NHSC - Need information on this!

[Jezzielin]

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Hi, anyone know about this program?

I know that it requires the amount of years as you take the scholarship, however I am rusty on the rest.

Is this after residency?
Do you get a stipend?

Any info would be great! Thanks.

 

[djnels01]

Hi, anyone know about this program?

I know that it requires the amount of years as you take the scholarship, however I am rusty on the rest.

Is this after residency?
Do you get a stipend?

Any info would be great! Thanks.

As far as I know, you get full tuition, books/supplies are paid for, and you get a stiped around $1230 a month. Very similar to HPSP, but no military commitment.

You do have to commit a year of service in an underserved area for each year you receive the scholarship, with a minimum of 2 years. There are many areas that you can serve in the country, and underserved doesn't necessarily mean rural!

You can also apply after med school for the same program. Of course, they would reimburse you for your student loans up to a certain $ amount for each year of service you give. This is what the D.O. I work under is doing right now...

I've heard it's easier to apply for the NHSC after med school then before, but I don't have any numbers to back that up, just what others have told me. However, it sounds like applying before you start med school is the much better deal! Living off of $1230 a month would be quite comfortable IMO.

One question I have for anyone else out there who may have more info. about this than I do - do you apply for the maximum in loans also, in case you get denied the scholarship? And if you do, and you receive the scholarship, can you just "give the loan $ back" to the lender without any penalties? I'm strongly considering doing NHSC for the next four years but I know I need a back-up plan too. Thanks...

 

[JakeHarley]

The problem with applying to for the scholarship program is that it locks you into going into primary care (fp, peds, IM, obgyn.) Not that anything is wrong with primary care, its just that you might end up doing surgery or EM during your clinical years and finding out you love them. With the scholarship program, if you don't train in a primary care field after med school, you are liable to pay back THREE TIMES the amount you borrowed! With that big stipend they give you, that's got to be close to a $1,000,000 I think for most schools.

Check it out here:
http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/applications/scholar_05/index.asp

The loan repayment program seems the way to go, once you are done with school and certain you want to go into underserved primary care you can apply.

 

[Jezzielin]

As far as I know, you get full tuition, books/supplies are paid for, and you get a stiped around $1230 a month. Very similar to HPSP, but no military commitment.

You do have to commit a year of service in an underserved area for each year you receive the scholarship, with a minimum of 2 years. There are many areas that you can serve in the country, and underserved doesn't necessarily mean rural!

You can also apply after med school for the same program. Of course, they would reimburse you for your student loans up to a certain $ amount for each year of service you give. This is what the D.O. I work under is doing right now...

I've heard it's easier to apply for the NHSC after med school then before, but I don't have any numbers to back that up, just what others have told me. However, it sounds like applying before you start med school is the much better deal! Living off of $1230 a month would be quite comfortable IMO.

One question I have for anyone else out there who may have more info. about this than I do - do you apply for the maximum in loans also, in case you get denied the scholarship? And if you do, and you receive the scholarship, can you just "give the loan $ back" to the lender without any penalties? I'm strongly considering doing NHSC for the next four years but I know I need a back-up plan too. Thanks...

Thank you for the information! I really think this would be a great option. I want to work out of Michigan, so maybe would there be a job in the metro-Detroit area?

Thanks!

Here is the website for anyone that is starting to have an interest in this:

http://www.hrsa.gov/

 

[Hoberto]

I was checking out and called an 800# on the website about my biggest concern: Where can I work while getting my loans paid off?

I was told that I can ask for a particular location or region but there is no guarantee where I'd be. I have a family to consider and we simply can't move. So, this program would not work for me.

However, I can apply once I am working in an approved facility after med school.

There is a TON of information on the website, too.

 

[Jezzielin]

Does anyone know if once you start working to "repay" the scholarship, if you get paid? And about how much? I am guessing it is very little...

 

[Hoberto]

Does anyone know if once you start working to "repay" the scholarship, if you get paid? And about how much? I am guessing it is very little...

I have heard from a second-hand source that the pay is ~$110,000 for FPs. I have a friend who knows people who are working or have worked in inner city Cleveland (OH), Erie (PA) and someplace in N. Carolina as part of the loan payback program....not the pre-doc scholarship thing. This is where I got this information.

