On October 1, the South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) announced the opening of the application period for the 2024 State Loan Repayment Program. This initiative aims to enhance healthcare access by supporting underserved communities in recruiting and retaining healthcare providers.
Melissa Magstadt, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Health, emphasized the program’s importance: “This program plays a vital role in strengthening healthcare access in rural South Dakota. By providing essential support to healthcare providers, we help reduce their financial burdens and fill workforce gaps, ensuring that underserved communities receive the quality care they deserve. It’s a win-win for both our healthcare workforce and the communities we serve.”
In the previous year, the DOH awarded funding to 18 applicants. Eligible disciplines include physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, physician assistants, health service psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, psychiatric nurse specialists, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, registered nurses, pharmacists, and alcohol/substance abuse counselors.
The DOH received a three-year grant totaling $1,509,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to administer this program. Each grant year allocates $503,000 for eligible healthcare professionals, who can receive student loan reimbursement in exchange for a two-year service commitment at an approved healthcare practice site in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) in South Dakota.
Applications will be available online starting today, October 1, 2024, at 8 a.m. CST. Submissions will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, with the application period closing on October 31, 2024, at 5 p.m. CST.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen (born or naturalized) or U.S. national.
- Hold a valid license to practice in South Dakota.
- Be applying to, accepted at, or currently working at an eligible site located in a federally designated HPSA.
- Have unpaid government or commercial loans for educational tuition, reasonable education, and living expenses related to their education.
- Ensure loans are not consolidated with other non-educational debts.
For more information about the program and to access the application, please visit the DOH website.
