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Check out our Application Checklist (PDF - 430 KB) to help you prepare.
Sign up for notifications and be the first to know when we open.
Check out our Application Checklist (PDF - 430 KB) to help you prepare.
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Rural Community Loan Repayment Program (LRP) is for providers working to combat the opioid epidemic in the nation’s rural communities.
The NHSC Rural Community LRP will make loan repayment awards in coordination with the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP). This will provide evidence-based substance use treatment, assist in recovery, and prevent overdose deaths across the nation.
Apply for your DATA 2000 waiver with free Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) training (the course is optional for physicians treating 30 patients or fewer) to receive award preference.
Compare our NHSC loan repayment programs — then choose the right one for you.
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.
Yes, you qualify if you are:
*Use the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer to find out what NHSC-approved SUD treatment facilities we consider rural.
*If you use assistive technology, you may not be able to access information in these files. For help, contact us at 800-221-9393.
An NHSC-approved site is a health care facility. It:
Facilities must meet requirements in:
We guide you through the application and award process:
To apply for the NHSC Rural Community LRP, you must understand and follow our requirements.
It takes three weeks to complete an application. This includes required and supplemental documentation.
Provide answers in your application that match your supporting documents. If they don’t, we’ll reject your application.
You must submit a legible, complete online application by the deadline.
You will receive priority if you:
You must include:
Our complete set of requirements and instructions are in the application and program guidance.
Complete each of the sections below to submit your application.
An application is incomplete without the following required supplemental documents:
You may need to submit additional supporting documents.
Submit these documents if we list them on the “Supporting Documents” page of the online application.
Print and keep a copy of your completed application package for your records.
You’ll see a receipt of submission pop-up when you submit your online application.
Log into the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) Customer Service Portal. You can view the status of your application, download a copy of your application, supporting documents, and completed EVs.
Once you submit the online application, you may make edits, upload new documents, etc. Resubmit your final, complete application by the application deadline.
Yes, you may withdraw your application from consideration any time before the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS), or their designee, signs the contract.
We begin our review of all applications after the application deadline passes.
We use selection factors and funding priorities to evaluate you and determine who receives awards.
The NHSC Rural Community LRP also has award priority factors.
If you become an award finalist, we will email you and ask that you log into the BHW Customer Service Portal.
We will ask you to confirm:
We ask you to provide:
Your direct deposit banking information. We use this for award funds if you receive an award.
Note: You must respond by the deadline we provide in the Confirmation of Interest email.
If you don't complete the Confirmation of Interest process by the deadline, we may withdraw your application from consideration.
If you still wish to participate in the program, you will need to submit a new application during a future NHSC Rural Community LRP application cycle for first-time participants. You will compete with other providers based on that cycle’s program requirements.
Only the Secretary of HHS or their designee can make an NHSC Rural Community LRP award.
You will receive final notification of an award, including your service obligation dates, no later than September 30.
Yes. If we don't select you for an award, we will email you no later than September 30.
Your NHSC Rural Community LRP service obligation begins on the date that the HHS Secretary (or the Secretary's designee) countersigns your contract.
The APG and your contract explain the timeline and requirements for terminating an NHSC Rural Community LRP contract. If you terminate, you must repay all funds you receive under the contract.