Author: Scott Coleman
Jan. 23, 2019 – The NC Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Rural Health (ORH) is hosting six meetings across the state to gather stakeholder input regarding the J-1 Visa Waiver program and NC’s Loan Repayment and Incentive Programs under N.C. General Assembly Session Law HB 998.
The purpose of the stakeholder meetings is to gather information and feedback regarding current processes and possible program modifications to help ensure maximum benefits to rural North Carolina communities. At the meetings, ORH will review key priorities and requirements for each program.
North Carolina has a shortage of primary health care providers, particularly in the state’s rural areas. The ORH leads or is involved in several approaches to help place health care professionals in underserved communities. The J-1 Visa Waiver program helps place foreign medical graduates with eligible provider organizations, and the Loan Repayment and Incentive Programs provide financial incentives for certain types of health professionals in underserved areas.
Stakeholder input meetings are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- Feb. 1, 8:30 a.m. to noon, N.C. Medical Society Auditorium in Raleigh (Wake County)
- Feb. 22, 1-4:30 p.m., Pender Memorial Hospital Education Room in Burgaw (Pender County)
- March 12, 1-4:30 p.m., Northwest Area Health Education Center in Winston-Salem (Forsyth County)
- March 14, 1-4:30 p.m., College of the Albemarle John Wood Foreman Technology Center in Elizabeth City (Pasquotank County)
- March 28, 1-4:30 p.m., Atrium Health Anson Community Room in Wadesboro (Anson County)
- April 4, 1- 4:30 p.m., Madison County N.C. Cooperative Extension in Marshall (Madison County)
For more information about the meetings, contact ORH at 919-527-6452.