1.  What is a qualified Loan Repayment practice site? 

To confirm a practice site’s eligibility, awardees must request the site to complete a Qualified Site Application, unless it has already been approved by ORH. Before submitting an application, we strongly encourage contacting ORH with any questions about site eligibility.  

To be approved for the Loan Repayment program, a practice site must:

• Be located in a rural area, as designated by ORH; and
• Be situated in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), Medically Underserved Area (MUA), or Area of Unmet Need; or
• Serve at least the county average percentage of Medicare and/or Medicaid patients (site must be rural); and
• Have a current Qualified Site Application on file with ORH, dated within the past 12 months.

2. Can awardees participate in other loan repayment programs while in the Healthcare Provider Incentive Loan Repayment Program?

No. You must complete your service obligation under the Oregon Health Care Provider Incentive Loan Repayment Program before applying to any other service-based loan repayment programs, including:

•  Oregon Partnership State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
• Oregon Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program
• National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
• NURSE Corps
• Any other state, federal, or local service-obligation loan repayment program 

3. What is considered “full-time” and “part-time”? 

Direct patient care includes activities such as charting, medication management, follow-ups, time spent precepting, and consultations. Most administrative duties do not count toward your required hours. Additionally, the following are not counted toward weekly service hours: 

• Inpatient care
• On-call time
• Travel time (even if related to patient care) 

Service hour requirements: 

• Full-time: Minimum of 32 hours per week of direct patient care
• Part-time: Minimum of 16 hours per week of direct patient care

4. Can awardees change direct patient care hours (from full time to part time)? 

Yes, awardees may request to change their service level from full time to part time, but not from part time to full time. Prior approval from OHA is required before making any adjustments to direct patient care hours. If you expect to fall below your required service hours, please contact ORH as soon as possible at ruralworkforce@ohsu.edu. 

5. If awarded, what loans are considered as approved loans? 

Only the student loans listed in your award letter are eligible for repayment. If you're unsure which loans are covered, please contact ORH at ruralworkforce@ohsu.edu. 

6. When should awardees expect to receive program payment?

ORH collects invoices on a quarterly basis during a designated month (e.g., December), and then submits them to OHA for processing the following month (e.g., January). Once received by OHA, payment processing may take up to 60 days. Payments are issued either by direct deposit (if an EFT form has been submitted) or by check.

7. What do awardees do once they receive program payment? 

 Awardees are required to make payments towards approved student loans in an amount equal to or greater than your award within the same quarter the funds are disbursed. 

Example: If your first payment is issued in January, you must apply that amount to your approved loans by the end of March. 

8. What if awardees personal information (e.g. last name, email address, banking information) changes?

To update your name, home address, phone number, personal email, or bank account information for award disbursements, please contact ORH at ruralworkforce@ohsu.edu. Depending on the type of update, additional documentation may be required. 

9. Are Loan Repayment awards taxable? 

No. Loan Repayment awards are tax-free. 

10.  When are award funds distributed, and which service year(s) do they apply to? 

Applications and awards are processed on a rolling basis. For current application deadlines, please refer to the ORH website. 

Once selected, awardees will be contacted by OHA to sign the Loan Repayment contract. Funds are disbursed quarterly throughout the duration of the service commitment. For specific disbursement details, refer to the table in Section 2 of your Loan Repayment Agreement.

11.  What happens if awardees do not fulfill the service commitment? 

If an awardee willfully breach your contract, penalties may include: 

• Repayment of all loan repayment funds provided for unserved periods; and
• $7,500 for each month of the minimum service period not completed; and
• Interest on these amounts at the maximum prevailing rate (as determined by the Oregon Department of Revenue), accruing from the date of breach until full repayment.

12. Can awardees work in an inpatient setting? 

No. Only outpatient primary care qualifies as a qualified practice site. 

13. Can the awardees employer allowed to offer additional incentives while the awardee is participating in the Loan Repayment Program?

Incentives offered directly by the awardee’s employer that require a service obligation are not permitted. However, incentives that do not include a service commitment—such as pro-rated signing or relocation bonuses—are generally allowed. To avoid any potential conflicts with your loan repayment award, it’s important to consult with ORH before accepting any additional funds or benefits. 

