Student Loan Relief for Qualified Medical Professionals in Rural Communities

Attracting and retaining health care providers continues to prove difficult in rural communities. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is offering two incentive programs intended to help alleviate the problem. The programs offer student loan repayment of up to $200,000 for qualified medical care providers who agree to work in rural communities and state-designated shortage areas. “Incentive programs are a vital tool to recruit and retain qualified medical providers in our rural communities and shortage areas across Nebraska," said Dr. Timothy Tesmer, Chief Medical Officer at DHHS. “Ensuring our rural communities have access to compassionate and knowledgeable care will have a lasting impact on health and wellness for generations to come."In small towns and rural areas, approximately 40 percent of family medicine providers have participated in incentive programs. The rural health incentive programs currently impact over 900,000 people living in Nebraska. For more information on economic impact, review the Nebraska Rural Health Advisory's Annual 2023 Report. The two programs are the Nebraska Loan Repayment Program (NLRP) and the National Health Service Corps Nebraska State Loan Repayment Program (NHSC SLRP).The NLRP offers loan repayment assistance for primary care, mental, dental, and allied health professionals who agree to practice for three years in a state-designated shortage area in rural Nebraska. Doctors and dentists are eligible for up to $180,000 in loan relief, while other medical professions are eligible for up to $90,000. The NHSC SLRP offers loan repayment assistance for primary care, dental, and mental health professionals who agree to practice for a minimum of two years at an NHSC site in Nebraska. The length of participation is capped at four years. Awards are also available for pharmacists and registered nurses (RNs must have bachelor's level training). Doctors, dentists, and pharmacists are eligible for up to $50,000 in loan relief per year, while other medical professions are eligible for up to $25,000 per year.Applicants must have employment lined up at a site in a qualifying shortage area before applying. For more information on how to apply for the NLRP and the NHSC SLRP programs and the qualifying shortage areas, please visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Rural-Health.aspx. Both programs work as a 50/50 matching program between DHHS and the local employer.

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