South Dakota Recruitment Assistance Program
Through the South Dakota Recruitment Assistance Program, qualified applicants may be eligible to receive this award towards paying off their student loans. This program provides qualifying physicians, dentists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners or nurse midwives an incentive payment in return for three continuous years of practice in an eligible rural community. Read on to see eligibility requirements, award amounts, and the application process for the South Dakota Recruitment Assistance Program.
Eligibility?
Requests for participation in this recruitment program are reviewed on a first-come-first-served basis. A community or facility representative should contact the Office of Rural Health to request an assessment in order to determine eligibility. The amount of the incentive payment beginning July 1, 2019, for a qualifying physician or dentist is $231,384. The amount of the incentive payment beginning July 1, 2019, for a qualifying physician assistant, nurse practitioner or nurse-midwife is $66,819.
To be eligible a physician must:
- Be licensed as a physician in South Dakota
- Have completed an accredited residency program in family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, or obstetrics/gynecology
- Be a United States citizen
- Agree to practice full time as a physician in an eligible community for at least three consecutive years
- Agree to be a participating South Dakota medical assistance provider and to serve any individual eligible under SDCL 28-6 and may not refuse treatment to any such individual while participating in the program
- Provide services to Medicaid, Medicare and State Children’s Health Insurance Program patients
- Not have previously participated in such a program, or any other state or federal scholarship, loan repayment or tuition reimbursement program which obligates the person to provide medical services within an underserved area
- Be recruited to a community and be on-site and practicing for less than four months
*Currently there are 8 slots available for a physician to participate in this program.
To be eligible a dentist must:
- Be licensed as a dentist in South Dakota
- Be a United States citizen
- Agree to practice full time as a general or pediatric dentist in an eligible community for at least three consecutive years
- Agree to be a participating South Dakota medical assistance provider and to serve any individual eligible under SDCL 28-6 and may not refuse treatment to any such individual while participating in the program
- Provide services to Medicaid, Medicare and State Children’s Health Insurance Program patients
- Not have previously participated in such a program, or any other state or federal scholarship, loan repayment or tuition reimbursement program which obligates the person to provide medical services within an underserved area
- Be recruited to a community and be on-site and practicing for less than four months
*Currently there are 2 slots available for a dentist to participate in this program.
To be eligible a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or nurse-midwife must:
- Be licensed in South Dakota as a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse-midwife
- Be a United States citizen
- Agree to practice full-time in an eligible community for at least three consecutive years
- Agree to be a participating South Dakota medical assistance provider and to serve any individual eligible under SDCL 28-6 and may not refuse treatment to any such individual while participating in the program
- Provide services to Medicaid, Medicare and State Children’s Health Insurance Program patients
- Not have previously participated in such a program, or any other state or federal scholarship, loan repayment or tuition reimbursement program which obligates the person to provide medical services within an underserved area
- Be recruited to a community and be on-site and practicing for less than four months
*Currently there are 7 slots available for a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or nurse-midwife to participate in this program.
*NOTE: The number of participants is current as of September 17, 2019, and subject to change.
To be eligible a community must:
- Have a population of 10,000 or less and must not be located within a 20-mile radius extending from the city center of a city of 50,000 people or more
- Have an unmet provider need > 0.25 FTE
- Agree to pay a pro-rated portion of the total amount of the incentive payment (see below). Payment to the provider must be made during the contract time frame.
| Population | Percentage | Community Payment | State Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 2,500 | 25% | $57,846.00 | $173,538.00 |
| 2,501 – 4,999 | 50% | $115,692.00 | $115,692.00 |
| 5,000 – 10,000 | 75% | $173,538.00 | $57,846.00 |
| Population | Percentage | Community Payment | State Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 2,500 | 25% | $16,704.90 | $50,114.70 |
| 2,501 – 4,999 | 50% | $33,409.80 | $33,409.80 |
| 5,000 – 10,000 | 75% | $50,114.70 | $16,704.90 |
- Be assessed by the Department of Health to evaluate the community’s need for eligible providers and its ability to sustain and support additional providers and be found eligible for participation. In determining eligibility, our office reviews information such as:
- Number of provider full-time equivalent (FTE) in the community
- The population of the community and surrounding area
- The ratio of 1 provider FTE per 1,500 people to determine the need for an additional physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse-midwife
- The ratio of 1 provider FTE per 3,000 people to determine the need for an additional dentist
How much can I expect to be awarded?
Through the South Dakota Recruitment Assistance Program, a qualifying physician or dentist may be eligible to receive up to $231,384 and a nurse practitioner or nurse-midwife may be able to receive up to $66,819.
For a full breakdown of this program’s terms and conditions, please head over to the following page.
How do I apply for this repayment program?
For laws pertaining to the Recruitment Assistance Program, click here. For additional information about the Recruitment Assistance Program, contact: Department of Health, Office of Rural Health, 600 E. Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501, phone 1-800-738-2301 or email.
To apply for this program head over to the official program site.
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.