Healthcare Provider Incentive Loan Repayment (OAR 409-036) was established by the Oregon Legislature to help support underserved communities in their recruitment and retention of high quality providers who serve patients regardless of their source of coverage (Medicaid, Medicare, private etc.) or ability to pay. In exchange for service at a qualifying practice site, participants receive funds to repay qualifying educational loan debt.

Eligible Providers

• Dentists in general or pediatric practice;
• Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists;
• Pharmacists;
• Physicians (MD, DO or ND) who practice in the specialties of family medicine or general practice, general internal medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, or obstetrics and gynecology;
• Nurse Practitioners who practice in the specialties of adult health, women's health care, geriatrics, pediatrics, psychiatric mental health, family practice, or nurse midwifery;
• Physician Assistants who practice in the specialties of family medicine or general practice, general internal medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics or obstetrics and gynecology;
• General, child and adolescent or geriatric Psychiatrists;
• Clinical Psychologists;
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers;
• Licensed Professional Counselors;
• Marriage or Family Therapists

Eligible Practice Sites

To qualify a site must:

• Be located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), or have a Facility HSPA; AND
• Be serving Medicaid and Medicare patients in no less than the same proportion of such patients in the county; AND
• Have a Site Application on file with the Oregon Office of Rural Health and have received confirmation of site qualification.

If a majority of providers at a site are not eligible for reimbursement from both Medicaid and Medicare the site may qualify if it is located in a HPSA and serves either Medicaid or Medicare patients in no less the same proportion of such patients in the county.

Site Applications are valid for one year.

Award Information

In exchange for service at a qualified practice site, participants receive funds to repay qualifying graduate-level, (or for expanded practice dental hygienists, undergraduate-level) loan debt. Awards are calculated based on the balance owed on qualifying loans upon program entry.

Full time service providers must commit to a 3 year minimum service obligation in exchange for a tax free award of 50% of their qualifying educational loan debt balance, up to $35,000 per obligation year.

Part time service providers must commit to a 3 year minimum service obligation in exchange for a tax free award of 25% of their qualifying educational loan debt balance, up to $25,000 per obligation year.

Application

The provider application will be posted on The Oregon Office of Rural Health's website