What is the Oregon Partnership State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)?

SLRP is a loan repayment program that, in exchange for a service obligation, offers loan repayment to primary care providers working at a SLRP approved practice site. 

What health professions are eligible for SLRP? 

Eligible professions for SLRP include: 

• Allopathic or Osteopathic Physicians specializing in Family Medicine, General Pediatrics, General Internal Medicine, Gerontology, General psychiatry or Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Primary Care Nurse Practitioners
• Primary Care Physician Assistants
• Certified Nurse-Midwives
• Dentists (DMD/DDS)
• Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists
• Licensed Mental Health or Behavioral Health Professionals: Clinical or Counseling Psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, or Psychiatric Nurse Specialists
• Registered Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor IIIs (Master Degree required)

Please note:

• Emergency Medicine is not an approved discipline for the SLRP. This includes providers who are providing primary care in the ER/ED and rounding on admitted patients.  
• Providers must be providing primary care services in an outpatient ambulatory care setting at a SLRP approved practice site. 

I work in an inpatient setting, am I eligible to apply?  

Clinicians who are employed in an inpatient setting in a full-time capacity are not eligible for an award.  

What is a SLRP approved practice site? 

To be approved for SLRP a practice site must meet SLRP’s criteria, have submitted a Site Application to the Office of Rural Health, and received confirmation of SLRP approval.   

My practice site would like to participate. What elements must a practice site have in place before submitting a Site Application?

To be considered for SLRP a practice site must: 

• Be a non-profit (public or private); and
• Be located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA); and
• Provide outpatient, ambulatory, primary medical, mental and behavioral, and/or dental services; and
• Ensure access to ancillary, inpatient, and specialty referrals; and
• Provide services on a free or reduced fee schedule basis to individuals at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and post signage advertising this statement (in the waiting room and online if applicable); and
• Accept patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); and
• Agree not to discriminate in the provision of services to individuals based on their ability to pay, race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, or sexual orientation; and
• Use a clinician credentialing process including reference review, licensure verification, and a query of the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); and
• Agree not to reduce a clinician’s salary due to SLRP support; and
• Have general community support for the assignment of SLRP awardees; and
• Have a record of sound fiscal management.  

For questions regarding site eligibility contact ruralworkforce@ohsu.edu.

My practice site qualifies for National Health Service Corps (NHSC), does that mean it automatically qualifies for SLRP? 

While the NHSC and SLRP share many of the same elements, they are separate programs with separate requirements and a separate application process. More information on the NHSC site application can be found online here.   

How is SLRP funded in Oregon? 

SLRP is funded by a grant received from the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  

Do providers have to be a U.S. citizen to apply for SLRP? 

Providers applying to SLRP must be a U.S. citizen (either U.S. born or naturalized) or U.S. National. 

Can providers participate in any other loan repayment programs while serving in SLRP?  

No, providers can only be under one service obligation (program) at a time. Participating in two programs at once, also known as “double dipping”, will put you in violation of your SLRP contract. Other programs include, but are not limited to, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Nurse Corps, Oregon Partnership State Loan Repayment (SLRP), Oregon Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program (BHLRP), and employer sponsored funds and programs. 

Must providers be licensed to apply for the SLRP?

Yes. Providers must have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted health professional license, certificate or registration (whichever is applicable). 

Is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) considered a service obligation (making the provider ineligible for SLRP)?

No. The Public Loan Forgiveness Program is not a service obligation. Thus, providers participating in it are eligible for SLRP.

I am in a management role, am I eligible to apply? 

Time spent on management activities, including the duties of a Medical Director, is considered to be an administrative activity. Applicants serving in such a capacity should keep in mind that they cannot exceed more than 8 hours per week of administrative and/or management time (4 hours in the case of half-time participants). 

Can providers apply for more than one scholarship or loan repayment program at a time? 

Providers may apply, if qualified, for as many scholarship or loan repayment programs as available. However, providers may not accept more than one award for or sign a contract for more than one service obligation simultaneously. Providers must complete one service obligation at a time. 

How are SLRP awards calculated? 

Full time providers may receive up to a total of 50% of their qualifying educational debt, up at a maximum of $25,000 per obligation year, for an initial two-year obligation. Part time providers may receive up to a total of 25% of their qualifying educational debt, up at a maximum of $12,500 per obligation year, for an initial four-year obligation. 

What does SLRP consider “full-time & part-time”?

For the purposes of SLRP: 

• Full-time is defined as working at least 40 hours per week, providing at least 32 hours of direct patient care, for a minimum of 45 weeks each year.
• Part-time is defined as working at least 20 hours per week, providing at least 16 hours of direct patient care, for a minimum of 45 weeks each year. 

Patient charting is a component of offering direct patient care, but many other activities are not. 

Do all applicants of the SLRP receive a loan repayment award? 

No, not all SLRP applicants will be awarded; SLRP awards are made on a competitive basis. 

How many providers are awarded each cycle for the SLRP? 

Each SLRP application cycle is unique, and the number of awards cannot be predicted. 

I am currently working at a qualified practice site. If awarded will I get “credit” for the time spent at my site before my SLRP contract effective date? 

No. Your SLRP obligation beginning and end dates will be clearly listed on the contract. You will not receive “credit” for time served outside of those dates. 

What is a "qualifying educational loan”? What type of loan documentation is required? 

Please see our Loan Repayment FAQs below for information on qualifying loans and required documentation.  

If chosen for an award, will funds be paid directly to my loan provider?  

No, funds will be disbursed to you directly. Your first disbursement will be in the form of a check, then direct deposits to your bank account after that. You will be required to provide documentation that the full amount of that disbursement was applied to your qualified educational loans before your next disbursement is issued. 

If funds are paid to me directly, will I be liable for taxes? 

No. Loan repayment and forgiveness programs administered by the Oregon Office of Rural Health are tax free. 

How will I know if I have been awarded?

All applicants who have been awarded will be contacted via email with an official award letter and Service agreement for review, completion, and signature. 

My employer requires me to pay back my bonus if I leave the practice, is that considered a service obligation?  

Employer sponsored funds and programs including bonuses, relocation allowances, or other funds that must be paid back in full in the event that a provider leaves the site before a set date are considered service obligations. Bonuses, relocation allowances, and other employer sponsored funds that have a prorated payback clause are not considered service obligations. 

What happens if an awardee is unable to fulfill the terms of their contractual obligation and complete their service obligation?

If an awardee breaches their SLRP obligation, they will be responsible for repaying an amount equal to the sum of the following (see 42 U.S.C. § 254o(c)(1)): 

1. The amounts paid to the participant for any period not served;
2. The number of months not served, multiplied by $7,500; and
3. Interest on (1) and (2). If the amount resulting from the above formula equals less than $31,000, then the defaulter owes $31,000. The amount owed is due to be paid within one year of breach. 

If the amount resulting from the above formula equals less than $31,000, then the defaulter owes $31,000. The amount owed is due to be paid within one year of breach. 

If awarded, can I still take advantage of the Rural Practitioner Tax Credit?  

Yes, you may take advantage of Rural Practitioner Tax Credit as it is not considered a service commitment.  

If awarded, can I still take advantage of the Rural Medical Practitioners Insurance Subsidy Program?  

Yes, you may take advantage of the Rural Medical Practitioners Insurance Subsidy Program as it is not considered a service commitment. 

If awarded, can I still take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program?

Yes, you may take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is not considered a service commitment. 

Who should I contact if I have questions about SLRP? 

For additional information please contact the Oregon Office of Rural Health at ruralworkforce@ohsu.edu, or 503-494-4450. 

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.