U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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The purpose of the Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) is to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals to meet the staffing needs of the IHS or qualified Tribal programs.
Applicants sign contractual agreements for 2 years and fulfill their agreements through full-time clinical practice at an IHS facility or approved Indian health program. In return, the LRP will repay all or a portion of the applicant's eligible health professionals educational loans (undergraduate and graduate) for tuition expenses. Applicants are eligible to have their educational loans repaid in amounts up to $20,000 per year for each year of service. In addition, the LRP will pay up to $4,000 of Federal taxes directly to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)--incurred as a result of payments made on behalf of recipients. Note: Loan repayments are deemed taxable income.
Pharmacists interested in the LRP must meet the following requirements:
IHS and Tribal pharmacies are given ranking scores with consideration being given to Indian health programs that have historically had critical shortages caused by frequent staff turnover or current unmatched or projected pharmacist vacancies. Sites with high scores will receive priority over sites that have lower scores. Consistent with this priority ranking, in determining which applications to approve and which contracts to accept, the IHS will give priority to applications made by American Indians and Alaska Natives and to individuals recruited through the efforts of Indian Tribes and Tribal or Indian organizations.
Completed LRP applications are review and considered for award on a monthly basis beginning in January each year. The application deadline is the Friday of the second full week of each month. Applications from pharmacists at a site with a Loan Repayment site score of 70 or above will be considered for LRP awards beginning in January. Completed applications from pharmacists at sites with a score equal to or less than 69.99 will not be considered for review until June. This system encourages individuals to apply for positions at hard to fill sites (those with a higher score). Notice of awards will be mailed on the last working day of each month. The Federal fiscal year (FY) is from October 1 to September 30. Applicants selected for participation in the fiscal year program cycle must begin their service period no later than September 30, the end of the fiscal year. Loan repayments will be made in annual payments. The LRP receives its funding from annual Congressional appropriations. All awards are subject to the availability of funding.
For more information, see the Loan Repayment Program home page at http://www.ihs.gov/index.cfm?module=Jobs
To obtain an application or request additional information, write or call the Loan Repayment Program at:
Indian Health Service
Loan Repayment Program
Twinbrook Metro Plaza -- Suite 100A
12300 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, Maryland 20852
Phone: (301) 443-3396
Fax: (301) 443-4815
8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. [EST]
Monday through Friday,
(except Federal holidays)
| Questions? Contact CAPT Chris Watson at chris.watson@ihs.gov or at (301) 443-4330 |
