site in your practice agreement
- maintain your health professions license and, if applicable, your certificate or registration in the state where you practice
- complete and return the employment verification form that is sent to you every six months
Leaving the Community Site/Changing Jobs
If you are unable to complete your service obligation at your approved service site, notify the NHSC immediately, in writing and specify the issues or concerns that affect your ability to fulfill your service commitment. Send to:
National Health Service Corps
Division of Scholar and Clinician Support
Room 8-15 Parklawn Building
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Any transfer, even to another approved NHSC site or to a satellite clinic not listed in your community site information form, must be approved by the NHSC. To avoid breaching your contract, do not resign from your site without the approval of the NHSC.
Suspending the Service Obligation for Medical and Personal Reasons
Your obligation to provide full-time clinical care at your approved NHSC site may be suspended if compliance
- is temporarily impossible or
- would involve a temporary extreme hardship such that enforcement of the obligation would be unconscionable.
A suspension may be granted, for up to one year, if you provide independent medical documentation of a physical or mental health disability, or a terminal illness of an immediate family member, that results in your temporary inability to fulfill the NHSC service obligation.
Maternity/Paternity
Notify the NHSC of pending maternity/paternity leave and provide documentation from the attending clinician. If your leave will be 12 weeks or less, notify the NHSC and document the leave on your six-month service obligation verification form. If your maternity or paternity leave will exceed 12 weeks in a service year, you must request that a suspension be granted based on documented medical need.
Call to Active Duty in the Armed Forces
Reservists called to active duty are granted a suspension for up to one year, beginning on the activation date described in the call to active duty order. In addition to the written request for a suspension, a copy of the order to active duty must be submitted to the NHSC. The suspension will be extended if the applicable Armed Forces entity continues the period of active duty. The period of active military duty will not be credited toward the NHSC service obligation.
Waiver or Cancellation
The NHSC service obligation may be waived if compliance
- is permanently impossible or
- would involve a permanent extreme hardship such that enforcement of the obligation would be unconscionable.
The obligation is cancelled in its entirety upon the death of the participant.
How to Request a Suspension or Waiver
Notify your intent to request a suspension or waiver by phoning 1-800-221-9393 (TTY: 1-877-897-9910), Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays), 9 am to 5:30 pm ET.
Submit your request for suspension or waiver in writing and include the reasons for your your request. Send to:
National Health Service Corps
Division of Scholar and Clinician Support
Room 8-15 Parklawn Building
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Document time away from the NHSC approved site on your six-month service obligation verification form. Upon receipt of the written suspension request, the NHSC will mail you instructions for documenting the request.
Periods of approved suspension will extend your service obligation end date.
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