 

[RuralMedicine]

Does anyone know if once you start working to "repay" the scholarship, if you get paid? And about how much? I am guessing it is very little...

Your salary will be whatever is competitive in the area you are working. Obviously salaries (and cost of living) vary from region to region. Basically if you are a scholar in repayment it's very similar to a regular job search the only difference is that the only jobs you can apply for (and not default on your scholarship) are jobs on the HPSA list with a high enough HPSA score (I believe it was 13 or higher for the last placement cycle).

With loan repayment the acceptable HPSA score is much lower (therefore less needy area) ?4 (I'm really not sure) and you can apply for consideration after you have already accepted an offer at that site. You may or may not be approved for loan forgiveness.

 

[Jezzielin]

Your salary will be whatever is competitive in the area you are working. Obviously salaries (and cost of living) vary from region to region. Basically if you are a scholar in repayment it's very similar to a regular job search the only difference is that the only jobs you can apply for (and not default on your scholarship) are jobs on the HPSA list with a high enough HPSA score (I believe it was 13 or higher for the last placement cycle).

With loan repayment the acceptable HPSA score is much lower (therefore less needy area) ?4 (I'm really not sure) and you can apply for consideration after you have already accepted an offer at that site. You may or may not be approved for loan forgiveness.

Oh I see, I just wanted to be sure I still get a salary. That would kinda defeat the purpose of them paying off my med school but then me having to take out loans while I work for them!

Any more information would be awesome. When do I apply for this? Anyone know someone who has done this? I think it is a great idea!

Besides working where you might not want to, ( I want to work out of Michigan ), any other negatives?

 

[djnels01]

One question I have for anyone else out there who may have more info. about this than I do - do you apply for the maximum in loans also, in case you get denied the scholarship? And if you do, and you receive the scholarship, can you just "give the loan $ back" to the lender without any penalties? I'm strongly considering doing NHSC for the next four years but I know I need a back-up plan too. Thanks...

 

[RuralMedicine]

One question I have for anyone else out there who may have more info. about this than I do - do you apply for the maximum in loans also, in case you get denied the scholarship? And if you do, and you receive the scholarship, can you just "give the loan $ back" to the lender without any penalties? I'm strongly considering doing NHSC for the next four years but I know I need a back-up plan too. Thanks...

You can usually just have your financial aid office return the check (most schools have you endorse it to them). Some lenders still make you pay origination fees but I didn't have to when I did it. Of course it used to be that you paid taxes on not just the stipend but the tuition portion as well so older NHSC scholars may have needed to borrow money to offset their tax liability. The stipend also seems to have increased at a rate much greater than inflation--don't we wish reimbursement would? 😉

 

[titoincali]

There is a lot of discussion about this scholarship in the financial aid forum on this website. It includes interview questions, discussion about benefits and drawbacks of scholarship, and many threads on the experiences of past recipients. If you are interested in the scholarship I would recommend checking out the forum. I know it was very helpful for me.

 

[nerdgrrl]

Does anyone know if once you start working to "repay" the scholarship, if you get paid? And about how much? I am guessing it is very little...

You're not repaying anything. It's not a loan, it's a scholarship. You're just required to work in an approved position in an approved location for x number of years. The idea is that they're bringing physicians to underserved areas, because those areas can't attract them otherwise.

I can't wait until I have an acceptance somewhere so I can get my application going. I only want to do ob/gyn, so primary care isn't a negative at all for me.

 

[FutureDocDO]

What do they consider primary care? Is Emergency Medicine considered primary care? Thanks.

 

[JakeHarley]

What do they consider primary care? Is Emergency Medicine considered primary care? Thanks.

Nope.

"Scholars completing medical school are expected to complete residency programs in one of the following specialties: family medicine, general pediatrics, general internal medicine, or obstetrics/gynecology."


BTW, here's the FAQ for the NHSC scholarship from their website:
http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/faq/scholarship_faq.asp

I think its important to note that applying for the scholarship is very competetive: See bold face below.

