Physician corps loan repayment program accepting applications Applications are now being accepted for the next cycle of the Steven M. Thompson Loan Repayment Program. Award recipients will receive up to $105,000 to repay educational loans in exchange for a three-year service commitment in a medically underserved area of the state. The program was created in 2002 through legislation sponsored by the California Medical Association. This year's application cycle begins on December 1, 2016, and continues through February 29, 2017, a month later than usual. According to the Health Professions Education Foundation, the deadline has been extended to allow time for more outreach efforts and to give applicants more time to complete their applications. To be considered for an award, you must: Have a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in California Be free of any contractual service obligations (i.e., the National Health Service Corps Federal Loan Repayment Program or other financial incentive programs) Have outstanding educational debt from a government or commercial lending institution Be currently employed or have accepted employment in a federally designated "health professional shortage area" in California For application, eligibility and program questions, contact the Health Professions Education Foundation at (800) 773-1669 or email Jimmy.Miranda@oshpd.ca.gov. Click here for more information. The online application is available here. December 6, 2016 General Medical School Debt, Medical School Loans, Steven M. Thompson Loan Repayment 0 0 Comment Read More »
California State Loan Repayment Program now acccepting applications The California State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) application cycle for 2016 is now open. The program assists with the repayment of educational loans for health care professionals who work in underserved areas of California. The program was congressionally authorized in 1987 to increase the number of primary care physicians and other health care professionals practicing in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) in California. Grant recipients must commit to two-year, full-time or four-year, half-time service agreement to provide direct patient care in a primary, dental or mental health HPSA. Awardees must be currently employed or have accepted employment at a SLRP Certified Eligible Site that is willing to match the state award amount, dollar for dollar. Grant recipients may receive up to $50,000, though service years and award amounts may vary from year to year based on federal requirements and the amount of the provider’s debt. The program is federally funded through a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Professions National Health Service Corps and is administered by the State of California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSPHD). Interested parties can apply online through CalREACH. For more information, visit the OSHPD website. Questions about the program can be directed to SLRP@oshpd.ca.gov. August 25, 2016 General Medical School Debt, Medical School Grants, Medical School Loans, State Loan Repayment Program, Underserved Communities 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medical students: Apply now for 2017 loan repayment program Applications are now being accepted for the National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment Program, which offers up to $120,000 to medical students (M.D. and D.O.) in their final year of medical school in return for a commitment to provide primary health care full-time for at least three years or half time for at least six years in a medically underserved area. The application deadline is October 13, 2016. For more information and to apply for the program, click here. August 25, 2016 General Medical School Financing, Medical Students, Medical School Debt, Medical School Loans 0 0 Comment Read More »
Texas Medical Association joins CMA to urge U.S. education secretary to fix public service loan forgiveness program More than 40 physician and hospital organizations from California and Texas have joined the California Medical Association (CMA) in urging the U.S. Department of Education to correct an unjust denial of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness benefits to physicians in California and Texas because of conflicting state laws. Congress enacted the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in 2007 in an effort to improve access to care by encouraging physicians to pursue careers working in nonprofit settings. Under the program, individuals can have their education loans forgiven after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while providing care in a non-profit hospital. It recently came to light that under the implementing regulations, the definition of "employed in a public service job” was written in conflict with the statute and requires direct employment. Because of California and Texas state laws that bar the employment of physicians, the regulation excludes most California and Texas physicians from the program, even if they are practicing in qualifying nonprofit hospitals. As a result, physicians in these two states have been unfairly excluded from loan forgiveness, while their colleagues in the other 48 states are eligible. In California alone, there are up to 7,000 new physicians providing care in nearly 270 nonprofit hospitals and clinics who could be eligible for this program and whose loans start to become due in 2017. “Without a swift regulatory correction, medical residents and new