The National Health Service corps was created because of a health care crisis that emerged in the U.S. in the 1950's and 1960's, as rural physicians retired or moved, leaving many areas of the country without essential health care services.
Increasing specialization and rapid technological advances only fed the trend. Rural areas and inner-city neighborhoods competed unsuccessfully with affluent medical practices that offered higher compensation, more interaction with other professionals, and job opportunities for spouses. Rural communities lacked resources to provide the technologically sophisticated facilities that many physicians desired. Rural states appealed to Congress, which created the National Health Service Corps.
Milestones
| 1970's | |
|---|---|
| 1970— | Emergency Health Personnel Act was signed into law as Public Law 91-623. These were Federal employees, US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Officers or civil servants assigned to underserved areas to practice. |
| 1972— | The first 20 commissioned officers were assigned, including 14 physicians, four dentists and two nurses. NHSC had placed 181 clinicians in over 100 communities. The Emergency Health Personnel Act Amendments expanded the pool of clinicians available for service by offering scholarships to dentists, allopathic and osteopathic physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse midwives. |
| 1979— | Field strength had increased from the initial 181 clinicians to 1,826. Budget went from 11.3 million in 1972 to 138 million in 1979. |
| 1980's | |
|
|
| 1982— | NHSC began forming partnerships with States to assist in the placement, monitoring and evaluation of NHSC practices. |
| 1987— | Loan Repayment program was implemented. |
| 1988— | Seven loan repayment contracts awarded |
| 1989— | Field strength at 1,491 and budget reduced to $47.8 million. |
1990's |
|
| 1994— | NHSC regains its momentum. Budget is $124 million. Awarded 429 new scholarship and 536 new loan repayment contracts. |
| 1999— | Field strength at 2,526 and budget at $112.4 million. |
2000's |
|
| 2000— | 52% of NHSC clinicians are still serving the underserved in some capacity up to 15 years after completion of the service commitment (Mathmatica Study). |
| 2004— | Field strength at 3,943. Budget at $169.9 million. |
| 2009— | American Recovery and Reinvestment invests an additional $300 million in the National Health Service Corps, which is expected to double field strength by 2010 |
 |
 |