The Rural Incentive Grant Program was initiated by the South Carolina Legislature in 1989 to address the maldistribution of clinicians in rural and underserved South Carolina communities.
The program provides incentive grants to eligible providers who contract to practice for four years in a rural or underserved area of South Carolina. Eligible health professionals include: primary care physicians (Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and OB/Gyn); general surgeons and psychiatrists; credentialed nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants.
The amount of the incentive grant will vary—physicians are eligible for a total of $60,000-$100,000 (minimum-maximum) and advanced practice providers are eligible for a total of $30,000-$50,000 (minimum-maximum) depending upon the type of practice setting and the population of the county.
All recipients must be U.S. citizens and licensed by the State of South Carolina and board certified. Applications are encouraged from residents who will be completing their training within the year, but it is expected that the resident will become board certified.
Providers who have previously received an award from the Rural Physician Incentive Grant Program or the Rural Physician Loan Repayment Program are not eligible. Providers must also have practiced in the community for less than five years to be considered. Clinicians working in state prisons may qualify. Half-time options are also available.
A 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.
Applications for incentive grants are due by March 15, 2020.
For more information about the program, please visit the South Carolina AHEC Recruitment and Retention Programs webpage.