Iowa Dept of Public Health Loan Repayment Program Funding Announced!
IDPH News
Posted: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:47 CDT
Category: General Health
In an effort to recruit and retain health care professionals in Iowa, the Primary Care Recruitment and Retention Endeavor (PRIMECARRE) was authorized by the Iowa Legislature in 1994. The PRIMECARRE Loan Repayment Program annually provides grants to health professionals to assist in their repayment of educational loans. Today, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is announcing the availability, on a competitive basis, of $150,000 in funding for loan repayments for eligible health care providers practicing in designated shortage areas in Iowa. This opportunity is in addition to the regular annual grant cycle and is available due to private and stimulus funding.
“Thanks to a unique partnership with University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa Health System, Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines, and Des Moines University, IDPH was able to secure the required dollar-for-dollar match for approximately $75,000 in federal stimulus funds toward loan repayments,” said IDPH Director Tom Newton. “These contributions will help improve access to primary care services where they are needed most.”
Applicants for the loan repayment program must provide full-time primary health care clinical services at a public or non-profit private entity located in a federally-designated health professional shortage area (HPSA) for a two-year period. In Iowa, 54 counties have Primary Care HPSA designations, 62 have Dental HPSA designations, and 89 counties are Mental Health HPSAs. These designated HPSA areas may be found at http://hpsafind.hrsa.gov/HPSASearch.aspx.
In 2007-2009 PRIMECARRE awards were issued to 18 individuals, totaling nearly $755,000. For more information about PRIMECARRE, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/hpcdp/primecarre.asp. Potential applicants can find the application under the Grants, Bids, and Proposals link at www.idph.state.ia.us.
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