1. When can I expect to hear from the NHSC as to whether or not I have received a scholarship?
2. How many people apply for the scholarships and how many people get them?
3. When do the tuition and stipend payments start?
4. If I do not have a check by the start of school, how do I handle my tuition?
5. If I have to borrow money to start, will the money I receive from the scholarship be enough to pay the interest on my loan?
6. How do you know how much my tuition and fees are?
7. Is health insurance included in my fees?
8. Are the stipend and other reasonable costs taxable income? If so, how much tax will be withheld?
9. Can I continue receiving assistance while I am in residency?
10. Can I work part-time for my obligation?
11. Can I go from a PA/NP training program to medical school before serving my NHSC obligation?
12. Will I be allowed to do a second primary care residency?
13. I want to specialize in internal medicine, but would also like to subspecialize. Will I be allowed to do this before serving my obligation?
14. What rights do I have if the Government changes the rules after I have accepted the scholarship?
15. What happens if the Scholarship Program runs out of money or is discontinued?
16. What if I change my mind about going into primary care after I have accepted the scholarship or while in residency?

Answers

1: When can I expect to hear from the NHSC as to whether or not I have received a scholarship?

A: The Scholarship Program answers as quickly as possible, but some notifications go out as late as the end of August.

2: How many people apply for the scholarships and how many people get them?

A:We receive approximately seven applications for each scholarship awarded.

3: When do the tuition and stipend payments start?

A: The Scholarship Program notifies the schools of participating students. This notice, along with the award letter, authorizes the schools to bill the Scholarship Program directly for tuition and required fees for the academic period beginning July 1, or later. The stipend payments begin in October of that year and will be received by scholarship recipients no later than the 7th day of November of that year.

4: If I do not have a check by the start of school, how do I handle my tuition?

A: If your school requires payment of tuition and fees prior to receipt of your scholarship, you will have to obtain funding from another source. You will be reimbursed by the school after it has received payment from us.

5: If I have to borrow money to start, will the money I receive from the scholarship be enough to pay the interest on my loan?

A: No additional funds will be awarded to cover interest charges.

6: How do you know how much my tuition and fees are?

A: The Scholarship Program requests information from the school on each school's tuition and fees during the spring semester of each year. Awards are based on that information.

7: Is health insurance included in my fees?

A: Yes, if the school requires you to have health insurance.

8: Are the stipend and other reasonable costs taxable income? If so, how much tax will be withheld?

A: Effective January 1, 2002, ONLY THE MONTHLY STIPEND PAYMENTS made to scholars under the NHSC scholarship will be taxable. The tax withheld will be determined by the W-4 tax withholdings form you submit to the NHSC. See Application Information Bulletin, page 8 "Taxation of the NHSC Scholarship" for specific details.

9: Can I continue receiving assistance while I am in residency?

A: No. NHSC scholarship support is for health professions school only. While in residency, you won't receive any additional financial support, nor will you incur additional service commitments.

10: Can I work part-time for my obligation?

A: No. As a scholar, you are committed to full-time (a minimum of 40 hours per week) clinical primary health care service in the area of your assignment. No more than seven weeks (35 days per year) can be spent away from the practice.

11: Can I go from a scholarship-supported PA/NP training program to medical school before serving my NHSC obligation?

A: No. Your contractual agreement is to complete training leading to the degree for which you received support and to serve full-time in an approved site.

12: Will I be allowed to do a second primary care residency?

A: No. You must first complete your service commitment.

13: I want to specialize in internal medicine, but would also like to subspecialize. Will I be allowed to do this before serving my obligation?

A: No. You must first complete your service commitment.

14: What if the Government changes the rules after I have accepted the scholarship?

A: The scholarship agreement between you and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services remains binding.

15: What happens if the Scholarship Program runs out of money or is discontinued?

A: Scholarships are awarded on a multi-year basis. Funding for the remainder of your scholarship, while in school, is set aside and available, provided you have signed contracts through your date of graduation.

16: What if I change my mind about going into primary care after I have accepted the scholarship or while in residency?

A: Accepting an NHSC scholarship is a serious commitment. If, after graduation, you enter training that is not approved by the Scholarship Program, or you otherwise fail to comply with your contract, you will be liable for financial damages equal to 3 times the amount of your scholarship plus interest.

 

[Jezzielin]

That sucks. I wanted to do ER FutureDoc, too 🙁 .

 

[FutureDocDO]

That sucks. I wanted to do ER FutureDoc, too 🙁 .

