UNC Health Lenoir - Lenoir County
Overview
In an effort to invest in our healthcare providers, UNC Health Lenoir put in extensive effort to lay the groundwork for three types of federal designations for our county. We are now a recognized Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). This opens the doors for benefits such as federal and state-funded student loan forgiveness for physicians, advanced practitioners, and nurses. Along with our healthcare providers, UNC Health Lenoir is committed to the health and well-being of our community with the hopes that through this recruitment and retention initiative, we can boost access to healthcare in our county.
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 having the greatest shortage. The maps below outline each type of HPSA for Lenoir County.
In a Primary Care HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: MI – Lenoir County
ID: 1375167133
Designation Type: Other Population HPSA
Status: Designated
Score: 18
Designation Date: 05/07/2014
Last Update Date: 10/19/2020
In a Mental Health HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: LI – Lenoir County
ID: 7379532627
Designation Type: Low-Income HPSA Population
Status: Designated
Score: 15
Designation Date: 12/01/2017
Last Update Date: 08/06/2021
In a Dental Health HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: LI – Lenoir County
ID: 6378118506
Designation Type: Low-Income HPSA Population
Status: Designated
Score: 19
Designation Date: 10/19/1999
Last Update Date: 09/10/2021
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 the most. Here are the benefits available in our specific shortage designations.
Loan repayment opportunities are possible because UNC Health Lenoir forged new partnerships and secured HPSAs in this region. Loan repayment is just one benefit that acknowledges you as the driving force that makes healthcare possible in our community. UNC Health Lenoir truly appreciates working with you.
Programs available to eligible UNC Health Lenoir primary care and mental health providers:
Physicians –Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program
Advanced Practitioners – 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)
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, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program
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% off their student loan balance in return for working at a Critical Shortage Facility, like our hospital.
Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program – CNAs, certified medical assistants, licensed occupational therapists, LCSWs, LPCs, MFTs, master’s level social workers, psychologists, counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatric mental health practitioners, occupational therapists, psychology doctoral interns, behavioral health paraprofessionals, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, CRNAs, CNMs, CNSs, LPNs, PNSs, pharmacists, and SUD counselors may be eligible for up to $250,000 for a 6-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 3-year service commitment. Eligible discipline types include: Physicians, Psychologists, LCSWs, LSWs, LCMSWs, Psychiatric NPs, MFTs, LPCs, and SUD Counselors working in a pediatric medical subspeciality, 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 full list of specialties and subspecialties.
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]