The Office of Primary Care administers several programs which are designed to increase the availability of primary care clinicians practicing in underserved areas through the use of incentives such as loan repayment. The Office assists the federal government in the administering its workforce initiative for underserved areas . The Office also maintains a medically underserved index which is used to determine Primary Care Loan Redemption Program placements.
J-1 Visa Waiver/Conrad State 30 Program
In an effort to address the chronic shortages of primary care and mental health clinicians in selected communities nationwide, the U.S. Congress established a program which extends the stay of foreign clinicians who originally came to the United States through a J-1 Exchange Visa. Under a J-1 Visa Waiver, clinicians are allowed to remain in the United States provided they agree to practice in an underserved area designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Conrad State 30 Program is the State sponsored structure for administration of the federally-authorized J-1 Visa Waiver Program. Office of Primary Care staff review J-1 Visa Waiver applications to determine their compliance with established criteria. More...
 Back To Top
Primary Care Loan Redemption Program of New Jersey
The Loan Redemption Program (LRP) of New Jersey is an initiative designed to ease the shortage or increase the availability of primary care clinicians practicing in medically underserved communities. Under LRP, certain clinicians (physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives) who have specialized in primary care disciplines and dentists who have specialized in general dentistry or pedodontics are eligible to redeem up to $120,000, over a four - year period, of loans used to finance their medical/dental education. Office of Primary Care staff review LRP applications and make recommendations for approval or denial. More...
Back To Top
National Health Service Corps
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is similar to the
state’s Loan Redemption Program in its intent; however, NHSC is a federal initiative. Under the NHSC Scholarship Program participants are selected on a competitive basis to provide primary care in communities of greatest need. NHSC Scholars, physicians or mid-level practitioners, serve in communities designated by the federal government as health professional shortage areas. In exchange for service in these communities, tuition, fees and other reasonable expenses are paid by the federal government. Under the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, participants have their outstanding medical or nursing school loans repaid up to a certain amount in exchange for two years of service in a designated health professional shortage area. Office of Primary Care staff make recommendation on applications for placement in New Jersey and assist in the process of health professional shortage area designation and re-designation.
Back To Top
Provider Shortage Areas
The State of New Jersey has developed its own index of medical scarcity. This index is independent of federal determinations of primary care need. The State of New Jersey
designates as underserved communities with the poorest health status and economic indicators.
Determinations of under service rankings according to severity are made by the staff of the Office of Primary Care and are ultimately approved by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services. In turn, State-designated areas of medical need are used to place primary care physicians, dentists, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants participating in New Jersey’s Primary Care Loan Redemption Program. Office of Primary Care staff annually updates New Jersey’s Medically Underserved Index.
Federal Data
Public Notice: Medically Underserved Index
Back To Top |
Family Health Services
