NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program

Eligible clinicians enjoy the following benefits in exchange for providing substance use disorder and opioid use disorder treatment services at rural NHSC-approved SUD treatment facilities.

• Loan Repayment
  Eligible clinicians may receive up to $100,000 ($105,000 with Spanish language award enhancement for full-time service or $50,000 ($55,000 with Spanish language award enhancement) for half-time service, to repay outstanding, qualifying, educational loans.
• Flexible Service
  Options You have a choice between three years of full-time or half-time service at a rural NHSC-approved SUD treatment facility.
  Note: If you serve in a private practice, you are not eligible to practice half-time.
• Service
  You have an opportunity to increase access to primary care services in rural communities in need.

• Application launch date: March 19, 2024
• Application submission deadline: May 9, 2024
• Employment start date: July 18, 2024
• Scholars service obligation date: July 31, 2024
• Notification of award: September 30, 2024
• Contract termination deadline: 60 days from the effective date of the contract or at any time if the individual who has been awarded such contract has not received funds due under the contract.

• Allopathic/osteopathic physicians
• Physician assistants
• Psychiatrists
• Nurse practitioners
• Certified nurse-midwives
• Psychiatric nurse specialists
• Health service psychologists
• Licensed clinical social workers
• Marriage and family therapists
• Licensed professional counselors
• SUD counselors
• Pharmacists
• Registered nurses
• Certified registered nurse anesthetists

• SAMHSA-certified opioid treatment programs (OTPs)
• Office-based opioid treatment facilities (OBOTs)
• Non-opioid substance use disorder treatment facilities (SUD treatment facilities)
• Federally Qualified Health Care Centers (FQHCs)
• Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
• American Indian Health facilities
• FQHC Look-Alikes
• State or federal correctional facilities
• Critical Access Hospitals
• Community health centers
• State or local health departments
• Community outpatient facilities
• Private practices
• School-based clinics
• Mobile units and free clinics

Complete each of the sections below to submit your application.

Eligibility

If you do not pass the initial eligibility screening portion of the application, you cannot continue with the application.

Personal Information

Provide contact information such as your name, social security number, mailing and email addresses, as well as information about individual and family background.

Professional Information

• Discipline, Training and Certification
  Provide information about your education, training, and licensure/certification.
• Site Search (Employment)
  You will search for and select the NHSC-approved site(s), where you currently provide or will provide patient care.

• Employment Verification
  You must request an Employment Verification (EV) through the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) Customer Service Portal. We will notify the point(s)-of-contact at the NHSC-approved service site where you work (or plan to work), about your request.

  We’ll notify you once the site(s) point(s) of contact completes it.

  The site(s) must complete the electronic EV before you can submit your application. It's your responsibility to ensure that the site point-of-contact completes the EV.

• Professional Information
  You will respond to questions related to your profession and professional training.
• Telehealth
  This section contains optional questions that you will answer about any telehealth services you provide.

Loan Information

• Provide information on each qualifying educational loan for which you seek repayment.
  We'll review supporting documents, contact lenders/holders, and check your credit report.
  Each of the loans must have:
  • Name and contact information for the lender/holder.
  • Loan account number.
  • Original amount disbursed.
  • Original date of the loan.
  • Current outstanding balance (no more than 30 days from the date you submit your application).
  • Current interest rate.
  • Type of loan. If a consolidated loan, we need to know:
    • Original date of consolidation.
    • Original balance of consolidation.
    • Account number.
  • Purpose of loan.

An application is incomplete without the following required supplemental documents:

• Proof of status as a United States citizen or United States national
  Acceptable documents: birth certificate, current U.S. passport’s ID page, or a certificate of citizenship or naturalization.
  Unacceptable documents: driver’s license or Social Security card.
• Loan Information Verification
  Provide two types of documentation for each loan you submit:
  • Account Statement
    Current information on your qualifying educational loans. This document should:
    • Be on official letterhead or other clear verification that it comes from the lender/holder.
    • Include the name of the borrower (the NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program applicant).
    • Contain the account number.
    • Include the date of the statement (cannot be more than 30 days from the date you submit your application).
    • Include the current outstanding balance (principal and interest) or the current payoff balance.
    • Include the current interest rate.
  • Disbursement Report
    Verifies the originating loan information and should:
    • Be on official letterhead or other clear verification that it comes from the lender/holder.
    • Include the name of the borrower.
    • Contain the account number.
    • Include the type of loan.
    • Include the original loan date (must be prior to the date you submit your application).
    • Include the original loan amount.
    • Include the purpose of the loan.

You may need to submit additional supporting documents.

Submit these documents if we list them on the “Supporting Documents” page of the online application.

• Specialty Certification
  If you select a specialty, you are required to upload a copy of the certificate of completion or diploma from the training program where you matriculated.
• Substance Use Disorder Specialized Training
  You should upload your document verifying your specialized substance use disorder or addiction medicine training program if you have one.
• Substance Use Disorder License or Certification
  You should upload your certificate, license or diploma from a substance use disorder or addiction medicine training program if you have one.
• Postgraduate Training Verification
  This document verifies that you completed the AMF Program or Graduate Psychology Education Program (GPE). This documentation is in addition to the postgraduate training related to your practice area. Such documentation may include an official completion certificate.
• Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program Identification Number
  If you completed a postgraduate medical or dental training program funded by HRSA through the THCGME Payment Program, you are required to submit the residency identification number and residency completion certificate, if available. Use the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or The Commission on Dental Accreditation to look up your program identification number.
• Verification of Disadvantaged Background
  A school official may complete the Verification of Disadvantaged Background (PDF - 406 KB) (PDF - 406 KB). Applicants may also self-attest to having a disadvantaged background by uploading a document that validates that they meet the criteria included on the disadvantaged background form. (Federal student aid report, etc.).
• Verification of Existing Service Obligation
  Verification from the entity for which you have an existing service obligation stating you will complete service there prior to the NHSC application deadline.
• Payment History
  Verification that you used all NHSC Loan Repayment Program funds to repay the qualifying educational loans approved as part of your most recent NHSC program contract, if applicable.
• Proof of Name Change
  Applicants will be required to provide legal documents (marriage license or divorce decree) if the name on the proof of citizenship document is different from the name in the application.

Print and keep a copy of your completed application package for your records.