The Indian Health Service (IHS) is soliciting applications, via a February 25, 2014, FEDERAL REGISTER notice, for the repayment of health professions educational loans. Under the Loan Repayment Program (LRP), authorized under Section 108 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the IHS may make awards to persons for the repayment of health professions educational loans in return for full-time clinical service in Indian health programs. The Federal Register notice may be found here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-02-25/pdf/2014-04075.pdf
New loan repayment recipients may receive a maximum award of $20,000 per year for each year of contracted service, plus the IHS will provide an additional 20 to 39 percent of the participant’s total loan repayments to the Internal Revenue Service for the increased tax liability. For those participants who have completed their two-year service, an extension may be granted at a maximum of $20,000 per year plus 20 percent for federal tax withholding.
The IHS estimates that it will provide $19,090,023 in FY 2014 funds for the LRP, which will support “approximately 440 competing awards averaging $43,358 per award for a two-year contract.” Applications for the FY 2014 Loan Repayment Program will be accepted beginning February 14, 2014, and will continue to be accepted each month thereafter until all funds are exhausted for FY 2014. Subsequent monthly deadline dates are scheduled for Friday of the second full week of each month until August 15, 2014.
The attached notice lists the priority health professions that will be considered in making awards under the LRP. The IHS does not establish percentages of awards for specific professions. The IHS will give priority to applications made by American Indians/Alaska Natives and to those individuals recruited through the efforts of tribes or tribal organizations. Loan repayment awards will be made as stated in the notice, “only to those individuals serving at facilities which have a site score of 70 or above during the first quarter of 2014, if funding is available.” Other factors that will be taken into consideration are: 1) an applicant’s length of current employment in the IHS, tribal, or urban program; 2) availability for service earlier than other applicants; and 3) date of receipt of the individual’s application.
The IHS Area Offices and Service Units are authorized to provide supplemental funds for LRP participants for use in their areas, but the total amount cannot exceed $32 million when combined with the $19 million made available in the notice.
Application materials may be obtained on line at http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment or by contacting:
IHS Loan Repayment Program
801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 443-3396
Additional information regarding this program may be obtained from Jacqueline Santiago, Chief of the IHS Loan Repayment Program, at the same contact information as above.
We remind potential applicants that because of the great demand for the IHS loan repayment funds, persons intending to apply should do so early. Inquiries regarding this Memorandum may be directed to the information below.
