An AAMC-led coalition of more than 50 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Stakeholder associations March 24 sent a letter to House and Senate appropriators, recommending a discretionary appropriation of $287.4 million for fiscal year (FY) 2016. The group represents the “multiple health professionals, institutions, and underserved areas/patients that benefit from the NHSC's history of public service.”
The NHSC Stakeholders’ recommendation matches the president’s FY 2016 budget request for discretionary funding. The letter highlights the success of the NHSC and the unfilled need of existing health professional shortage areas.
In reference to NHSC funding proposed under the SGR fix, the letter states, “Recognizing that mandatory funding may be provided through other mechanisms, the appropriations committees still retain primary responsibility for funding the administrative functions of the NHSC and for avoiding budgetary lapses in future years.”
Current funding for the NHSC is provided through a mandatory fund created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA, P.L. 111-148 and P.L. 111-152) that expires at the end of FY 2015.