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| Loan Repayment Programs |
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The family medicine specialty is in high demand throughout the country. Communities, hospitals, managed care organizations and physician groups are all actively recruiting graduates of family medicine residency programs. Recognizing the demand for primary care physicians, there are several loan repayment programs that offer incentives for physicians who choose to practice in underserved areas.
State of Louisiana Physician 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. 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, the state's problem of a substantial mal-distribution of primary care health professionals in rural and inner city areas.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
COMPENSATION To enhance the provision of the health care services, the program will repay governmental or commercial educational loans obtained by the practitioner which have been consolidated into one loan. Physicians and dentists can receive up to $18,000 per year for a two-year commitment, up to $20,000 per year for a three-year commitment. Mid-levels can receive up to $5,000 per year for a two-year commitment, up to $7,000 per year for a three-year commitment.
Should a primary care physician work in a health professional shortage area AND in one of the top 10 priority parishes, the practitioner can receive up to $30,000 per year for a three-year commitment. Should a dentist work in a health professional shortage area AND accept referrals for HIV infected patients from the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health's and/or the Louisiana State University Health Science Center's outpatient sites, he/she can receive up to $30,000 per year for a three-year commitment. For additional information, contact Jeanne Haupt at 225.342.3506 or e-mail jhaupt@dhh.la.gov or visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/page.asp?id=88&detail=4986.
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is a federal program housed in the Bureau of Health Professions in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NHSC has both a scholarship and loan repayment program for eligible health professionals in exchange for healthcare in designated underserved areas. Family physicians have participated in the loan repayment program. Participants of both the scholarship and loan repayment programs are placed into health professional shortage areas designated by the U.S. Office of Shortage Designation. More information can be found on the NHSC Web siteor by calling NHSC's toll-free number 800.221.9393, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST.
Med Job Louisiana Med Job Louisiana will offer statewide recruitment services to all health professional shortage areas in the state through a partnership between the Department of Health and Hospitals, the Louisiana Area Health Education Centers and the Louisiana Rural Health Access Program. The Med Job Louisiana website is www.medjoblouisiana.com.
Debt Management Services The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) offers an online resource for all medical students and residents broken into three key training sections: Before Applying to Medical School, Once You Are Accepted to Medical School and As You Approach Graduation. Visit this guide at http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/otherpubs/debtmgmt.html.
You might also find help through the Association of American Medical Colleges educational debt management services. It provides objective information on how to manage your student loans during residency and beyond. Visit its Web site at http://www.aamc.org/debtmanagement or contact Paul Garrard, AAMC director of student financial services, by sending an e-mail to pgarrard@aamc.org or by calling 800.828.0511. |