State Loan Repayment Program

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Eligible health professionals can qualify for education loan repayment assistance by practicing in Mississippi areas with provider shortages.

The Mississippi Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (MORHPC) administers the Mississippi State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP), funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The program recruits and retains medical, nursing, dental and mental/behavioral health professionals to serve at eligible practice sites located in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).

HPSAs can be geographic areas, populations, or facilities. These areas have a shortage of primary, dental, or mental health care providers.

Program participants must practice at least two years at an approved public or private healthcare organization and can receive up to $25,000 towards educational loan repayment.

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Provider Eligibility

To apply to the Mississippi State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP), applicants must meet the following requirements:

  1. Be a United States citizen (U.S. born or naturalized) at the time of their application submission.
  2. Have verifiable student loans, not in default.
  3. Provide medical care services to Medicare and Medicaid-eligible, indigent, and uninsured patients on a sliding fee scale.
  4. Have graduated and completed residency training programs for their specialty.
  5. Possess an active, valid and unrestricted license to practice in their discipline independently and unsupervised.
  6. Practice full-time or half-time in providing health care services at an eligible site.
  7. Practice in an HPSA corresponding to their training and discipline.
  8. Have a qualifying educational loan; and
  9. Upon application approval, must accept the terms and conditions of the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Practice Site Eligibility

  1. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
  2. FQHC Look-A-Likes
  3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Certified Rural Health Clinics
  4. Other Health Facilities
  5. Indian Health Service Facilities, Tribally Operated 638 Health Program and Urban Indian Health Programs
  6. Correctional or Detention Facilities
  7. Private Practices (Solo or Group)

Eligible Disciplines and Specialties

Primary Care

Discipline Specialty
Physician (MD, DO) Family Medicine, Osteopathic General Practice, Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Geriatrics, and Psychiatry
Physician Assistant (PA) Adult, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry/Mental Health, Geriatrics, Women's Health
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Adult, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry/Mental Health, Geriatrics, Women's Health
Registered Nurse (RN) Adult, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry/Mental Health, Geriatrics, Women's Health
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) Women's Health

Dental Care

Discipline Specialty
Dentist (DDS, DMD) General Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry
Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) General Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry

Behavioral and Mental Health

Discipline Specialty
Physician (MD, DO) Psychiatry
Physician Assistant (PA) Mental Health, Psychiatry
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Mental Health, Psychiatry
Psychiatric Nurse Specialist (PNS Mental Health, Psychiatry
Health Service Psychologist (HSP) Mental Health, Psychiatry
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW Mental Health, Psychiatry
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC Mental Health, Psychiatry
Marriage and Family Therapist Mental Health, Psychiatry

Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Discipline
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselors (Master's Level, Licensed and Credentialed)

Pharmacy

Discipline
Pharmacist (Rph, PharmD)

Applications

Contact

For more information about the State Loan Repayment Program, or questions about eligibility or applications, contact:

Mississippi State Department of Health
Office of Rural Health
570 East Woodrow Wilson Drive
Osborne 150
Jackson, MS 39216

E-mail: slrp@msdh.ms.gov
Telephone: (601) 576-7874
Fax: (601) 576-7873

Last reviewed on Jun 29, 2023 request edits
Mississippi State Department of Health 570 East Woodrow Wilson Dr Jackson, MS 39216 866‑HLTHY4U Contact and information

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