physicians will choose to practice in other states where their substantial medical student loan debt can be forgiven,” the organizations wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department of Education. “California and Texas will be at a severe disadvantage in recruiting physicians and the regulation will dramatically and unnecessarily harm access to care in both of our states. We urge you to ensure that there is equal treatment of physicians, hospitals and patients in all 50 states under the [Public Service Loan Forgiveness] program.” U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-SF, CA) and Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-LA, CA) personally met with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, John B. King, Jr. this week and urged him to fix the regulations as soon as possible. The entire California Congressional Delegation, along with both California Senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, also sent a letter on this issue in March. To read the CMA letter, click here. Contact: Elizabeth McNeil, (800) 786-4262 or emcneil@cmanet.org. June 8, 2016 General Corporate Practice of Medicine, Medical School Loans, Corporate Bar 0 0 Comment Read More »
Medical students: 2016 loan repayment program application process now open Applications are now being accepted for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program. The program offers up to $120,000 to medical students (M.D. and D.O.) in their final year of medical school in return for a commitment to provide primary health care full time for at least three years or half time for at least six years in a medically underserved area. The 2016 Students to Service application cycle closes on April 5 at 7:30 p.m. For more information and to apply for the program, click here. March 31, 2016 General Medical School Loans, Medical Students, Medical School Debt 0 0 Comment Read More »
Physician corps loan repayment program now accepting applications Applications are now being accepted for the next cycle of the Steven M. Thompson Loan Repayment Program. Award recipients will receive up to $105,000 to repay educational loans in exchange for a three-year service commitment in a medically underserved area of the state. The program was created in 2002 through legislation sponsored by the California Medical Association. Applicants should note that this application cycle closes on February 29, 2016, a month later than usual. According to the Health Professions Education Foundation, the deadline has been extended to allow time for more outreach efforts and to give applicants more time to complete their applications. To be considered for an award, you must: Have a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in California Be free of any contractual service obligations (i.e., the National Health Service Corps Federal Loan Repayment Program or other financial incentive programs) Have outstanding educational debt from a government or commercial lending institution Be currently employed or have accepted employment in a federally designated "health professional shortage area" in California For application, eligibility and program questions, contact the Health Professions Education Foundation at (800) 773-1669 or email Jimmy.Miranda@oshpd.ca.gov. Click here for more information. December 21, 2015 General Steven M. Thompson, Early Career/Young Physician, Medical School Debt, Medical School Loans 0 0 Comment Read More »
Governor signs bill for Steve M. Thompson loan repayment program Governor Jerry Brown has signed a California Medical Association (CMA)-sponsored bill that will refine the eligibility criteria for a successful physician retention program, the Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program. The program provides grants of up to $105,000 to physicians who agree to practice in medically-underserved areas of the state for at least three years. The program was created in 2002 under a bill sponsored by CMA. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than $17 million to over 220 individuals. Unfortunately, high demand for this program means less than one third of applicants have been awarded funding. This bill (AB 565) will modify eligibility to require applicants have three years of experience providing health care services to medically underserved populations as designed by the federal government. This change will ensure that individuals providing health care services, such as working in a clinic or other patient care settings, are prioritized over other types of services. AB 565 will also give preference to applicants who commit to serving an underserved population that is located in a federally designed shortage area, ensuring the most dire shortages are given priority. Additionally, as an acknowledgement of the severe shortage areas in the Central Valley, Inland Empire and other rural areas of California, AB 565 also gives preference to applicants who agree to practice as safety net providers in rural communities. “The CMA is proud to be a sponsor of this bill,” said Paul R. Phinney, M.D., CMA president. “Expanding access to care in rural and underserved populations of California will help ensure patients get quality, timely care that they need. With millions of new patients entering the health care system in the coming year, we must do all we can to incentivize providers to practice where they are most needed." October 1, 2013 General Advocacy, Medical School Loans, Rural Health, Underserved Communities, Steven M. Thompson Loan Program, Young Physician 0 0 Comment Read More »
