Does your OTP 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.
Is my OTP eligible?
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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:
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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 MAT1
- Behavioral Health Professionals, and
- Substance use disorder counselors
NHSC Eligibility Requirements
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.
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.
If you have questions, contact your HRSA NHSC Regional Operations Point of Contact.
