Does the National Health Service Corps Improve Physician Supply in Underserved Locations?

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is a large federal program aimed at improving health care access in underserved locations. Prior evaluations have found that Corps enrollees have a higher probability of leaving the initial practice location than non-enrollees. The paper addresses two potential problems with these evaluations. We extend the classic measure of NHSC success, remaining in the initial location, to control for self-selection into the program. Second, the paper employs a broader metric for measuring the success of the Corps. If Corps participants practice in an underserved area, then the program has increased the access to primary health care.