Loan Repayment
Financial Incentives to Recruit & Retain Health Professionals in East Hawaii.
Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program
Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
The Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program (HSLRP) is a federal grant to pay off educational loans for primary care and behavioral health providers who care for patients at non-profit organizations in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) of Hawaii. It is designed to incentivize care in the areas of Hawaii where it is most needed. All HSLRP sites are required to be public or nonprofit private entities located in and providing health services in HPSAs that see all patients regardless of their ability to pay, accept Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, charge for their professional services at the usual and customary prevailing rates in the area in which such services are provided, except that if a person is unable to pay such charge, such person shall be charged at a reduced rate or not charged any fee.
Solo and Small Practice Loan Repayment Program Pilot Project
Hawaii State Rural Health Association & Hilo Medical Center Foundation
Is a pilot project to provide funding to create a new kind of loan repayment program-for solo private practices that are not non-profit organizations in areas of significant need and are designated as a HPSA. Each loan repayor will receive $30,000 total in loan repayment for two years of service as outlined below: Each loan repayor will provide to the University of Hawaii AHEC $5,000 and a Local organization/non-profit (Hawaii State Rural Health Association or Hilo Medical Center Foundation) will provide $10,000 or combination thereof. Hawaii State Legislature funds will provide $15,000 from Act 58, HSL 2017 that states: “health care provider loan repayment program administered through the John A. Burns school of medicine to provide loan repayment for physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, and nurse practitioners who agree to work in a federally-designated health professional shortage area or an area of Hawaii found to be underserved.”) Hawaii State Loan Repayment/Solo and Small Practice Pilot Program
Shippers’ Wharf Loan Repayment
Hilo Medical Center Foundation
The County of Hawaii provided monies to support loan repayment to physicians in the County of Hawaii in the form of Hawaii State Loan Repayment match in return for a two-year service commitment. This program also includes loan repayment to specialist providers since they are not eligible for loan repayment through the Hawaii State Loan Repayment program.
For more information contact Lisa Rantz, Executive Director, (808) 932-3636.
Barry Taniguchi Health Professions Subsidy Program
Hawaii State Rural Health Association
A legacy program created to support and develop access to high quality healthcare close to home instead of needing to fly off island for basic care and follow up healthcare services. Funding is available to all health professionals practicing in rural areas across Hawaii. The idea is to create a neighbor island network that can robustly meet the access to care needs of our most vulnerable populations. Funding can be used to support training and subsidy support to health professionals in high need areas; including, but not limited to clinicians starting up a practice or joining and existing practice to support a competitive salary while the patient panel is being built. This program also provides matching funds for the Hawaii State Loan Repayment program and the Hawaii Island Access to Medical Care Fund.
For more information contact Lisa Rantz, Executive Director, (808) 932-3636.
Hawaii Island Access to Medical Care Fund
Hilo Medical Center Foundation
Qualifications for this subsidy program are: Graduation from a Hawaii Island High School and a five (5) year service commitment. Funding can be used as loan repayment match or can be paid directly to physician to get them started in practice or provide support to hiring practice to help with providing a competitive salary. Application will be available soon for this program.
For more information contact Lisa Rantz, Executive Director, (808) 932-3636.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program forgives the remaining balance on your federal Direct Loans after you make 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying public service employer.
This program helps you manage your student loan debt while pursuing a career in public service. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is available to many employees working in public service, including all levels of government, states and municipalities, school districts, public hospitals, non-profit organizations, and more.
National Health Service Corps
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is a program that awards scholarships and loan repayments to primary care providers. The program intent is to build a healthy community by supporting qualified healthcare providers who are dedicated to working in places that have limited access to health care. In order for someone to qualify for these scholarships, the program requires its students to work for at least two years at a NHSC approved site, located in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). The NHSC gives out scholarships to those who are going to school to become a physician (MD or DO), dentist, nurse practitioner, certified nurse, or a physician assistant. Some benefits of becoming an NHSC scholar are: payment of tuition and eligible fees, annual payments for other reasonable education fees, and monthly stipends to support living expenses. Overall, 11.4 million people across the United States receive care from NHSC Scholars. The program serves its community by ensuring access to healthcare for everyone, despite their struggle to pay.
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
The Rural Health Clinic (RHC) program is intended to increase access to primary care services for patients in rural communities. RHCs can be public, nonprofit, or for-profit healthcare facilities. To receive certification, they must be located in rural, underserved areas. They are required to use a team approach of physicians working with non-physician providers such as nurse practitioners (NP), physician assistants (PA), and certified nurse midwives (CNM) to provide services. The clinic must be staffed at least 50% of the time with a NP, PA, or CNM. RHCs are required to provide outpatient primary care services and basic laboratory services. The main advantage of RHC status is enhanced reimbursement rates for providing Medicare and Medicaid services.