ND Federal Loan Repayment Program

Providers are considered eligible if they:

• Are a United States citizen or U.S. Natural.
• Are not under a current service obligation (currently part of a loan repayment program).
• Have unpaid government or commercial loans for school tuition, reasonable educational expenses and reasonable living expenses, and are segregated from all other debts.
• Are within an eligible discipline.

Provider Disciplines Eligible:

• Primary Care Physicians (MD, DO)
• Advanced Practice (NP, CNM, PA)
• Dentists (DDS, DMD)
• Dental Hygienist (RDH)
• Registered Nurses (RN)
• Pharmacists (PharmD)
• Clinical Psychologist (PsyD or PhD)
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
• Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

To be eligible, sites must:

• Be a non-profit (public or private)
• Be located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
• Provide outpatient, ambulatory, primary medical, mental and behavioral, and/or dental services
• Provide services on a free or reduced fee schedule basis to individuals at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
• Accept patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP);
• Agree to not discriminate in the provision of services to individuals based on their ability to pay, race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, or sexual orientation
• Use a clinician credentialing process including reference review, licensure verification, and a query of the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); 
• Agree to not reduce a clinician’s salary due to SLRP support

*Sites must meet all of these eligibility requirements

Up to $50,000 for a two-year service obligation. Funding amount is based on discipline.

The funds paid by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (federal funds) are all tax free.

IRS Publication 970 states the following regarding student loan repayment assistance programs "Student loan repayments made to you are tax free if you received them for any of the following:

1. The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.
   1. A state education loan repayment program eligible for funds under the Public Health Service Act. 
   2. Any other state loan repayment or loan forgiveness program that is intended to provide for the increased availability of health services in underserved or health professional shortage areas (as determined by such state).
   3. You cannot deduct the interest you paid on a student loan to the extent payments were made through your participation in the above programs." 
2. Payments under certain state loan repayment programs.
   1. In the case of an individual, gross income shall not include any amount received under section 338B(g) of the Public Health Service Act, under a state program described in section 338I of such Act, or under any other state loan repayment or loan forgiveness program that is intended to provide for the increased availability of health care services in underserved or health professional shortage areas (as determined by such state).
   2. Under 26 U.S.C. § 3401(a) (19), state loan repayment program payments are also not considered to be "wages" and are therefore exempt from federal employment tax (FICA).
3. Wages
   1. For purposes of this chapter, the term "wages" means all remuneration (other than fees paid to a public official) for services performed by an employee for his/her employer, including the cash value of all remuneration (including benefits) paid in any medium other than cash; except that such term shall not include remuneration paid.
   2. For any benefit provided to or on behalf of an employee, if at the time such benefit is provided, it is reasonable to believe that the employee will be able to exclude such benefit from income under section 74(c), 108(f)(4), 117, or 132.

Applications will be reviewed by the North Dakota Primary Care Office and given to the ND Primary Care Office Advisory Council for recommendations and selection.

Contracts are a minimum of 2 years, with opportunities for continuation for years 3, 4, and 5.

Full time is a minimum of 32 hours of direct patient care with 8 hours of administrative time allowed.

Part time is a minimum of 16 hours per week of direct patient care with 4 hours of administrative time allowed.

*Requirements are different for those serving at critical access hospitals

No community match is required.