WHEREAS:
National Health Service Corps provides student loan repayment for individuals licensed in the Behavioral Health field who agree to practice in areas of the country that have a shortage of health professionals. Individuals are required to practice in a rural, urban or frontier community for a minimum of 2 years; and
WHEREAS:
In March of 2016, it was determined that individuals enrolled in the program need to perform 32 hours of approved service each week compared to 21 hours each week the previous year. This would be 6.4 hours a day that clinicians need to be on an approved site providing service to a patient. These hours must be face-to-face with patients to be approved. Attending mandatory meetings and documentation is not included in the 32 hours a week; and
WHEREAS:
In 2015, more than 9,600 National Health Service Corps clinicians were providing care to more than 10.2 million people who live in rural, urban or frontier communities at more than 5,000 approved sites; and
WHEREAS:
The Department of Health and Human Services has dictated that all publicly owned facilities must be integrated into the community. The Department of Health and Human Services also requires services to be performed in the community instead of a traditional office setting. The program does not allow individuals to work outside of the traditional office setting. By following the Department of Health and Human Services direction individuals in the program are not able to meet the requirements that are necessary to complete the program; and
WHEREAS:
Providing these programs in the rural areas of the country has allowed patients to receive services that would not be provided without the program. This program also allows facilities to recruit qualified individuals to their area who would not be drawn to the area without the program.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME shall support restoration of the 21 hour per week direct patient care requirement for Behavioral and Mental Health providers for eligibility for the National Health Service Corps student loan repayment program and shall petition the Department of Health and Human Services for restoration of the 21 hour standard.
SUBMITTED BY:
Daniela Kellum, President and Delegate
De De Murphy, Recording Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Local 2936, Council 75
Oregon