Loan Repayment Program

The Health Professional Loan Repayment helps the state attract and retain licensed health professionals to serve in critical shortage areas in Washington State by providing educational loan repayment assistance. In return for financial assistance, program participants agree to provide primary health care services in rural or underserved urban areas that are designated as health professional shortage areas.

The Program offers two funding sources: the state funded Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP), and the federally matched State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Since 2010, the state's funding for this program has been reduced, leaving largely federal funds to support the program.

The provide Application is now open. See below for the link to create a log-in and registration.

The State Funded HPLRP Program

Awards

The HPLRP program provides up to $75,000 for a minimum three year service commitment and $25,000 for each additional year for up to five years maximum. The SLRP program provides up to $70,000 for a minimum two year service commitment and up to $30,000 each additional year based on funds available and the participants remaining eligible educational debt.

2013-14 Loan Repayment Approved Site List

Eligible Participants

HPLRP eligible professions include:

Psychiatrist
Nurse Practitioner

To be eligible to apply the HPLRP participant must:

Be employed or have a contract to begin seeing patients no later than
July 1, 2013 at DSHS Eastern or Western State Hospitals only.
Submit documentation of eligible outstanding educational debt (does not include Parent Plus Loans, loans with a cosigner, or loans not in your name).
Be a United States citizen (Permanent residents do not qualify).
Provide primary care and not specialty care.
Be a permanent employee of the facility – not working through a placement agency.
Sign a contract to serve for a minimum of three years or pay funds back with penalty (see Guidelines and Terms of Agreement for details).

Service Obligation

HPLRP participants must provide the equivalent of full time service for a minimum of three years and additional service year for year for contract extension renewals.
A participant must:

Be employed or have a contract to being employment at either DSHS Eastern or Western State Hospital no later than July 1, 2013, at a site listed on the 2013-14 Approved Site List.
Work a minimum of 24 hours per week.
Submit the required Quarterly Service Verification Form.

State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) - Federal Funded

SLRP provides up to $35,000 per year for a minimum of two years ($70,000) and $30,000 for each additional year based on funds available and the individual’s remaining eligible educational debt.

Eligible Participants

SLRP eligible professions include:

Physician (MD, DO or Psychiatrist)
Nurse Practitioner
Physician Assistant
Midwife (Certified Nurse)
Registered Nurse
Pharmacist
Dentist
Registered Dental Hygienist

To be eligible to apply the SLRP a participant must:

Be employed or have a contract to begin seeing patients no later than July 1, 2013.
Submit documentation of eligible outstanding educational debt (does not include Parent Plus Loans, loans with a cosigner, or loans not in your name).
Be a United States citizen (Permanent residents do not qualify).
Provide primary care and not specialty care.
Be employed at an eligible site. Urgent care/walk in clinics, specialty care or placement agencies are not considered eligible sites. Provider must be a permanent employee of the site.
Sign a contract to serve for a minimum of two years or pay funds back with penalty (see Guidelines and Terms of Agreement for details).

Service Obligation

SLRP participants must provide full time service for a minimum of two years and additional service year for year for contract extension renewals. Participant must:

Be employed or have a contract to begin employment at an eligible site no later than July 1, 2013.
Work a minimum of 40 hours per week (See Guidelines and Terms of Agreement).
Submit the required Quarterly Service Verification Form.

How to Apply: Two Step Process

- Step 1: Work at an Eligible Site

- Step 2: Submit Online Provider Application

The 2013 Provider Application Cycle is now open. To access the online application, click here: https://fortress.wa.gov/wsac/portal/, then register as a “student” (you will not be able to start an application when the application cycle is closed).

Before you begin the application you will need to have the following information available:

Employer name, address and contact person’s name, phone number and email address
Lender statements with names, addresses and current balances (be sure to include ALL lenders, you cannot add lenders once your application has been submitted)
Name, dates and degree from college/universities you have attended
If applicable, dates and place of residency, internship or preceptorship
Licensure information, date of license and license number (includes licenses from other states)
If applicable, Medicaid Core Provider Number
Employment start date (month, day and year)
Break-out of the number of patients you will personally see (Medicare/Medicaid, uninsured, sliding fee, charity, private pay, etc)
List of rural counties (both Washington and other states) you have lived in, the dates, zip code and length of time you lived there

2013 Guidelines and Terms of Agreement