Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program

3 images: white male and female examining an exray, black female medical professional talking with a white female and child, smiling black male medical professional

Important Update: Application Deadlines Extended
The HEALR application deadline has been extended. This extension is meant to ensure a robust applicant pool across eligible titles and the state, to make it easier for residents and fellows completing their programs in June 2026 to apply, and to allow more time for individuals and employers to submit their application materials. Employer applications will close at 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2026 and individual applications will close at 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2026.
Awards are expected to be announced summer 2026.


Apply Now!

For application support please email healr@health.ny.gov

The New York State Medicaid Program is committed to addressing statewide workforce shortages, boosting retention of key high-demand providers, and increasing access to care across the state.

The Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program is a Medicaid workforce initiative authorized under New York's 1115 Demonstration Waiver, which aims to address shortages in high-demand health care roles and boost the availability of critical providers in the health care workforce. This program offers student loan repayment assistance to providers in the eligible titles, listed below, who make a four-year commitment to maintain a personal practice panel or work at an organization where at least 30% of the patient panel are Medicaid enrollees and/or uninsured individuals, or that is contracted with a state-designated Social Care Network (SCN) and providing Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) screening, referrals, and/or services (New York's Special Terms and Conditions).

The goals of the HEALR Program are to:

  • Improve access to critical services for Medicaid members.
  • Attract exceptional providers dedicated to delivering high-quality services to Medicaid members throughout the state.
  • Strengthen the availability and capacity of the health care workforce in New York State.
  • Reduce awardees educational debt to boost provider recruitment and retention

By working at a qualified service commitment site, participants in the HEALR Program will receive awards paid directly to their loan servicer(s). The HEALR Program will increase awardees' financial stability while they make a valuable contribution to communities in need and help to bridge gaps in access to quality care across New York State.

   HEALR Resources

  • HEALR Program Overview Webinar PowerPoint (PDF)
  • HEALR Program Guide - (Web) - (PDF)
  • Frequently Asked Questions - (Web) - (PDF)

There are two ways to apply for this program:

  1. Individual applications: Eligible individuals may apply on their own. See eligibility criteria below. Individual applications are due at 11:59PM on April 15, 2026.
  2. Employer applications: Employers that have been approved as service commitment sites may initiate up to five applications on behalf of their staff. Those individuals will then be sent a link to a pre-filled application where they will verify the information provided by the employer, complete any remaining sections, and submit the final application. Employer-initiated applications are due at 11:59PM on March 31, 2026; employees must complete the final application by 11:59PM on April 15, 2026.

Awards are limited; those interested in participating in the program are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Eligible Roles and Award Amounts

Eligible Positions Qualifying Degrees Maximum Award
Psychiatrists Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine		 Up to $300,000 per awardee
Primary Care Physicians Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Up to $100,000 per awardee
Dentists Doctor of Dental Surgery
Doctor of Dental Medicine
Nurse Practitioners Master of Science in Nursing
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Up to $50,000 per awardee
Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialists Master of Science in Nursing
Doctor of Nursing Practice

Participant Eligibility

Individuals must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the HEALR Program:

  • United States citizen or eligible non-citizen;
  • Licensed to practice within New York State (currently or by the time service commitment begins);
  • License in good standing;
  • A commitment to serve four years at an eligible service commitment site;
  • Qualifying full-time employment (minimum 35 hours per week) with a start date no later than the date the participant's service commitment is signed;
  • Have not previously participated in any other student loan repayment program, excluding Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF); and
  • Have an outstanding balance due on an eligible educational loan associated with the highest degree earned to obtain the relevant clinical credentials.

Eligible Service Commitment Sites

Individual facilities can be qualified as a service commitment site for the Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program if they are either:

  1. An active Medicaid-enrolled provider with a patient population that was at least 30% Medicaid and/or uninsured members during one of the last three (3) years.

OR

  1. A provider contracted with a state-designated Social Care Network (SCN) that is providing Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) screening, referrals, and/or services.

For a full list of organizations that have been approved as service commitment sites or to access the Workforce Provider Attestation form required to submit an organization for consideration as a service commitment site, please visit: 1115 Workforce Initiatives Service Commitment Site Directory

Communications

Subscribe to our MRT Listserv to receive program announcements.

Questions about the HEALR Program may be sent to healr@health.ny.gov