Feds Release Shortage Area Score Requirements for NHSC Scholars

Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) scores for National Health Service Corps scholars in Class Year 2020 have once again gone up, making the list of eligible sites even smaller. Priority for assignment of NHSC scholars at NHSC-approved sites is as follows:

  • Primary medical care HPSAs with scores of 19 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are primary care physicians, primary care nurse practitioners, or primary care physician assistants; primary medical care HPSAs with scores of 16 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are certified nurse midwives.
  • Mental health HPSAs with scores of 21 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are psychiatrists; mental health HPSAs with scores of 19 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are mental health nurse practitioners or mental health physician assistants; and
  • Dental HPSAs with scores of 19 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are dentists.

The NHSC has determined that the minimum HPSA scores listed above for all service-ready NHSC scholars will enable it to meet its statutory obligation to identify a number of entities eligible for NHSC scholar assignment that is at least equal to, but not greater than, twice the number of NHSC scholars available to serve in the 2020 class year. Read more on the HRSA website.