Improving health is our policy
Increases the appropriations (though does not delineate a separate Congressional appropriation to fund the efforts) and extends the authorization of the NHSC workforce program for FYs 2010-2015 (with a specified methodology for amounts in FY 2016 and subsequent FYs). Specifically, the provision authorizes: $320 million in FY 2010; $414 million in FY 2011; $535 million in FY 2012; $691 million in FY 2013; $893 million in FY 2014; $1.2 billion in FY 2015.
Prior to January 2013
Although this section did not contain an explicit appropriation for such program (aside from the underlying extension of the authorization), funds have been allocated to the NHSC loan repayment and scholarship programs. To view an update on the NHSC program’s activities, see the HRSA program homepage.
2013
The deadline to apply to the NHSC program for SY 2013-2014 is May 14, 2013. The funding guidance may be obtained here.
In a related event, on April 23, 2013, HHS posted a notice titled, “Notice of Interest Rate on Overdue Debts,” in which HHS indicates that the current rate of 10 1/8% is certified for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. According to HHS, “This rate is based on the Interest Rates for Specific Legislation, “National Health Services Corps Scholarship Program,” among other programs, and is the interest rate that will be applied to overdue debt until further notice/revision. Also, as previously noted, the deadline by which to submit applications under the 2013 NHSC Loan Repayment Program was April 16 (see here).
In a related event, on June 25, HRSA announced the recruitment of sites for assignment of Corps personnel under the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program. Details here and here.
On July 18, HRSA’s National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps convened a conference call to discuss, among other things, ACA provisions pertaining to the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).
On September 5, 2013, HRSA submitted to OMB a revision of a currently approved information collection pertaining to the NHSC loan repayment program. Also, in mid-September, HRSA announced that the 2014 NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP) application cycle is open through 7:30pm ET on November 14, 2013. Additional details here. Note also that, on September 26, 2013, the National Advisory Council on the NHSC convened to discuss the role of the NHSC in the ACA. Details here.
On Nov. 20, 2013, HRSA issued a revision of an existing information collection pertaining to the need to collect key information related to the NHSC Loan Repayment Program application. A similar revision of an existing information collection related to the NHSC Loan Repayment Program and NURSE Corps is available here. On Nov. 26, in a new report released, HRSA indicated that, with the additional federal funds made available pursuant to the ACA and the Recovery Act, the NHSC program has helped to support nearly 14,000 health care providers in high-need areas across the country. A press release is available here.
2014
The deadline to submit applications under the FY 2014 NHSC loan repayment program is March 20, 2014. A series of application conference calls have been planned for January and February 2014. See here for details.
HRSA will hold NHSC Loan Repayment Program application conference call for prospective applicants on March 5, 2014. Note that a prior applicant call was held on February 12. Details here.
In mid-March 2014, HRSA announced the opening of the 2014 NHSC Scholarship Program for which applications are due by May 15, 2014; details here. A NHSC Scholarship Program Application Help Conference Call was held on March 27. Details here. Also, a CMS information collection was issued pertaining to the NHSC Ambassador Portal.
On April 11, HRSA posted at the NHSC Jobs Center the list of organizations and their corresponding HPSA scores receiving priority assignment of NHSC members between July 1, 2014, through Sept. 30, 2015. An accompanying notice provides additional details on eligible HPSAs and entities receiving Corps member assignments, including expectations of participating entities.
On May 1, CMS issued a revision of an information collection pertaining to NHSC site applications and site recertification applications on which comments are due by June 30.
On June 25, 2014, HRSA published a notice announcing that lists of all geographic areas, population groups and facilities designated as primary medical care, mental health and dental HPSAs soon will be available on the agency’s website, http://www.hrsa.gov/shortage/. Specifically, the HPSA section of the HRSA website is pending an update to reflect the latest listings. The lists will reflect an annual update, superseding HPSA lists appearing in the Federal Register on June 27, 2013, and will be current as of May 23, 2014. HRSA also incorporates daily updates to HPSAs here. As discussed on p. 2 of the notice, HPSAs affect site eligibility for the NHSCs; priority for certain HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce clinical residency training site grants; and qualifying providers’ eligibility for increased Medicare reimbursement when practicing in an HPSA geographic area, among other impacts.
2015
Note that 2015 NHSC applications are being accepted through May 7, 2015; details.
On Apr. 16, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 was signed into law (P.L. 114-10), which included a provision at sec. 221 to extend through FY 2017 funding for CHCs and the NHSC. HRSA’s National Advisory Council on the NHSC (NAC) will convene on May 6 to discuss, among other things, “the activities and goals for fiscal year 2016 for the [NHSC].”
On May 5, HHS announced (see here) the availability of approximately $101 million in funding to CHCs for “the delivery of comprehensive primary health care services in communities that need them most.” The funding – which is available pursuant to the ACA and was extended through FY 2017 via the MACRA – will be distributed to 164 new health center sites in 33 states and two territories, and is expected to impact an estimated 650,000 patients. A full list of award winners is available here.
On May 8, HRSA issued a notice delineating prioritization of NHSC scholarship recipients over the Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30, 2016 period.
On May 11, HRSA issued an announcement soliciting applications for the Rural Child Poverty Telehealth Network Grant Program (RCP-TNGP) (details), a three-year pilot “to support established telehealth networks to develop innovative ways to address the unique health care challenges faced by children living in impoverished rural areas.” Applications are due June 22, 2015. Download an application package here.
On May 13, HRSA convened a technical assistance conference call for NHSC site applicants (for which applications are due June 2). A recorded webinar is available here (add’l details).
2019
The appropriations minibus, H.R. 1865, extended funding for the National Health Service Corps through May 22, 2020. For up to date information on the program, see here.
SEC. 5207. FUNDING FOR NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS. Section 338H(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254q(a)) is amended to read as follows: ‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the following: ‘‘(1) For fiscal year 2010, $320,461,632. ‘‘(2) For fiscal year 2011, $414,095,394. ‘‘(3) For fiscal year 2012, $535,087,442. ‘‘(4) For fiscal year 2013, $691,431,432. ‘‘(5) For fiscal year 2014, $893,456,433. ‘‘(6) For fiscal year 2015, $1,154,510,336. ‘‘(7) For fiscal year 2016, and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the preceding fiscal year adjusted by the product of— ‘‘(A) one plus the average percentage increase in the costs of health professions education during the prior fiscal year; and ‘‘(B) one plus the average percentage change in the number of individuals residing in health professions shortage areas designated under section 333 during the prior fiscal year, relative to the number of individuals residing in such areas during the previous fiscal year.’’.
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