The future of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is at risk. We need your voice to help us protect and expand this vital program, which has NO guaranteed funding beyond September 30, 2023 (the end of Fiscal Year 2023).
#SavetheNHSC
Save the National Health Service Corps!
What Is the National Health Service Corps?
Since its inception in 1972, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) has worked to build healthy communities by placing healthcare providers in medically underserved areas of every state and territory of the United States. The NHSC emerged to address access gaps in the United States’ healthcare system that leave many medically stranded, unable to access the care they need. Collectively, more than 158 million people reside in primary care health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). The NHSC aims to help these very populations by offering scholarships and loan repayments for providers who agree to serve in HPSA areas, including urban, rural, frontier, and low-income communities. Today, over 21 million people rely on more than 20,000 NHSC clinicians for a range of clinical services, especially in primary care.
What Can I Do?
The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved leads the effort to preserve and expand funding for this vital program, which has NO guaranteed funding beyond FY23. We need your help: Become an ACU Advocate today to help #SavetheNHSC! Also, don’t forget to share our resources and calls to action using the hashtag #SavetheNHSC on your social media, and tag us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Key Resources
Read our introductory fact sheet on the National Health Service Corps and review our policy ask below, and stay tuned for a #SavetheNHSC social media toolkit to help spread the word!
Key Facts
Making Care Accessible for Under-Resourced Populations
The NHSC supports more than 20,000 primary care medical, dental, and behavioral health providers through scholarships and loan repayment programs. Representing a diverse cross-section of disciplines and services, NHSC providers serve at more than 9,000 community healthcare sites providing vital care to more than 21 million patients regardless of their ability to pay.
Driving Diversity in the Clinical Workforce
NHSC providers represent a diverse group of clinicians. 33% of the nation’s total population identifies as Black or Hispanic/Latine. This same population only represents 11% of physicians in the U.S. However, roughly 25% of physicians serving through the NHSC identify as Black or Hispanic/Latine, a key indication that the NHSC is successfully driving clinician diversity.
Field Strength by Profession
- Dentists
- RDHs
- CNMs
- Health Service Psychologists
- LCSWs
- Licensed Professional Counselors
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Nurse Practictioners
- Pharmacists
- Physicians
- Physician Assistants
- Registered Nurses
- Substance Use Disorder Counselors
- Other
- Dentists
- RDHs
- CNMs
- Health Service Psychologists
- LCSWs
- Licensed Professional Counselors
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Nurse Practictioners
- Pharmacists
- Physicians
- Physician Assistants
- Registered Nurses
- Substance Use Disorder Counselors
- Other
Diversity of Providers
- Caucasian
- Black
- Latina/o/e
- American Indian and Alaska Native
- Asian or Pacific Islander
- Caucasian
- Black
- Latina/o/e
- American Indian and Alaska Native
- Asian or Pacific Islander
NHSC Reflections from ACU’s Community
Further Resources
- National Health Service Corps Official Website
- NHSC Timeline: 1972-Present
- Current Loan Repayment Program Opportunities: from the NHSC
- Using the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to Recruit Clinicians: Archived Webinar
- “The Effect of National Health Service Corps Clinician Staffing on Medical and Behavioral Health Care Costs in Community Health Centers”
Questions or Comments
Do you have questions about the NHSC or how to better advocate for the program? Contact Jordan Marshall, ACU’s Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy, with any questions or comments, as well as technical assistance on NHSC advocacy.
