HHS announces record number of National Health Service Corps members

[cbayer]

Source: Business Wire

More than 10,000 primary care providers-- largest number in history supported by Obama Administration investments

WASHINGTON, Oct 13, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that the number of participants in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) has nearly tripled. Today, more than 10,000 National Corps members -- doctors, nurses and other health care providers -- care for Americans in communities nationwide. Thanks to investments in the National Health Service Corps through the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and annual appropriations, the NHSC has awarded nearly $900 million in scholarships and loan repayment to health care professionals to help expand the country's primary care workforce and meet the health care needs of communities across the country.

Thanks to the these critical investments in our nation's health care workforce, there are nearly three times the number of NHSC clinicians working in communities across America than there were three years ago--increasing access to health care and supporting local jobs. In 2008, approximately 3.7 million patients were provided service by 3,600 National Health Service Corps providers. Now in 2011, with field strength of more than 10,000 clinicians, the National Health Service Corps provides health care services to about 10.5 million patients.

"Thanks to the National Health Service Corps, more Americans can see a doctor and get the health care they need," said HHS Secretary Sebelius. "The investments we made are improving health and creating access to care, fueling economic activity nationwide."

Established in 1972, the National Health Service Corps, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has provided health care to communities across the country through the service of more than 41,000 primary health care practitioners over its nearly 40-year history. The NHSC provides financial, professional and educational resources to medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health care providers who bring their skills to areas of the United States with limited access to health care.

Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hhs-announces-record-number-of-national-health-service-corps-members-2011-10-13

[lamp_shade]

1. Positive news for a change. Thanks for posting. n/t

[David Sky]

2. This should get some attention from the media, but I wonder if

it will be mentioned.

[valerief]

4. It'll be mentioned only if it can be credited to a Republican. Of course, it can credited to a

Republican and still be a bald-faced lie. The media doesn't care about facts.

[JTFrog]

3. K&R

[Kingofalldems]

5. Kick and Rec