Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals | Bruce Greenstein, Secretary

Louisiana State Loan Repayment Program

The purpose of the Louisiana State Loan Repayment Program is to encourage primary care practitioners to serve in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). For the purpose of recruitment under this program, eligible primary care practitioners include those who are specialty board certified or have completed a residency in family practice, osteopathic general practice, obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, or dentistry. Mid-levels include physician assistants, advanced nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives. The mission of the program is to alleviate, and ultimately overcome, Louisiana's problem of a substantial mal-distribution of primary care health professionals in rural and inner city areas.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Work in a federally-designated HPSA;
• Work for a public or nonprofit entity;
• Work full-time (40 hours per week) in an outpatient capacity:
• Accept assignments of Medicare, Medicaid:
• Have a sliding-fee scale for low-income, uninsured patients;
• Be a United States citizen;
• Licensed to practice in Louisiana;
• Have no other obligation for health professional services;
• Have not defaulted on educational loans; and
• Have not breached a health professional service contract.

COMPENSATION

To enhance the provision of the health care services, the program will repay governmental or commercial educational loans obtained by the practitioner. Physicians and dentists can receive up to $30,000 annually for a three (3) year initial commitment. Other professionals can receive up to $15,000 annually for a three (3) year initial commitment.

Participants who complete their original commitment, remain in an eligible site in a health professional shortage area, still have educational loans to repay and have been compliant with all requirements may be able to extend their commitment for a 2-year extension for $24,000.

NOTE: The appliication period witll open May 1, 2013 and we will accept applications through July 31, 2013. If incomplete application packets are submitted, they will not be considered.

 State Loan Repayment Program Resources:

• Application Guidance
• State Loan Repayment Program Fact Sheet

 

For additional information, contact:

Beth Butler

Program Coordinator

Bureau of Primary Care and Rural Health

Louisiana Department of of Health & Hospitals' Office of Public Health

Physical Address: 628 North 4th Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Mailing Address:    P.O. Box 3118, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3118

Phone: (225) 342-4702

Fax:       (225) 342-5839