State Loan Repayment Program

Eligible health professionals can qualify for education loan repayment assistance by practicing in Mississippi areas with provider shortages.

The Mississippi Center for Rural Health and Population Studies administers the Mississippi State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP), funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The program recruits and retains medical, nursing, dental and mental/behavioral health professionals to serve at eligible practice sites located in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).

HPSAs can be geographic areas, populations, or facilities. These areas have a shortage of primary, dental, or mental health care providers.

Program participants must practice at least two years at an approved public or private healthcare organization and can receive up to $25,000 towards educational loan repayment.

On this page

• Provider eligibility
• Site eligibility
• Eligible disciplines and specialties
• Applications
• Contact

Provider Eligibility

To apply to the Mississippi State Loan Repayment Program (MSLRP), applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Be a United States citizen (U.S. born or naturalized) at the time of their application submission.
2. Have verifiable student loans, not in default.
3. Provide medical care services to Medicare and Medicaid-eligible, indigent, and uninsured patients on a sliding fee scale.
4. Have graduated and completed residency training programs for their specialty.
5. Possess an active, valid and unrestricted license to practice in their discipline independently and unsupervised.
6. Practice full-time or half-time in providing health care services at an eligible site.
7. Practice in an HPSA corresponding to their training and discipline.
8. Have a qualifying educational loan; and
9. Upon application approval, must accept the terms and conditions of the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

• More about eligibility HRSA
• More about service requirements HRSA

Practice Site Eligibility

1. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
2. FQHC Look-A-Likes
3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Certified Rural Health Clinics
4. Other Health Facilities
5. Indian Health Service Facilities, Tribally Operated 638 Health Program and Urban Indian Health Programs
6. Correctional or Detention Facilities
7. Private Practices (Solo or Group)

• MSDH guidelines and eligibility for practice sites
• More about site eligibility and Health Professional Shortage Areas HRSA

Eligible Disciplines and Specialties

Primary Care

Dental Care

Behavioral and Mental Health

Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Pharmacy

Applications

• Application guidelines and overview
• Online application for health care professionals
• Online application for practice sites

Related Information

• MSDH Rural Health and Primary Care
• J-1 Visa Program