Loan Assistance and Recruitment Resources

The Federal government through the National Health Service Corps, Delaware and Maryland operate Loan Assistance Repayment Programs for selected health practitioners. These programs are designed to assist in the recruitment and retention of health care practitioners in underserved areas. Each state operates their own program, though it is partially supported through federal funds. 

Federal Loan and Repayment Assistance
Delaware Loan and Repayment Assistance

Maryland Loan and Repayment Assistance

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

Is your health center maximizing its recruitment potential through the National Health Service Corps?

The NHSC has undergone some significant changes in the last year.  With the help of ARRA funding, the National Health Service Corp has been able to extend Loan Repayment eligibility to HPSA designations with scores as low as 1. The following thresholds and awards will remain through September 2010.

HPSA Score 0-9

10 MD or DO; and 10 mid-level;
10 dentists; and 10 dental hygienists; and
10 psychiatrists; and 10 other mental health prof.

HPSA Score 10-13

12 MD or DO; and than 12 mid-levels;

12 dentists; and 12 dental hygienists; and
12 psychiatrists; and 12 other mental health prof.

HPSA Score14-26

15 MD or DO; and 15 mid-levels;

15 dentists; and 15 dental hygienist;and.

15 psychiatrists; and 15 other mental health prof.

*Other mental health professionals include: Clinical or counseling psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, or psychiatric nurse specialists.

Applying to the Loan Repayment Program Just Got Easier!

Joining the thousands of NHSC clinicians across the country offers the opportunity to provide primary health care service to communities in need while eliminating educational financial debt with tax free loan repayment awards.

The number of required documents has been reduced by over half. Only the following forms are now needed as part of your application:
1. NHSC LRP Online Application
2. Loan Documentation
3. Loan Verification
4. Employment Verification and Community Site Information
5. Authorization to Release Information
6. NHSC LRP Self‐Certification
If Applicable
7. Power‐of‐Attorney
8. Privacy Act Release Authorization
9. Proof of Disadvantaged Background
10. Proof of Exceptional Financial Need from a school

Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applications are being accepted continuously through July 29, 2010.Visit us at www.nhsc.hrsa.gov for more information.

The new LRP application can be found at: https://lrpbcrs.hrsa.gov

Links to the new Application Information Bulletin (AIB) and Forms can be found at: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment.

Pending applicants:  If you have a pending NHSC Loan Repayment Application, there is no
need to submit a new application. HRSA will apply the revised criteria to pending applications and notify you accordingly.

Delaware’s Loan Repayment Program

The Loan Repayment Program is funded through a combination of state and federal funds. Depending on the type and location of the practice site, some awards qualify to receive matching state and federal contributions and others are funded with state-only dollars. The same conditions and requirements apply to both types of loan repayment awards.

State & federal funds – must be a non-profit, public facility or practice located in a designated health professional shortage area.

State-only funds – private, for-profit facility or practice located in a designated health professional shortage area; and awards for capital/equipment loans.

Eligible Practitioners:

Applications are accepted from practice sites and health professionals on a continuous basis. Interested persons should contact:

Loan Repayment Coordinator
Delaware Health Care Commission
Margaret O'Neill Building, Third Floor
410 Federal Street - Suite 7
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 739-2730
Fax: (302) 739-6927

For more information about Delaware's Loan Repayment Program, visit the website at http://dhcc.delaware.gov/services/slrp.shtml

Maryland State Loan Repayment Program

The purpose of the Maryland State Loan Repayment Program is to encourage primary care practitioners to work in health professional shortage areas. Eligible primary care practitioners include those who are specialty board certified or have completed a residency in the following:

• Family practice,
• Osteopathic general practice,
• Obstetrics/gynecology,
• Internal medicine,
• Pediatrics, or
• General psychiatry.

Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program is a collaborative effort among state-federal entities, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Maryland Higher Education Commission, and the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. It offers physicians an opportunity to practice their profession in a community that lacks adequate primary health care services, while also paying off educational loans. Maryland has positions available throughout the state in community–based systems of care --large metropolitan areas, small towns, and rural areas. In order to receive funds under the State Loan Repayment Program, a health professional must contract to serve in the designated area for a minimum of 2 years or a maximum of 4 years.

Designated areas are those locations with a Health Professional Shortage Area Designation. To learn more about these designations, including designated locations, and other important federal designations, please visit the website at http://fha.maryland.gov/ohpp/pco_larp.cfm.

Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program

Did you know that you can get up to $99,000 of your school loans repaid for making a difference in the lives of Maryland’s children?

The Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) is a competitive program that provides dentists the opportunity to have their educational loans repaid by the State of Maryland. Selected dentists receive up to $99,000 in student loan repayment over a three-year period by providing dental services to Maryland Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) recipients.

Applications are no longer being accepted for the 2010 award cycle. Updated information on the next cycle will be posted when it becomes available.  For more information including program eligibility and an application, please visit www.fha.state.md.us/oralhealth or call Venus Henriques, Program Coordinator at (410) 767-3081. 

Page Last Updated December 29, 2009. M. Noyes