Incentive Grants for Primary Care Providers in Rural and Underserved Areas

South Carolina AHEC is pleased to announce that applications are currently being accepted from primary care physicians (Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Ob/Gyn) and advanced practice professionals (Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants) who contract for a period of four years to practice in rural or underserved areas of South Carolina.  The program also provides funding to general surgeons and psychiatrists who contract for a period of four years to practice in rural or underserved areas of the state. 

Awards for physicians will vary with the minimum award being $60,000 and the maximum award being $100,000 depending upon the type of practice setting and the population of the county.

Awards for advanced practice professionals will vary with the minimum award being $30,000 and the maximum award being $50,000 depending upon the type of practice setting and the population of the county.

Specifically, the State Incentive Grant Program may:

• Provide $25,000 per year for up to four years for qualified physicians practicing in counties with a population of less than 50,000.

• Provide $15,000 per year for up to four years for qualified physicians in counties with a population over 50,000 who work in rural areas (non-urbanized) as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Census or who work in federally qualified health centers in urban areas.

• Provide $12,500 per year for up to four years to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) and Physician Assistants (PA) practicing in counties with a population of less than 50,000.

• Provide $7,500 per year for up to four years for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) and Physician Assistants (PA) in counties with a population over 50,000 who work in rural areas (non-urbanized) as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 Census or who work in federally qualified health centers in urban areas.

• Clinicians (physicians and advanced practice providers) working in state prisons may qualify.

• Half-time option (20 hours per week) for half of the full-time (40 hours per week) funding amount will be considered.

Applications for incentive grants will be accepted until March 15, 2019. 

A new recruitment incentive grant is also available to residents graduating from a South Carolina Family Medicine Residency Program and going into practice in one of the state’s whole county Geographic Health Professional Shortage Areas.  Due to a limited number of slots, these incentive grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

For more information about both components of the program, please visit the South Carolina AHEC Recruitment and Retention webpage.