1. Montana Primary Care Office MHWAC, June 4, 2018

2. What do we do?
HPSA Designations

3. Health Professional Shortage Area
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS
A Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) is a designation, determined by the HHS Secretary, of a health workforce or provider shortage. A HPSA designation can be made for a geographic area, population group or health care facility. There are 3 types of HPSA designations:
Primary Care Dental Mental Health
Many Federal and State programs use HPSA designations in determining eligibility.
National Health Service Corps and NURSE Corps clinicians must complete their service obligation at approved sites with a HPSA designation. Priority funding is given to clinicians working at a site with a HPSA score of 14 or higher, which corresponds to greater need.

4. Table 2: Number of HPSAs in Montana
Montana has witnessed a net increase of 20 shortage designations since 2014
HPSA Type
2004
2007
2010
2014
2018
Primary Care 57 90 97 99 96
Dental Health 42 56 65 73
Mental Health 35 49 67
Table 2: Number of HPSAs in Montana
The above table represents a sum of the different designations for each year including the geographic, population, high needs population, Indian Health Facilities, Federally Qualified Health Center, Federally Qualified Health Center Look -a-Like and Rural Health Clinics.
Montana’s Health Professional Shortage Areas are located in all or parts of Montana’s 56 counties as follows:
Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas: 46 of 56 counties (82 %)
Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 29 of 56 (51%)
Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas: 55 of 56 (98%)
For a complete listing of Montana’s HPSA designations please visit

8. https://wimtracking.org/

9. The NHSC
The NHSC was created in response to the health care crisis that emerged in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s when retiring physicians left many areas of the country without medical services.

10. National Health Service Corps

11. BHW BCRS chart NHHSP NHSC NCSP sP NHSC NCLRP lrP NHSC FLRP S2S NHSC
Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program
NHHSP
NHSC sP
NCSP
National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
NURSE Corps Scholarship Program
BHW
NCLRP
NHSC
lrP
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
NURSE Corp Loan Repayment Program
NHSC
S2S
FLRP
National Health Service Corps Student to Service Loan Repayment Program
Faculty Loan Repayment Program
NHSC
SLRP
State Loan Repayment Program

12. full time
Up to
$50,000
2 yearS
The full-time program offers up to $50,000 in tax-free loan repayment for 2 years of service. With continued service beyond 5 years, health care providers may be able to pay off all their student loans.

13. Providers
Providers receive loan repayment in addition to a competitive salary from their employers: NHSC-approved sites 1 2
Providers find a job at an NHSC-approved site
Apply to the NHSC for loan repayment
Then

14. Eligibility U.S. citizen or national
Currently work, or applying to work, at an NHSC-approved site
Have unpaid government or commercial loans for school tuition, reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses, segregated from all other debts
Licensed to practice in state where employer site is located

15. Must be licensed in one of the following Eligible discipLines

16. Diciplines Physician (MD or DO) Nurse practitioner (primary care)
Certified nurse-midwife
Physician assistant

17. Dentist
Dentist (general or pediatric)
Dental hygienist

18. More Disciplines Psychiatrist Psychologist (health service)
Licensed clinical social worker
Psychiatric nurse specialist
Marriage and family therapist
Licensed professional counselor

19. 1 2 3 How to apply? Review the Application and Program Guidance
Find a job at an NHSC-approved site or find out if your current job is at an NHSC-approved site
Apply online at NHSC.hrsa.gov/ loanrepayment
nhscjobs.hrsa.gov

20. NHSC JOBS Center: Health Workforce Connector
Job seekers search NHSC-approved sites, including those with current job openings
Online site profiles showcase languages spoken by patients, services offered, patients served annually, optional photos and much more
Google based mapping makes it easy for job seekers to find schools and other community amenities

23. NHSC Sites
Below is an abbreviated version of eligibility requirements. Sites must:
Be located in and treat patients from a federally-designated HPSA;
Not discriminate based on the individual’s ability to pay, race gender, age, or sexual orientation;
Accept Medicare, Medicaid, or Healthy Montana Kids;
Post and honor a sliding fee scale according to current federal poverty guidelines; and
Have been in operation for a minimum of 12 months prior to site approval.
The application cycle for to become an approved site varies year to year. Sites have to be approved before providers can apply for loan repayment. See:

25. J1 Physician Visa Program in Montana
Underutilized: 30 J1 slots total, 10 of which are flexible

26. Additional Resources:
Indicator Based Information System (IBIS):
PCO Website:

27. Brandy Kincheloe, Primary Care Office Specialist
Questions?
Contact:
Brandy Kincheloe, Primary Care Office Specialist