CNMs and SNMs Partner with Communities Through National Health Service Corps

April 4, 2001

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) reports 23 student nurse-midwives (SNMs) received scholarships and 6 certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) were added to the loan repayment program for fiscal year 2000. Eight education programs accredited by the ACNM Division of Accreditation have one or more students enrolled who received a NHSC scholarship, and of the SNMs who received scholarships, 21 were new awardees. The NHSC provides fellowships, competitive scholarships and loan repayment programs. SNMs and CNMs are eligible to apply for scholarships and loan repayment assistance.

The Scholarship Program offers payment of tuition and fees, books, supplies, and equipment for up to 4 years of education, and a monthly stipend. All funds are considered taxable by the IRS. In return, for each year of support, the recipient must serve 1 year in a federally designated health professional shortage area of greatest need. The service commitment is a minimum of 2 years, and begins upon completion of the recipients education program.

The Loan Repayment Program offers: to repay qualified educational loans at a maximum of $25,000 per year for the required initial 2 year contract period; a payment equal to 39% of the total loan repayments made during the taxable year involved to assist in payment of tax liabilities incurred; and a competitive salary and benefit package. The initial service commitment is for a minimum of two years to provide primary care services in a priority health professional shortage area. There is an opportunity for additional 1 year extensions of service which may be awarded at qualifying sites for a maximum of $35,000 per year.

The NHSC reports a total of 316 scholarships awarded, with 284 awarded to new recipients, and 600 health care practitioners participating in the loan repayment program for fiscal year 2000. More than 21,000 health professionals have served in the NHSC since its inception, with a current field strength of more than 2,200 clinicians/health care professionals whose careers are influencing the outcomes of underserved populations and communities. Many of these clinicians have remained in service after fulfilling their initial NHSC commitments. Currently, 35 states have joined the NHSC State Loan Repayment Program.

The NHSC is a program of the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration's Bureau of Primary Health Care, which is the focal point for providing primary health care to undeserved and vulnerable populations. The NHSC assists underserved communities through the development, recruitment, and retention of community-responsive, culturally competent, primary care clinicians dedicated to practicing in health professional shortage areas.

Congress created the NHSC in 1970 under the Emergency Health Personnel Act, P.L. 91-623 as a program of the U.S. Public Health Service, and amended the act in 1972 which authorized scholarships for health professionals. These scholarships were first used as partial loan repayment support for health care providers, and were first awarded as scholarships in 1979. In 1987, Congress authorized the current NHSC Federal Loan Repayment Program.

For Scholarship information or a Loan Repayment application, call the NHSC Helpline at 1-800-221-9393 or e-mail NHSC@matthewsgroup.com. Applications for scholarships are due the last Friday in March.