Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) supported a bill that would increase the size of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program, a popular scholarship and student loan repayment program for doctors and other health professionals who commit to practicing medicine in underserved areas after medical school.

Braley has been pushing to increase the National Health Service Corps since last June, when he introduced legislation to reauthorize and increase the size of the program.  Today's legislation, the Health Centers Renewal Act (HR 1343) increases funding for the NHSC program to over $185 million.

"For over a year, I've been working to expand the National Health Service Corps, and I'm happy the House took action today," Braley said.  "The National Health Service Corps has successfully improved access to healthcare, injecting talented doctors into underserved areas across the country.  This legislation will provide further incentives for doctors to stay and practice medicine in Iowa, improving Iowans' access to affordable, quality healthcare." 

As currently structured, the National Health Service Corps program provides scholarships to full-time medical students who commit to spending at least two years practicing in a Health Professional Shortage Area.  The program also awards up to $25,000 per year in medical student loan forgiveness for health professionals who commit to working in an underserved area.  Recipients can opt to stay beyond the initial two year period and receive up to an additional $35,000 in loan forgiveness for every two additional years.