A Message from Kristi Van Sickle, PsyD, Chair of the American Psychological Association's Committee on Rural Health
Today health service providers face many obstacles when treating patients in rural areas. A combination of economic factors, remote locations and cultural and social norms can prove to be difficult for rural America to access affordable health care. In many areas, individuals face an uninsured rate of 23 percent, almost 5 percentage points higher than their urban counterparts. Additionally, rural populations tend to have a greater need for psychological services due to the higher proportion of people who are at risk for mental and behavioral health problems.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) placed an emphasis on providing comprehensive primary health care to medically underserved communities and vulnerable populations. Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps are two key components Psychologists will play a role in to provide affordable care for millions of rural Americans. To date, there are almost 800 psychologists participating in the NHSC loan repayment program and 360 psychologists working in Community Health Centers in underserved communities nation-wide.
Increased Funding for Community Health Centers
National Health Service Corps
Increased Funding for Community Health Centers
Community Health Centers are integral for rural populations with limited access to primary health care. Community-based organizations serve an estimated 17 million Americans a year of some of the most vulnerable populations in the country. The health centers are required to be located in or serve medically underserved communities while making their services available to all patients on a sliding payment scale on the ability to pay. As of September 2010, approximately 7500 healthcare professionals work in 10,000 community health center across the country. While only a small portion of them are psychologists, more are needed to serve the rural population due to patients being more susceptible to higher depression, suicide and substance abuse rates.
The ACA calls for an additional $11 billion over the next five years for health centers to increase care for millions of underserved patients. Psychologists have a unique opportunity due to the extensive training in both mental and behavioral health to help provide these services.
The NHSC is critical to addressing the health care provider shortage for rural America. The ACA provides up to $1.5 billion over the next five year for NHSC. The program is a division of the Department of Health and Human Services that recruits primary care health professionals to work in underserved communities. In exchange, the providers are eligible for scholarships and a student loan repayment program. NHSC approved sites consist of rural, frontier and Indian reservations communities along with many other health provider shortage areas across the country.
Who Is Eligible?
Health service psychologists holding a doctoral degree (Ph.D or Psy.D.) in either clinical or counseling psychology are eligible to participate in the loan repayment program. In addition, psychologists who work at NHSC-approved schools are also eligible to participate in the programs, so long as they meet all other requirements listed above.
A current unrestricted health professional license, certificate from the respective state in which you intend to practice under the repayment program.
To be eligible for up to $60,000 in an initial loan repayment award members are required to work full-time for a minimum of two years or $170,000 for a five year commitment in many locations. Additionally, loan repayments are exempt from both Federal income and employment taxes.
Regional Representatives collaborate to support National Health Service Corps members and sites, as well as to visit health professional training programs. Please contact the regional staff below with questions.
