Nevada Health Service Corps

The Nevada Health Service Corps (NHSC),is a state loan repayment program for physicians and other health practitioners administered by the Nevada State Office of Rural Health in the Office of Statewide Initiatives based at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. NHSC was established by the Nevada State Legislature in 1989 (NRS 396.899 to 396.903). The purpose of the program is to encourage health practitioners to practice in areas of Nevada in which a shortage of that type of practitioner exists. A practitioner may enter into the NHSC by engaging in full-time clinical practice in an assigned medically-underserved community in exchange for loan repayment funds.

NHSC is a federal/state grant partnership in which $500,000 in federal grant funding to the Nevada State Office of Rural have been matched by $500,000 in state matching funds for a total of $1 million in available funds for loan repayment in the current biennium.

NHSC Recipients Since 1989
Nevada Health Service Corp has provided 204 health practitioners with loan repayment since 1989 including: 47 physician assistants, 46 physicians, 22 nurse practitioners, 12 dentists, 11 mental health practitioners, 5 registered nurses, 2 pharmacists, and 1 certified nurse midwife. An additional 58 practitioners are currently supported by NHSC and practicing in underserved areas in 13 Nevada counties.

Eligibility

The following practitioners are eligible for NHSC support: physicians (MD, DO), physician assistants (PA), registered nurses (RN), advanced practice registered nurses (NP), dentists, (DDS, DMD), certified nurse midwives (CNM), pharmacists (PharmD), marriage and family therapists (MFT), clinical psychologists (PhD), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSW).

Requirements of Participation

In exchange for loan repayment funds, each candidate agrees to serve in their assigned community for a contractually specified period of time. Typically the length of time equals two years of full-time service. The candidate agrees to provide services to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay; to accept assignments under section 1842(b)(3)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act as full payment for all services for which payment may be made under Part B of Title XVIII and under Title XIX and Title XXI (Nevada Check-Up) of such Act; to deliver services with medically accepted quality standards for performance; and to remain in the assigned underserved area for the duration of the period of obligated service.

Funding

Each application is evaluated individually and awards are made based upon the funding available during that cycle. The NHSC reserves the right to determine the amount of the award and the length of the period of obligated service individually for each application. All funds awarded under this program are to be used only for repayment of educational loans. Proof of payment in the amount of the award must be submitted to the NHSC.

Application

Candidates may apply for the NHSC at any point during the fiscal year (July 1 – June 30.) by contacting Keith Clark, Director of Rural Programs. Decisions are made on an annual basis unless funding becomes available at other times. Typically awards are made during July and August of each year.

The Nevada Health Service Corps is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Departement of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number H56HP19810 (State Loan Repayment Program) with 50% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

For more information on Nevada Health Service Corps, contact:

Keith Clark
Director, Rural Programs
775-327-5070 ext. 6
kclark@med.unr.edu