Public Notice: SHARP Advisory Council Meeting January 16, 2015

Announcement of Quarterly Business Meeting

Special Notice: The NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Progarm is currently accepting applications.

The HRSA NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program application cycle is currently open and will close on February 26, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Go to their website for details.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC)Loan Repayment Program is Now Open.

The NHSC Loan Repayment Program is now open and will close on March 30, 2015 at 7:30 PM EST. Visit their website for details. 

Alaska's SHARP Program:
Providing Support-for-Service to Health Care Practitioners

Update on SHARP-I 2014

The practitioner application period for the Fall 2014 solicitation for SHARP-I is now closed. Those interested in the SHARP Program should check the webpage every month or two.

Attention Interested Employer Sites:

SHARP-I Site Application – UPDATE

SHARP-I 2014 Site Application

SHARP-I 2014 Attestation Page

For more information, please see:

• SHARP-I 2014 Grant Abstract
• SHARP-I 2014 Q&A Sheet

SHARP Employer Sites Seeking Clinicians

Employer Sites Seeking Clinicians provides a list of employer sites that are eligible under the SHARP-I 2014 Program. The list is arranged by occupation category.

SHARP-II:

• We do not expect a clinician application period opening during remainder of 2015.
  We recommend that all interested persons check this website for program updates every month or so. Any questions about all matters regarding SHARP should be directed to:
• Robert Sewell, Ph.D., Program Manager
  SHARP Program, Alaska DHSS
  (907) 465-4065 phone
  E-mail: robert.sewell@alaska.gov

Learn More about SHARP-II

• AS 18.29.010-099, Heath Care Professions Loan Repayment and Incentive Program.
• SHARP-II adopted regulations.
• Robert Sewell, SHARP Program Manager, is available for questions via e-mail (preferred) at robert.sewell@alaska.gov or phone 907-465-4065. 

Overview

The purpose of SHARP is to address the shortage of certain health professionals in the state by increasing the number and improving the distribution of healthcare professionals who provide direct patient care. The SHARP program seeks to recruit and retain selected health care professionals to serve in designated healthcare shortage areas in exchange for the repayment of qualifying education loans and/or payment of direct incentive. 

SHARP-II provides loan repayment and direct incentive. Both full-time and half-time contract options are available. After an initial three years of service, those clinicians in good standing may gain the opportunity for another three-year contract (renewal).

• Tier-1: Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists
• Tier-2: Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, RN-Level Nurse, Physical Therapists, Clinical Psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, and Dental Hygienists

SHARP-II has certain stipulations, a key one being that holding a concurrent service obligation with virtually any other entity is specifically disallowed (e.g., NHSC, I.H.S., and so on). Another key stipulation is that each participating Site must contribute a partial employer match to its clinician’s support-for-service payment, although reduction of this required match amount may be possible in some circumstances. Further, all participating Sites must be within Alaska-designated health care service shortage areas (HCSSAs). Sites must accept patients who receive Medicaid or Medicare, and the uninsured on a sliding fee basis. Under SHARP-II a significantly expanded range of facilities may become designated as eligible practice Sites.

Updates

• Half-Time Clinician

Questions?

To request additional information about the SHARP Program, please fill out the SHARP Inquiry Form.

• Robert Sewell, Program Manager
  Alaska Division of Public Health
  Section of Health Planning & Systems Development
  P.O. Box 110610
  Juneau, AK 99811-0610
  Phone: (907) 465-4065
  Email: robert.sewell@alaska.gov