Indian Health Service Educational Loan Repayment

To ensure that the Indian Health Service (IHS) has an adequate supply of trained health professionals for Indian health program facilities by providing for the repayment of educational loans for participants who agree (by written contract) to serve a

Eligible individuals must be enrolled: (1) In a course of study or program in an accredited institution, as determined by the Secretary, within any State and be scheduled to complete such course of study in the same year such as individual applies to participate in such program; (2) in an approved graduate training program in a health profession; (3) have a degree in health profession and a license to practice a health profession; (4) be eligible for, or hold, an appointment as a commissioned officer in the Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS); (5) be eligible for selection for civilian service in the Regular or Reserve Corps of the PHS; (6) meet the professional standards for civil service employment in the IHS; (7) be employed with an Indian health program funded under Public Law 93-638, Indian Self-Determination, Title V of Public Law 94-437 and its amendments or the Buy Indian Act (25 U.S.C. 47); (8) submit an application to participate in the IHS Loan Repayment Program. The term "State" is defined in Section 331 (i)(4) of the PHS Act.

Health professionals who have Government (Federal, State, local) and commercial unpaid educational loans will benefit from this program.

Applicants must submit documentation of the following, as appropriate: (1) A transcript showing final year of study and full-time status; (2) a copy of a health professions degree; (3) a copy of health professions license; (4) a copy of transcript showing completion of graduate education; and (5) a copy of all loan documentation.

This program will provide repayment of loans incurred for health professions educational expenses in exchange for service in a designated loan repayment priority site. Recipients must agree by written contract to serve an applicable period of time in such a site; individuals who have conflicting service obligations may not participate in this program until those obligations are satisfied. The minimum period of participation is 2 years. Maximum payment to a program participant is $20,000 per year and an additional 20 percent of the award amount for tax liability.

Payments will be made to the individuals of the program on an annual basis.

Applicants should apply online. Once an application is submitted it will be reviewed and the determination of awards will be made based upon merit. Awards will be made on award dates published in the Federal Register.

The IHS defined "Health Profession" to mean family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatric medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, podiatric medicine, nursing, public health nursing, dentistry, psychiatry, osteopathy, optometry, pharmacy, psychology, public health, social work, marriage and family therapy, chiropractic medicine, environmental health and engineering, and allied professions. Other factors that will be employed to determine which applicant is selected for awards include: (a) An applicant's length of current employment in the IHS, tribal or urban program; (b) availability for service earlier than other applicants (first come, first served); and (c) date the completed application was received. Not all health professions receive funding. Please contact the program for more information.

Upon determination of who will receive an award, that individual will be notified in writing by the program. The individual will in turn notify the program in writing of his/her acceptance. Awards will be contingent upon the score that an eligible Loan Repayment Program site receives and score is applied to the individual matched to that site. Upon arriving at his/her duty station, participant must submit proof of employment to the IHS Loan Repayment Program Office. Individuals can be matched to an IHS tribal, urban, or buy Indian site by an IHS area recruiter or the equivalent. Applicants needing to match to an IHS priority site should work with an IHS recruiter in the service area of their choice. When an award occurs, the Secretary will sign the contract and the individual will receive final notification of their award and a copy of their signed contract.

Contracts are approved or disapproved within 90 days of receipt of applications by the Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program

If a program recipient satisfactorily completes his/her initial service and continues to have remaining eligible debt, he/she may extend his/her contract on a single-year basis, provided that funds are available and the participant continues to meet the eligibility requirements of the program. A recipient wishing to extend his/her contract must submit a formal request for extension and sign a new 1-year contract.