State Loan Repayment Program

Information and resources regarding the New Hampshire State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), which provides funds to health care professionals working in areas of the state designated as being medically underserved

The New Hampshire State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) provides funds to health care professionals working in areas of the state designated as being medically underserved and who are willing to commit and contract with the state for a minimum of three years (or two if part-time).

Medically underserved areas; identified as Health Care Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MHPSAs), Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (DHPSAs), Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/Ps), and Governor's Exceptional Medically Underserved Populations (E-MUP) are indicators that a shortage of primary care healthcare providers exist, posing a barrier to access to primary care services for the residents of these areas. Organizations/facilities that are funded by programs in the Department of Health and Human Services are also considered eligible sites. Outpatient health care providers must be practicing part- or full-time and providing in-person clinical services at the service site during scheduled office hours. Health care providers participating in the SLRP agree to provide medical services to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. In addition, the health care provider and the practice site must offer a sliding-fee discount schedule based on current federal poverty guidelines, accept Medicaid, Medicare, and provide free care when medically necessary. The Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), Rural Health & Primary Care Section (RHPC) administers this program.

Private Practice Dentists State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP-PPD)

As part of the State of NH’s efforts to expand access to dentists in the areas most needed, the State Loan Repayment Program is piloting a new loan repayment program exclusively for private practice dentists – the Private Practice Dentists State Loan Repayment Program, or SLRP-PPD. Interested dentists should be:

In private practice located in a Medicaid-defined priority area;
Enrolled as a NH Medicaid provider;
Providing dental services to a minimum of 15% Medicaid patients; and
Prepared to commit via state contract to three years for a total repayment of $75,000.

Program Information

Service Commitment

In order to be eligible to receive loan repayment, an applicant MUST commit to and sign a binding contract to complete a minimum service obligation of 36 months for full time service or a minimum obligation of 24 months for part-time service with their current practice site.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

be US citizens;
not have any unserved obligations for service to another governmental or non-governmental agency;
not be receiving loan repayment money from any other program;
be licensed in the State of New Hampshire or be a behavioral health professional working under supervision towards licensure requirements; and
be ready to begin full- or part-time clinical practice at the eligible practice site once a contract has been signed.

Qualifying Providers

NH-licensed health care professionals in the following fields are eligible to apply for loan repayment contracts under the SLRP:

Tier 1
- MDs/DOs (Doctors of Allopathic or Osteopathic Medicine; Psychiatrists; Hospitalists)
- DDs (General Practice Dentists (DDS or DMD))
Tier 2
- APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses; Hospitalists)
- CNMs (Certified Nurse Midwives)
- PAs (Physician Assistants; Hospitalists)
- MLADCs (Masters Level Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors or under supervision toward licensure)
- PsyD (Clinical Psychologists (PhD or equivalent) or under supervision toward licensure)
- LICSWs (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (MA or PhD in Social Work) or under supervision toward licensure)
- PsychNP (Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners)
- MHCs (Licensed Mental Health Counselors or under supervision toward licensure)
- MFTs (Marriage & Family Therapists (MA/PhD - major study in marriage & family therapy) or under supervision toward licensure)
Tier 3
- RDHs (Registered Dental Hygienists)
- LADCs (Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors or under supervision toward licensure)
- RNs (Primary Care (only) Registered Nurses)

General Surgeons and Hospitalists

General Surgeons and Hospitalists must be employed full-time at a designated NH Critical Access Hospital.

Potential Award Amounts

The allotment of funds is contingent on the availability of specified SLRP funding in the State budget for any given fiscal year.

Full-time

State of New Hampshire SLRP will offset graduate or undergraduate educational loans to full-time Tier 1 primary care physicians, dentists, psychiatrists, and hospitalists for $75,000 for a minimum service obligation of 36 months with an opportunity of an extension for an additional 24 months at $40,000 as well as full-time eligible Tier 2 health care professionals for $45,000 for a minimum service obligation of 36 months with an opportunity of an extension for an additional 24 months at $20,000. Tier 3 registered dental hygienists, licensed alcohol and drug counselors, and primary care RNs are eligible for $30,000 for a minimum service obligation of 36 months with an opportunity of an extension for an additional 24 months at $10,000. Those wishing to extend their contracts must apply six (6) months prior to the expiration of their current contract to allow time to finalize before the contract expiration date; using the Application for Continuation of Contract.

Part-time

State of New Hampshire SLRP will offset graduate or undergraduate educational loans to part-time primary care physicians, dentists, psychiatrists, and hospitalists for $27,500 for a minimum service obligation of 24 months with an opportunity of an extension for an additional 12 months at $10,000 as well as part-time eligible health care professionals for $17,500 for a minimum service obligation of 24 months with an opportunity for an extension for an additional 12 months for $5,000.

Funding Match

State of New Hampshire SLRP contracts are awarded first to applicants who have secured a one-to-one match for each state dollar in the contract. This match can come from the eligible practice site or the community in which the applicant will practice. If an applicant is unable to secure a match, his/her application will be considered in competition with all other unmatched applications received.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed quarterly. Quarterly applications deadlines are: March 15 (for July 1 start), June 15 (for October 1 start), September 15 (for January 1 start) and December 15 (for April 1 start).

Note: Applicants should review and became familiar with the SLRP Policies and Guidelines before submitting applications.