Well, I tried emailing the NHSC public health analyst that was worked with me through my service obligation. I gave a bit of background and asked two questions:
1) "Are scholars transitioning to LRP not considered for finalist status until their service obligation is verified as complete?"
and
2) "I know scholars' applications are viewed on a non-competitive basis, but how does that work with my end date being so late? My service obligation will be complete Sep 1st. Will that have any bearing on my chances of getting the loan repayment? In other words, will I only receive the loan repayment if there are still funds available on Sep 1st? Or is the finalist pool actually fluid until Oct 1st, and as long as my obligation is complete before the end of September, I will be viewed as any other scholar applying at a site with a HPSA of 22?"
The analyst responded back and answered #1, but made no mention of #2:
"Yes you must complete your NHSC Scholar service obligation before you can receive an award. Please note on page 8 in the attached NHSC LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM 2016 APPLICATION AND GUIDANCE that a scholar must complete their obligation by September 29, 2016. You are within that time period."
I then responded back and asked #2 again:
"Do you know whether finishing so late in the cycle versus finishing earlier has any bearing on one's chances to receive an award? Or does that date not matter because nothing is finalized until September 29th, and the chances for receiving an award just depend on HPSA score and other factors?"
I received the following:
"The Loan Repayment program gave the date September 29, 2016 as the deadline for NHSC Scholar end date, and from that you understand that the decision is based on that date, HPSAs and other factors."
So, it's confirmed you won't get a finalist email until your service obligation is done. However, I'm not sure my exchange shed any light on how funds are allocated. When I had previously contacted this analyst in January asking about what "non-competitive" meant, this was the response:
""non-competitive" basis means YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE REVIEWED FIRST COME FIRST SERVED based on the eligibility of educational loans. You will be provided a priority as you are a Scholar in Service and you plan to remain at the facility where you started your obligation."
I'm not sure what the answer to question #2 is. As I explained in my email, it would be nice to know now how things are determined (and would have been nice to know before applying that you aren't considered for finalist status until your obligation is done), because I have another job offer at a different FQHC that is $10k more in salary with a $25k signing bonus. But, I didn't seriously consider it, because the only way I would be able to do the LRP this cycle was to stay at my site, and it seemed from the program guidance that it would be all-but-guaranteed as a scholar transitioning in a high HPSA score site.
But, who knows. I like my job, and I still have hope that things will work out. Technically nothing is set in stone until September 30th, so I'll hold out hope. Congratulations to simpler2 and everyone else who has heard back, and best of luck blacklisted. I've loved my experience with the NHSC (aside from it being a little difficult to get answers to questions) and hope to have 2 more years of experiences. I also submitted a Portal question to try to get #2 answered, so I'll let you know if I hear anything.