CCDTF E-memo: SUD facilities and SUD masters level counselors are now eligible for the HRSA National Health Service (NHSC) Loan Repayment program

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E-memo

#18-122

07/16/18

SUD facilities and SUD masters level counselors are now eligible for the HRSA National Health Service (NHSC) Loan Repayment program

Do you need more clinicians to keep up with demand for your services? Would you like to expand services, but need more staff? Do you struggle to retain clinicians?

Consider applying to become a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) approved site! NHSC can help you recruit and retain qualified health care providers through the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, which helps primary care providers pay off their student loan debt in exchange for serving at an NHSC-approved site. The 2018 NHSC New Site Application cycle is now open and will close on August 14, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

New this year – Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Facilities are eligible. Contact your HRSA NHSC Regional Operations Point of Contact.

Under new NHSC funding, outpatient SUD treatment facilities may be eligible to apply if they provide any of these services:

  • Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) – Facilities certified by SAMHSA
  • Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) – Outpatient facilities with providers eligible to administer medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
  • Non-opioid outpatient SUD facilities – Outpatient facilities that offer SUD treatment services (that do not provide MAT) as demonstrated on their website or other organizational materials.

Additional Funding Coming for Opioid/SUD Treatment

Later this year, NHSC will make available an additional $105 million in loan repayment awards that expand and improve access to quality opioid and substance use disorder treatment in rural and underserved areas. You must become an NHSC-approved SUD site for your providers to be eligible for this funding.

Providers at NHSC-approved SUD sites will be eligible for up to $75,000 in loan repayment in exchange for 3 years of service. Members of the SUD integrated treatment team who qualify for NHSC SUD expansion include:

  • Physicians
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Physician assistants who are eligible to administer (MAT)
  • Behavioral Health Professionals
  • Substance use disorder counselors

Is my treatment facility eligible?

Eligible sites include health care facilities that provide outpatient, ambulatory, and primary health care services (medical, dental, and behavioral) to populations residing in high-need urban and rural areas. Interested sites are encouraged to read the 2018 NHSC Site Reference Guide for all requirements, including service discounts for uninsured and underserved patients. 

  • Public, private not-for-profit, and private facilities are eligible to apply.
  • OTP must be located in a health professional shortage area (HPSA). You can see if your facility is located in a HPSA by searching HPSA Find.
  • Site must see all patients regardless of ability to pay and insurance status.
  • Sites must offer a sliding fee schedule to discount services for uninsured or underinsured patients.

Additional Benefits NHSC-approved sites can advertise job openings free on the Health Workforce Connector and have direct access to state Primary Care Offices that help increase access to primary health care services in your community.

 NEW. NHSC sites that provide Opioid Use Disorder treatment can now include potential loan repayment as a recruitment benefit to eligible, licensed healthcare providers .A few examples of how your site might benefit include:

  • An OTP can include potential NHSC Loan Repayment as a benefit for new Licensed Addiction Counselor.
  • An OBOT can hire or retain a DATA 2000 Waived MD/DO/PA by offering a chance to apply for loan repayment.
  • An outpatient SUD facility can offer potential loan repayment as a recruitment benefit to hire a PhD/PsyD.

If you have questions, contact your HRSA NHSC Regional Operations Point of Contact.

Helpful Resources:


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