14. What if the awardee needs to transfer to another qualified practice site? 

If an awardee’s site closes or they encounter extenuating circumstances, they may request approval to transfer to another qualifying site. To initiate a transfer request:

1. Email ORH at ruralworkforce@ohsu.edu at least 30 days in advance.
2. Complete and submit a Site Transfer Form, which will be reviewed by ORH and must be approved by OHA. All transfer requests must receive OHA approval at least 30 days prior to the proposed change.
3. Wait for written approval from OHA before making any changes—including transfers within the same health system.  

Note: Site transfers are intended to be rare and will not be granted without prior written approval. 

15. What happens if awardee loses their job at a qualified site? 

Awardees are still responsible for securing employment. Awardees may request a temporary suspension of your obligation, valid for up to six months at a time. During a suspension, no payments will be disbursed, and the awardees service commitment period may be extended. 

16. How does vacation, sick leave, or other time away from work affect the awardees service commitment? 

Awardees may take up to seven weeks (224 hours) of leave per contract year, either consecutively or spread out. A service week is defined as any 7-day period in which a participant provides at least 32 hours of direct patient care. The number of days worked to reach those hours is not important. This approach ensures that individuals working three days a week and those working five days a week are treated the same 

Leave includes: 

• Holidays
• CME days
• Vacation time
• Any other time not spent providing direct patient care at your approved site 

If awardees expect to exceed seven weeks, depending on the circumstance (e.g., military leave, medical and/or parental leave), awardees will need to submit a Temporary Suspension of Service Form (TSSF) for review by ORH and approval by OHA. TSSF requests will need to be approved by OHA at least 30 days in advance. 

Note: Approved temporary suspensions will extend the awardees end date for completion of the service commitment. 

17. What if the awardee experiences harassment or a hostile work environment?

If you’re feeling uncomfortable in your work environment or community, please reach out to ORH at ruralworkforce@ohsu.edu for guidance and support. We’re here to help you navigate any challenges you may be facing.

18. Who should I contact with questions? 

For more information about the Health Care Provider Incentive Loan Repayment Program, contact ORH at ruralworkforce@ohsu.edu. 

What is a "qualifying educational loan"?

For the Oregon Partnership State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) qualifying educational loan means one or more government or commercial loans received solely to cover the cost of post-baccalaureate health professional training or undergraduate educational training in the case of an expanded practice dental hygienist. This does not include credit card loans, lines of credit, private loans, and personal loans. 

For the Oregon Health Care Provider Incentive Loan Repayment (PILP) qualifying educational loan means one or more government or commercial loans received solely to cover the cost of health professional training, or undergraduate or other educational training. This does not include credit card loans, lines of credit, and personal loans. This does not include credit card loans, lines of credit, private loans, and personal loans. 

For the Oregon Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program (OBHLRP) qualifying educational loan means one or more government or commercial loans received solely to cover the cost of health professional training, or undergraduate or other educational training. This does not include credit card loans, lines of credit, and personal loans. This does not include credit card loans, lines of credit, private loans, and personal loans. 

Do Loan Repayment Programs consider accrued interest to be qualifying debt?

The Oregon Partnership State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) calculates award amounts based on the applicant's qualifying educational loan's principal balance. When calculating a Loan Repayment award, interest on qualified educational loans is deducted from the loan balance. 

The Oregon Health Care Provider Incentive Loan Repayment (PILP) calculates award amounts based on the applicant's total qualifying educational loan's balance, including interest. 

The Oregon Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program (OBHLRP) calculates award amounts based on the applicant's total qualifying educational loan's balance, including interest. 

What type of loan documentation is required when submitting my application?

Loan documentation must: 

• Be in the form of lender statements dated within 30 days of submission; AND Clearly show:
• Your name; AND
• The account number; AND
• The current balance; AND
• The loan's date of origination and/or school name; AND
• The loan's original disbursement amount 

Online printouts are acceptable as long as they include all of the required information. Loan documentation must be free of any notes and/or calculations. Any documentation that includes any handwritten or typed notes, calculations, highlights, redactions, or any other form of alterations will be deemed ineligible. 

