The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the award of more than $240 million in scholarship and loan repayment programs to increase access to primary health care.

The awards will be used to recruit more than 4,000 medical students and providers, primarily through the National Health Service Corps and NURSE Corps, according to HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell.

"The most critical step in connecting people to quality health care is a primary care provider," said Burwell. "These awards provide financial support directly to health professionals, including physicians, registered nurses and physician assistants, to help individuals – particularly the 17.6 million uninsured who have recently gained coverage – find the primary care services they need."

The programs provide funding to primary care clinicians and students in exchange for their service in underserved communities. They also assist in removing financial barriers for health professionals interested in practicing in primary care.