February 2005

Applications available for NHSC pilot project

FEB. 16, 2005 — Chiropractors interested in participating in a pilot project of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) can contact the NHSC to request an application. Applications must be submitted by June 17, 2005.

In return for a two-year commitment to serve underserved populations in primary care health professional shortage areas, selected applications will have up to $50,000 of student loans repaid for them.

This pilot project was authorized in 2002. In 2003, according to the American Chiropractic Association, which backed the project’s legislation, eight chiropractors were selected. After this initial group was chosen, NHSC officials closed the program and decided to evaluate it without additional groups of DCs being added.

In December 2004, President Bush signed into law legislation that directed Congress to provide $2 million in funding to expand and extend a pilot program for DCs to participate in the NHSC. Details of the program were published in the Feb. 9 issue of the Federal Register.

NHSC is administered by the Dept. of Health and Human Services. It assists medically underserved communities to recruit and retain primary care clinicians.

Individuals who are interested in applying for this program can contact NHSC Loan Repayment at 800-221-9393.

Sources: National Health Service Corps., http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/, American Chiropractic Association, www.amerchiro.org.

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