It sucks indeed! I thought ER is considered primary care. This is a great scholarship but it puts way too much limitations. How on earth can one possibly be sure of what field he/she wants to go into with what little information us pre-meds know? Looks like I'm going to take out a huge amount of loans.

 

[FutureDocDO]

Nope.
"Scholars completing medical school are expected to complete residency programs in one of the following specialties: family medicine, general pediatrics, general internal medicine, or obstetrics/gynecology."

Thanks for the detailed info!

 

[nerdgrrl]

It sucks indeed! I thought ER is considered primary care. This is a great scholarship but it puts way too much limitations. How on earth can one possibly be sure of what field he/she wants to go into with what little information us pre-meds know? Looks like I'm going to take out a huge amount of loans.

Primary care is preventive medicine, and dealing with generally healthy patients. Emergency medicine is the exact opposite of that!!

There is a great need for primary care physicians in underserved areas, and thus this scholarship. It's a great opportunity for those of us who are certain we want to do primary care, and some of us really are that sure. I've known I wanted to be an ob/gyn for five years, and have been working in the field for two and a half. there isn't a doubt in my mind, not even for a second. they tell you very specifically that if you have any inclination to enter another field not to apply.

 

[cosmo]

psych is also allowed

 

[Raven Feather]

Primary care is preventive medicine, and dealing with generally healthy patients. Emergency medicine is the exact opposite of that!!

There is a great need for primary care physicians in underserved areas, and thus this scholarship. It's a great opportunity for those of us who are certain we want to do primary care, and some of us really are that sure. I've known I wanted to be an ob/gyn for five years, and have been working in the field for two and a half. there isn't a doubt in my mind, not even for a second. they tell you very specifically that if you have any inclination to enter another field not to apply.

Actually, although EM is not designated as primary care, it is not the exact opposite of primary care as far as preventative medicine. Many folks, especially those without insurance, use emergency rooms as their primary medical care with frequent visits--so preventative medicine happens there too.

Just FYI, at the hospital I work at, the ER has what is called a "fast track" doc who is an FP that works in the ER on the busy nights Friday and through the weekends. FP often end up in urgenct care clinics too. Don't know that this would be acceptable for this scholarship though.

 

[FutureDocDO]

Actually, although EM is not designated as primary care, it is not the exact opposite of primary care as far as preventative medicine. Many folks, especially those without insurance, use emergency rooms as their primary medical care with frequent visits--so preventative medicine happens there too.

Exactly! That's why I thought primary care includes EM.

 

[Erica_Moyer]

Hey guys. I know everyone gets really anxious about this program, so I thought I'd just add my thoughts real quick. I'm a first year at AZCOM and also a participant in this program. I say program cause that's really what it is. Its a cooperative situation. The gov. needs docs in underserved areas, and we need to pay for school to get to those areas. This isn't a "scholarship" in the traditional sense. There is a committment and you guys are right, its a big one. You first need to be CERTAIN that you want to do primary care. I know that's hard as pre-meds and even as new med students, but once you sign those papers, you are committed to primary care. I knew that I wanted to work in underserved areas...that's the whole reason I'm in medical school, so the choice was an easy one. The program is going to allow me to do what I really want to right out of the shoot.

A couple things...even though there are limitation, its pretty competitive. If you know this is something you're interested in, please go ahead and email me or send me a message and we can get in contact.

Secondly, once you're out of your residency (your commitment doesn't begin until AFTER you completed your residency) you apply for a position in an area the NHSC has deemed "underserved". There are a lot of factors that go into this definition, and the areas change every year. Generally it has a lot to do with the physician/population ratio. Once you apply and are accepted, its just like any other job/position you would take OUTSIDE of the program. The NHSC has nothing to do with your salary or working conditions. You get paid what anyone outside of the program would if they applied.

I know its hard to narrow your choices down right at the start of this whole process, so give it a lot of thought. One thoughtl; in rural med, since you're one of the few physicians in a large area, you end up getting to perform more procedures (a greater variety) than if you were in a fairly metro area with lots of referral options. Plus, since salary is largely dependent on what kind/how many procedures/pts you see/perform per year, your salary goes up and is quite competive. Plus, with no loans to pay off, $150,000/year starts to sound like a whole lot!

Email me or message me with any specific questions or if you wanna know more!