Health Professionals

Overview

The Health Professional programs encourage licensed health professionals to provide primary care health care at approved sites in rural or underserved areas. The programs provide financial assistance through either conditional scholarships or loan repayment. Many types of providers are eligible, including doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and others. Health care sites, such as clinics, also must apply and be approved to employ program participants.

Loan Repayment

In 2016, approximately 100 health professionals worked in underserved areas of Washington as a result of this program. Since 1990, the program has funded over 1,000 professionals serving in 38 Washington counties, and demand continues to exceed funding available. 

Two programs provide educational loan repayment assistance (see table below for detailed information): 

  1. The Federal-State Loan Repayment Program (FSLRP) uses matching federal grant funds for awards.
  2. The Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP) uses only state dollars for awards.

Federal-State Loan Repayment Program (FSLRP)

Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP)

Awards use federal funds matched with state dollars

Awards use state funds only

Maximum $70,000 award

Maximum $75,000 award

Minimum two-year service obligation

Minimum three-year service obligation

Minimum 40-hour work week

Minimum 24-hour work week (service obligation period prorated to three-year, full-time equivalency)

Default penalty - months not served x $7,500 per month plus interest (minimum of $31,000 payback)

Default penalty - funds disbursed doubled plus interest

Maximum 35.7 days per contract year allowed in leave away from clinic/site for holidays, sick leave, vacation, etc.

Maximum 40 days per contract year allowed in leave away from clinic/site for holidays, sick leave, vacation, etc.

Eligible sites: See reference guides for full details, but must have a federal Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation, be a nonprofit, and have an implemented and posted Sliding Fee Schedule (SFS).

Eligible sites: See reference guides for full details. Does not require HPSA designation or a SFS.

Eligible Providers: DDS or DMD, Registered Dental Hygienist, MD, DO, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse, Pharmacist, Certified Nurse Midwife

Eligible Providers: DDS or DMD, Registered Dental Hygienist, MD, DO, ND, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Pharmacist, Certified Nurse Midwife, Licensed Midwife, Clinical Psychologist*, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker*, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist*, Licensed Mental Health Counselor*

*Requires a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted health professional license or credential working in an integrated setting or system of care. Individuals with the associate level, restricted credential are not eligible.

Information for Providers & Sites

Please email health@wsac.wa.gov if you would like to be added to our program updates and notification list.

2018 Applications Timeline

October 2017: Site application opens (single application for both FSLRP and HPLRP).
November 2017: Site application closes.
December 2017: Sites receive notification of application request status. Approved list posted online.
January 2018: Provider application opens (single application for both FSLRP and HPLRP). 
March 2018: Provider application closes.
June 2018: WSAC begins notifying providers of award status.
July 1, 2018: New contract award for both programs begins. Providers must meet the eligibility requirements and be seeing patients at an approved site.