Most applicants report they can download detailed statements from their loan provider's website. However, some applicants have noted they need to call their loan provider to obtain the proper documentation. 

Can I submit the monthly statement I receive from my loan provider as proof of my debt?

Monthly statements that you receive from your loan provider often lack the required level of detail needed to prove debt origination information. 

What if my educational loans have been consolidated?

Consolidated educational loans may be allowed. However, detailed documentation on your consolidation will be required. Documentation must include the original disbursement dates, to which intuition(s) the original loans were disbursed, and details on what was included in the consolidation. Most applicants report they can easily find this information on their lender's website. 

What if my educational loans have been refinanced?

Refinanced educational loans may be allowed. However, detailed documentation on what was included in the refinancing will be required. Documentation must consist of the original disbursement dates, to which intuition(s) the original loans were disbursed, and details on what was included. Most applicants report they can find this information on their lender's website easily. Loans that are refinanced with a private bank may not be eligible. Don't hesitate to get in touch with ORH for more information. 

Do I need to submit my loan documentation in the form of PDFs?

PDF is the preferred file type when submitting all documentation related to your application. ORH is able to accept. JPEG, .TIFF or .PNG files so long as they are attached to an email rather than embedded. ORH's email firewall blocks files embedded in emails. ORH is unable to accept files that can be altered (e.g., .doc & .TXT files), even if they are converted to a different file type before they are submitted. 

What if I am unable to provide adequate documentation on my educational loans?

Loan documentation supplied by applicants must meet Healthcare Provider Incentive Loan Repayment requirements and establish a clear link between current account balances and post-baccalaureate health professional training. A very small portion of applicant’s reports they are unable to obtain documents with the required level of detail. This is usually due to loans being consolidated more than once or loan providers selling loans and then deleting old account information. ORH is unable to accept loan documentation that does not meet the minimum requirements outlined by the program. Applications that do not meet the documentation requirements will not be reviewed for award consideration.

I would like to make changes to the educational loans I submitted when I applied to my program. Could this affect my award?

Yes. Any changes made to your loans that ORH deemed as "qualifying educational debt" when you entered into your Loan Repayment program contract may seriously affect your Loan Repayment award. In the most severe cases, it could even put you in breach of your Loan Repayment program contract. Therefore, if you would like to make changes to your loans, you must first contact ORH to see how your proposed changes may affect your Loan Repayment award. Changes to your loans include, but are not limited to: consolidations, refinancing, transferring to a new loan servicer, paying off your loans in full while still under your Loan Repayment obligation, etc. 

What if my educational loan servicer transfers my loans to another loan servicer?

If your loan servicer informs you that they will be making changes to your loans, you must notify ORH as soon as possible. Documentation from your loan servicer must be submitted to ORH showing that your loans will be transferred, along with the current debt amount and the new account information. Loans transferred from your Federal account servicer to a private loan servicer will disqualify those loans, as Private Loans do not qualify for Loan Repayment programs. 

What types of loans are NOT eligible for Loan Repayment?

The following loans do not qualify for Loan Repayment: 

• Loans for which the applicant incurred a service obligation, which will not be fulfilled before the deadline for submission of the provider's application;
• Loans for which the associated documentation cannot identify that the loan was solely applicable to the health profession education of the applicant;
• Loans not obtained from a Government entity or private student loan lending institution;
• Loans already repaid in full;
• Primary Care Loans;
• Parent PLUS Loans (made to parents);
• Personal lines of credit;
• Loans subject to cancellation;
• Residency loans;
• Credit Card debt;
• Personal Private loans;
• Loans currently inactive student status, in forbearance, or deferment not related to COVID-19. 

Who should I contact if I have questions about acceptable loans or required documentation?

For additional information on Provider Incentive Loan Repayments, don't hesitate to contact the Oregon Office of Rural Health at ruralworkforce@ohsu.edu or 503-494-4450.