Project Grant H5655616

The State of Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) received a $163,748 Project Grant award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Professionals, under the Grants to States for Loan Repayment program (CFDA 93.165). The award, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, supports Montana's educational loan repayment program designed to increase the availability of primary health care clinicians in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Through this federal funding, DPHHS administers loan repayment assistance to eligible healthcare providers—including physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, mental health professionals, and registered nurses—who commit to practicing in underserved Montana communities.

The program leverages Montana's existing state infrastructure and administrative capacity to deliver loan repayment services that enhance healthcare workforce retention and availability in medically underserved populations throughout the state. DPHHS typically sub-awards portions of grant funding to local health departments, tribal organizations, and healthcare providers to implement loan repayment activities at the community level, thereby extending the program's impact across Montana's rural and underserved regions.