HRSA webinar outlines NHSC loan‑repayment awards, application steps and March 31 deadline

Kendrick Neely, Public Health Analyst for the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Programs, and Melissa Robinson, Management Analyst for the same program, detailed award amounts, eligibility rules and step‑by‑step application requirements during an HRSA webinar for the FY2026 NHSC Loan Repayment Programs.

Neely said NHSC programs provide student loan repayment to health‑care professionals in exchange for service in high‑need urban, rural or frontier communities and described recent award changes: “Starting in 2024, primary care providers including physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants became eligible for an increased award amount of up to $75,000 for full‑time services or $37,500 for halftime services,” he said. He added that other eligible dental and behavioral health clinicians may seek a two‑year award up to $50,000 for full time or $25,000 for half time.

The webinar also covered the three‑year specialty programs. Neely described the Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP as offering up to $75,000 for three years of full‑time service (or $37,500 halftime) and said the Rural Community LRP can offer up to $100,000 for three years of full‑time service (or $50,000 for halftime). He noted that the SUD and Rural programs do not offer continuation contracts and that dentists and dental hygienists are not eligible for those two programs.

Robinson reviewed the MyBHW online application process and the documents applicants must upload. Required proof of U.S. citizenship includes a passport ID page, passport card or birth certificate (driver’s licenses and Social Security cards are not accepted). Loan documentation must come from lenders and include account summaries showing lender name, current balance, interest rate, disbursement report and original loan amount; federal loan borrowers can import records from the Federal Student Aid website using their FSA ID, while private loans must be added manually.

Applicants must be employed at or have accepted employment at an NHSC‑approved site on or before 07/18/2026 to be eligible; Neely said site employment verification is required and that all participants must document time away from practice every six months. He defined full‑time contract status as 40 hours per week (including patient care, administrative duties, teaching and telemedicine) and urged applicants to consult the FY2026 guidance for discipline‑specific hour requirements.

The MyBHW portal now requires multifactor authentication. Robinson advised applicants to “download Google Authenticator,” follow the MyBHW quick‑start guide, and store backup codes securely; each login will require a Google verification code.

Robinson set the application deadline at March 31, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and recommended starting applications early. She walked through the application sequence — eligibility questions, personal and license information, discipline and degree date, specialty selection, program eligibility, site addition and employment verification — and warned common reasons for ineligibility, including future employment start dates, expired professional licenses, mismatched contract hours, or unresolved existing NHSC service obligations.

HRSA staff announced multiple application help sessions and Q&A dates in late February and March, provided a QR code and the website (www.nhsc.hrsa.gov) for resources, and gave a customer care number and email for application support. The webinar closed with instructions for the text‑based Q&A portion and a reminder to follow HRSA on social channels and sign up for HRSA e‑news.

The webinar presented program rules and administrative guidance but did not record any formal rule changes or binding waivers; applicants were instructed to consult the FY2026 NHSC application guidance for definitive eligibility and contractual details.