HRSA updates loan help for addiction and kids' health experts
Published Date: 12/22/2025
Notice
Summary
HRSA is updating its loan repayment programs that help people working in substance use disorder treatment and pediatric specialties pay off their student loans. They’re asking for public comments by January 21, 2026, before finalizing the changes. This update keeps the programs running smoothly and supports healthcare workers in high-need areas, with no new costs announced yet.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Large loan repayment awards for clinicians
HRSA offers loan repayment awards of up to $250,000 through the STAR Loan Repayment Program in return for 6 years of service, and up to $100,000 through the Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program in return for 3 years of service. These payments are for eligible education loans for clinicians who participate in the respective programs.
STAR LRP limited to high-need locations
To be eligible for the STAR LRP, you must work full-time in a substance use disorder treatment job that provides direct treatment or recovery support and be located in a mental health Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or in a county or municipality where the average drug overdose death rate over the past 3 years is higher than the most recent national average reported by the CDC. This location requirement determines who can apply for STAR benefits.
Pediatric LRP targets pediatric specialists in underserved areas
The Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program (PS LRP) provides repayment to eligible providers working full-time in or serving a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), a medically underserved area (MUA), or a medically underserved population (MUP). Eligible applicants include those in accredited pediatric medical subspecialty or surgical specialty training or employed as pediatric subspecialists, pediatric surgical specialists, or child and adolescent mental health professionals.
Application time cost for applicants
HRSA estimates application and verification forms impose time costs: for STAR LRP 1,700 respondents generate a total annual burden of 3,400 hours (each of four listed forms has 1,700 responses at 0.5 hours each), and for PS LRP 500 respondents generate a total annual burden of 1,000 hours (each of four listed forms has 500 responses at 0.5 hours each). Individual applicants will typically spend about 0.5 hours per form listed in the notice.
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