Help Keep IHS Loan Repays for Native Health Pros Going
Published Date: 3/6/2025
Notice
Summary
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is asking the public to share their thoughts on extending the Loan Repayment Program, which helps healthcare workers pay off their student loans. This program supports those serving Native communities and needs approval to keep running past February 28, 2025. Comments are welcome until April 7, 2025, so don’t miss your chance to weigh in!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Extension request to keep LRP operating
The Indian Health Service is asking OMB to extend approval for the Loan Repayment Program information collection so the program can continue beyond its current expiration date of February 28, 2025. The agency is accepting public comments on the extension through April 7, 2025, under OMB Control Number 0917-0014.
IHS will repay part or all student loans
Under the IHS Loan Repayment Program, eligible health professionals may have part or all of their health-education loan indebtedness repaid in exchange for signing a contract to serve full-time for an initial 2-year commitment at an eligible Indian health program location. The application uses forms for educational/professional background, financial information, and general applicant information and is available in an electronically fillable format.
Awards decided by location-based scoring
The IHS application is scored and awards are determined by an administrative scoring system that assigns scores to geographic locations based on vacancy rates for the fiscal year and whether a location is isolated; when an applicant accepts employment at a location they adopt that location's score. This scoring system affects which applicants are selected for loan repayment in each fiscal year.
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