To apply for a Continuation Contract, you must have a record of compliance with NHSC LRP requirements.
What factors influence our decision?
If you don't meet the program's requirements during your initial contract in a timely manner, we may not be able to consider you for the program.
For example, we may consider you unqualified if you:
- Do not use all the NHSC LRP funds you received in the past to pay your qualifying educational loans. You list this information in your Participant Authorization Worksheet (PAW).
- Fail to submit 6-month In-Service Verification (ISV) forms on time (for example, more than 60 days late).
- Convert from a full-time to half-time schedule without first obtaining NHSC approval.
- Fail to notify the NHSC in advance that you left, or will leave, one or more of your NHSC-approved sites.
- Transfer to another site prior to obtaining NHSC approval.
- Request excessive transfers (more than two voluntary transfers).
- Fail to adhere to other program timelines and policies.
- Fail to disclose information regarding your service that impacts compliance with the terms and conditions of an NHSC contract (for example, working at an additional site).
- Fail to submit documentation for service requests in a timely manner (for example, transfer request documents).
- Demonstrate a lack of flexibility in practice locations prior to official NHSC site assignment (in cases of unemployed clinicians).
- Have excessive absences, that is more than 35 workday absences per service year without a documented medical, personal, or otherwise substantiated reason. To suspend your service obligation, you must provide valid evidence to support your request. This documentation should clearly indicate a medical, personal, or other substantiated reason that meets the criteria for suspension.
Note: If some of these factors apply while you serve your initial contract, and you don't resolve them promptly, this may result in a breach of contract. This would put you in default of your NHSC LRP contract.