Primary Care and Rural Health, Office of

Mission To address health disparities created by lack of access to high-quality health care due to financial, cultural and geographic barriers. What we do - Recruit a diverse primary care workforce of medical, dental and mental health care providers through operation of the Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program, the physician waiver program for holders of J-1 Visas and coordination of National Health Service Corps programs - Assess annually the existing workforce's capacity to meet the medical, dental and mental health services needs of Rhode Islanders. - Collaborate with organizations and facilities to apply for Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation and funding where need exists to improve access to healthcare. - Assist those working to increase access to primary care services for all, and reduce disparities seen in our rural populations.