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A. INTRODUCTION
1. Purpose of the National Health Service Corps
(NHSC) Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
The purpose of the NHSC LRP is to ensure an adequate supply
of health professionals to provide primary health services
(through a culturally competent, interdisciplinary team
of clinicians) to populations located in selected health
professional shortage areas (HPSAs) identified by the Secretary
of Health and Human Services. HPSAs can be found in
rural and urban communities across the Nation. The NHSC
LRP recruits fully trained health professionals who agree
to provide primary health services in NHSC community sites.
In return, the NHSC LRP assists clinicians in their repayment
of qualifying educational loans that are still owed.
The NHSC is seeking clinicians who demonstrate the characteristics
for and interest in serving the Nation’s medically underserved
populations and remaining in HPSAs beyond their service
commitment. It is important to remember that service to
medically underserved populations is the primary purpose
of the NHSC LRP and not the repayment of educational loans.
2. Important Items for Applicants to Consider:
- The NHSC LRP is a highly competitive program
with limited funding. An NHSC LRP contract award
is contingent upon availability of funds.
- The Application Checklist
and the NHSC LRP Summary
of Important Dates identifies all of the documents
that must be submitted by January 31, 2009 (postmark
date). Applications that are incomplete
will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered for
an award under this announcement.
- Reference materials needed to complete this application
are available on the NHSC
Web site. The Application
Form is available online.
- Employment at a community site posted on the NHSC Opportunities
List does not guarantee an NHSC LRP contract award.
- NHSC LRP participants cannot be guaranteed a contract
amendment (additional loan repayment funds) for continued
participation in the program beyond the initial 2-year
contract period.
- It is imperative that applicants promptly provide Discovery
Logic with written notification of any changes in their
contact information (email address, mailing address, or
telephone number) as soon as possible, but no later than
2 weeks after the change occurs. A change of address
form is available in this Bulletin for your convenience
at Section X.
- An applicant may withdraw his/her application
anytime before a contract is awarded. After
an applicant is awarded a contract, the Secretary or his/her
designee may terminate the contract if certain
conditions are met by the participant on or before August
17, 2009. There are no exceptions to
the August 17, 2009 date; this is a statutory
deadline.
next page: Definitions
Questions? nhsc@discoverylogic.com
or 1-800-638-0824 Monday through Friday (except Federal
holidays) 8:30 am to 5 pm ET.
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