Oregon Office of Rural Health

Oregon Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program

Man running down a rural road

The Oregon Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program (OBHLRP), part of the Health Care Provider Incentive Program, was created to help rural and underserved communities recruit and retain high-quality behavioral health providers. These professionals work in inpatient, outpatient, and community settings, serving patients regardless of their insurance status (Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, etc.).

OBHLRP accepts applications from QMHAs, QMHPs, and both pre-licensed and licensed behavioral health providers. In return for service at an approved practice site, participants receive tax-free funds to repay qualifying educational loan debt.

Eligible Licensed Provider Types

  • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
  • Psychiatrists (General, Child and Adolescent, or Geriatric)
  • Clinical Psychologists
  • Licensed Clinical Social Workers 
  • Licensed Professional Counselors 
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists 

Licensed providers working in clinic-based outpatient settings are encouraged to apply to the Oregon Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program.

Eligible Pre-Licensed Provider Types

  • Clinical Social Workers
  • Counseling or Clinical Psychologists
  • Professional Counselors
  • Marriage and Family Counselors

Eligible Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s Level Provider Types

  • Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA)
  • Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)

QMHAs and QMHPs must meet the definitions and standards outlined in OAR 409-036-0000 (27) and (28).

Site Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, a site must:

  • Be located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or have a Facility HPSA designation and serve Medicaid and/or Medicare patients; OR
  • Serve Medicaid and/or Medicare patients in a proportion equal to or greater than the county average; OR
  • Provide essential health care services to an underserved population, as determined by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA); AND
  • Have a current Site Application on file with the Oregon Office of Rural Health and have received confirmation of site qualification.

In exchange for service at a qualified practice site, participants receive tax-free funds to repay qualifying educational loan debt. Award amounts are based on the balance of qualifying loans at the time of application to the Oregon Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program (OBHLRP).

Full-Time Service Providers

  • Must commit to a minimum 3-year service obligation
  • Eligible to receive 70% of their qualifying loan balance, up to $50,000 per service year
  • Providers with less than $29,000 in qualifying loan debt may receive up to 100% of their loan balance, not to exceed the lesser of their total debt or $20,000, in exchange for a 3-year obligation

Part-Time Service Providers

  • Must commit to a minimum 3-year service obligation
  • Eligible to receive 35% of their qualifying loan balance, up to $25,000 per service year
  • Providers with less than $15,000 in qualifying loan debt may receive up to 100% of their loan balance, not to exceed the lesser of their total debt or $10,000, in exchange for a 3-year obligation

Please read our FAQs before filling out an application.

Application Deadline

Application Deadlines and Review Cycles

Completed Oregon Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program applications, including all required attachments, must be submitted no later than 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on June 26, 2025.

  • Applications received after this deadline, or deemed incomplete at the time of the deadline, will be automatically rolled over to the next review cycle.
  • Early submission is strongly encouraged to allow time for follow-up requests from the Oregon Office of Rural Health (ORH).

The next review cycle opens on June 27, 2025, and closes at 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) on September 25, 2025.

Rollover Requests

If a provider is not selected during a review cycle, they may request that their application be rolled over to the next cycle. To do so, the provider must:

  • Email a rollover request to ORH Workforce Services
  • Submit updated educational loan documentation dated within 30 days of the request
  • Provide updates on any changes to FTE status, practice site location, job duties, or employment contract terms

Contact

Workforce Services | 503-494-4450 | toll-free 866-674-4376

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