FY 2019 Annual Performance Plan and Report - Goal 1. Objective 4

Topics on this page: Goal 1. Objective 4 | Objective 1.4 Table of Related Performance Measures

Goal 1. Objective 4: Strengthen and expand the health care workforce to meet America’s diverse needs

The Department defines access to health services as “the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best health outcomes.”  It involves gaining entry into the health care system, usually through payment; gaining access to diverse options for receiving treatment, services, and products, including physical locations and online options; and having a trusted relationship with a health care provider.  Efforts to improve access to care are not limited to physical health care.  Improving access to behavioral and oral health care, including through innovative solutions that use health information technology, also is critical, especially for populations experiencing disparities in access.

To improve outcomes in this objective, HHS is working to address the high cost of care, lack of availability of services, and lack of culturally competent care. Strategies related to promoting affordability and strengthening the workforce are addressed in Strategic Objectives 1.1 and 1.4. This Strategic Objective focuses on how HHS, rather than instituting government mandates, is giving people more control over how they access care, through increasing the spectrum of consumer options and expanding competition among health care providers, including by removing barriers to participation in the health care sector for religious, faith-based, and other providers.

The Office of the Secretary leads this objective.  The following divisions are responsible for implementing programs under this strategic objective: ACL, CMS, HRSA, IHS, IOS, OCR, OGA, and SAMHSA.

Objective 1.4 A Table of Related Performance Measures

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) addresses the nationwide shortage of health care providers in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) by providing recruitment and retention incentives in the form of scholarship and loan repayment support to health professionals committed to a career in primary care and service to underserved communities.  The NHSC field strength indicates the number of providers actively serving with the NHSC in underserved areas in exchange for scholarship or loan repayment support. 

As of September 30, 2017, 10,179 primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health practitioners were providing service nationwide through the following programs: NHSC Scholarship Program, NHSC Loan Repayment Program, NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program, and the State Loan Repayment Program.  These programs collectively serve the immediate needs of underserved communities and support the development and maintenance of a pipeline of health care providers capable of meeting the needs of these communities in the future.  In FY 2018 and 2019, NHSC will continue to assist students through scholarships and loan repayments and professionals through loan repayment awards as incentives to practice in underserved communities.