Mission Health - Buncombe County
Overview
Mission Health is committed to the health and well-being of the communities, which it serves. Mission Health has made extensive efforts to lay the groundwork to acquire three types of federal designations for several counties in our service area. These designations, known as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), open the door to benefits such as federal and state funded student loan repayment programs and grants for physicians, advanced practitioners, and nurses. The goal of this initiative is to promote access to quality healthcare in the surrounding service area by recruiting and retaining clinicians like you. Together with its team of healthcare providers, Mission Health will continue to offer excellent care in a compassionate environment.
Mission Health encourages its healthcare providers to contact our team of experts at HPSA Acumen to determine eligibility and opportunities for loan repayment awards. An individual consultation can be scheduled with us at the bottom of this webpage.
What is a HPSA?
HPSAs are designations that indicate health care provider shortages in three platforms of health: primary care, mental health, and dental health. Each platform of health receives its own designation. Each designation is scored to show the severity of the shortage. Scores range from 0 to 25, with 25 indicating the greatest shortage. The maps below outline each type of HPSA that Mission Health is located in. Your employment site may have a higher HPSA score than those listed below. Please reach out to HPSA Acumen, Inc. to verify the HPSA scores for specific sites.
HPSA Maps for Mission Health and Surrounding Areas
Main Hospital Address: 509 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Primary Care HPSAs – Western/Central/Eastern Regions
Mental Health HPSAs – Western/Central/Eastern Regions
Dental Health HPSAs – Western/Central/Eastern Regions
What are the benefits of a HPSA?
In an effort to boost provider recruitment and retention in these often-rural shortage areas, benefits have been established to help build healthcare access to those who need it most. Here are the benefits available in your specific shortage designations.
Loan repayment opportunities are possible because Mission Health has forged new partnerships and secured HPSAs in this region. Loan repayment is just one benefit that acknowledges you, the provider, as the driving force that makes healthcare possible in your community. Mission Health truly appreciates working with you.
Programs available to eligible Mission Health primary care and mental health providers:
Physicians – National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, State Loan Repayment Programs
Advanced Practitioners – National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (nurses only), Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners only), State Loan Repayment Programs
Registered Nurses – Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program, Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program
Mental Health Providers – Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (nurses only), Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, State Loan Repayment Programs
What do these loan repayment programs offer?
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – Advanced Practice Nurses and Registered Nurses may be eligible to apply for loan repayment worth up to 85% of their student loan balance in return for working at a Critical Shortage Facility, like our hospital.
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program – Primary Care Professionals may be eligible for up to $75,000 and Mental Health or Dental Health Professionals may be eligible for up to $50,000, plus a one-time Spanish language award enhancement of $5,000, in return for a two-year service commitment at an NHSC-certified site. One-year extension contracts are available for the remaining student loan balance.
Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program – Healthcare professionals providing direct treatment or recovery support of patients with or in recovery from a substance use disorder including, but not limited to Physicians, Clinicians, Bachelor’s-level Substance Use Disorder Counselors, Behavioral Health Paraprofessionals, and Clinical Support Staff may be eligible for up to $250,000 for a six-year service commitment at a STAR-certified site.
Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program – Providers working full-time with pediatric patients may be eligible to receive up to $100,000 in loan repayment in return for a three-year service commitment. Eligible disciplines include: Physicians, Psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed or Certified Master’s Level Social Workers, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Substance Use Disorder Counselors working in a pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, as a child or adolescent psychiatrist, or behavioral health providers working in pediatrics or substance use disorder services. Please refer to program guidelines for a list of specialties and subspecialties for Physicians.
North Carolina Loan Repayment Program – Dentists, Primary Care Physicians (MD/DO) practicing in Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, General Surgery (CAH only), Obstetrics/Gynecology, General Pediatrics, Psychiatry; Up to $60,000—Dental Hygienists and the following Advanced Practice Providers who specialize in Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, General Pediatrics, Psychiatry: Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Certified Nurse Midwives may be eligible for up to $100,000 for 4 years of service. Qualifying facilities must provide comprehensive primary care within a HPSA. Sites must be either NHSC-certified or seeking certification.
North Carolina High Needs Service Bonus – Dentists, Primary Care Physicians (MD/DO) practicing in Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, General Surgery (CAH only), Obstetrics/Gynecology, General Pediatrics, Psychiatry may be eligible for $100,000 for 4yrs of service; Dental Hygienists and the following Advanced Practice Providers who specialize in Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, General Pediatrics, Psychiatry: Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Certified Nurse Midwives may receive a $60,000 for 4yrs of service; with (1) no outstanding student debt and (2) complete an application within 5 years of either their first date of employment or completing another service commitment are eligible to apply. Facilities must provide comprehensive primary care within a HPSA score of 10 or greater. Sites must be either NHSC-certified or seeking certification.
North Carolina Medical Society Foundation’s – Community Practitioner Program (Legacy) – Primary Care Physicians, Physician Assistants, and Family Nurse Practitioners specializing in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics; additionally, OB/GYN, General Surgery, and Psychiatric Medicine may be eligible for up to $100,000 for a 5-year commitment. Must apply to NHSC or one of the State Loan Repayment Programs first.
North Carolina Medical Society Foundation’s – Community Practitioner Program (2.0) – Behavioral Health Professionals and those focused on Women’s and Maternal Health. Must apply to NHSC or one of the State Loan Repayment Programs first. May be eligible for up to $100,000 for 3 years of service.
To find out if your address is located in this HPSA designation, please visit the following website:
https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/by-address
For more information, please contact:
HPSA Acumen’s Benefit Support Specialists are available to you:
716.483.0888 ext. 206
Email us here at [email protected]