This week (Oct. 2, 2023), the South Dakota Department of Health opened the application period for the 2023 State Loan Repayment Program. The application deadline is Oct. 31, 2023.
Last year, over 200 applicants applied for the program and 14 received funding. Of those 14, 86% work in a behavioral healthcare setting. Eligible disciplines include physician, dentist, dental hygienist, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, physician assistant, health service psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, psychiatric nurse specialist, licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, registered nurse, pharmacist and alcohol/substance abuse counselor.
Health Secretary Melissa Magstadt says the program is designed to improve access to health care services by assisting underserved communities with the recruitment and retention of care providers. She says having assistance and incentives available for healthcare providers is critical to enhancing and growing the pipeline for a stronger healthcare workforce in South Dakota.
In 2022, DOH received a 3-year grant in the amount of $1,509,000 to administer the State Loan Repayment Program from the US Department of Health and Human Services and Health Resources and Services Administration. Each grant year DOH is allotted $503,000 to award eligible healthcare professions with student loan reimbursement in exchange for a 2-year commitment to work at an a facility located in a Health Professional Shortage Area in South Dakota.
Applications will be reviewed and approved on a first-come, first-served basis. The application period will close on Oct. 31, 2023, at 5pm CST. Application requirements include:
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U.S. Citizen (U.S. born or naturalized) or U.S. national,
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Licensed to practice in South Dakota,
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Applying to, accepted to, or currently working at an eligible site that is located in a federally designated HPSA,
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Unpaid government or commercial loans for school tuition, and reasonable education and living expenses related to the education of the participant,
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Loans must be segregated from all other debts (that is, not consolidated with non-educational loans).
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