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Rhode Island Educational Loan Repayment Program For Primary Care Providers

October 21, 20190
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Through the Rhode Island Educational Loan Repayment Program For Primary Care Providers, qualified applicants may be able to have up to $80,000 of their student loans forgiven. The Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, as an administrator, will make loan repayment awards in exchange for service commitments by health care professionals newly recruited to the state. Read on to see eligibility requirements, award amounts, and the application process for the Rhode Island Educational Loan Repayment Program For Primary Care Providers.

Eligibility?

The Rhode Island Primary Care Educational Loan Repayment Program was established to ensure a stable and adequate supply of primary care professionals to meet the health care needs of Rhode Islanders, and is intended to recruit new primary care professionals into the state of Rhode Island.
The program is a collaborative effort of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI), Rhode Island Area Health Education Center (AHEC), the Rhode Island Foundation, the Rhode Island Medical Society, the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing, the Rhode Island Health Center Association, the Rhode Island Academy of Physician Assistants and the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority. The physician program is funded by a grant from BCBSRI, United Health Care, RI Medical Society, and the RI Foundation. The physician assistant-nurse practitioner program is funded by a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation. The Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, as an administrator, will make loan repayment awards in exchange for service commitments by health care professionals newly recruited to the state. Loan repayment recipients must have outstanding educational debt acquired in pursuit of an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university that exceeds the amount of the loan repayment award.
Licensed physicians (MDs or DOs), nurse practitioners and physician assistants newly recruited to practice in Rhode Island and work in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine or Pediatrics are currently eligible to apply.

How much can I expect to be awarded? 

Through the Revised Pay As You Earn Student Loan Forgiveness program, The Rhode Island Primary Care Educational Loan Repayment Committee will be making final decisions on who is awarded loan repayment and will determine loan forgiveness awards. The physician program provides awards of up to $20,000 annually for four years for individuals, for a total maximum award of $80,000. The nurse practitioner and physician assistant program provides awards of up to $10,000 annually for four years, for a total maximum award of $40,000. Eligible health care providers must provide an average of 32 hours of direct patient care per week during each year of service.

Awards go directly to pay educational loans and in general cannot exceed 50% of the candidate’s level of educational debt.

What loans are eligible for this program?

Through the Rhode Island Educational Loan Repayment Program For Primary Care Providers, the following loans will qualify:

• Stafford loans
• Grad PLUS loans
• Consolidation loans
• Perkins loans
• Health Professions Student Loans (HPSLs)
• Private student loans

How do I apply for this repayment program? 

In order to apply for the Rhode Island Educational Loan Repayment Program For Primary Care Providers, you will need to select on for the following forms from their website here.

Select your form from the following:
  • Physician
  • Nurse Practitioners & Physician Assistants
Please note that funding for Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and Physicians is exhausted. New applications are not being accepted at this time.
Once you have completed the form, please return it to Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, 935 Jefferson Blvd. Suite 3000, Warwick, RI 02886.
Please download our Frequently Asked Questions or submit your questions in writing to primarycareforgiveness@risla.com.

Questions?

If you still have questions or would like to know more information please reach out to us here or you can go back to the Student Loan Repayment Assistance Programs page.

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