Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program Guide
New York State
Department of Health
Healthcare Access Loan Repayment (HEALR)
Program Guide Version 4
CONTENTS
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 2. PROGRAM OVERVIEW
- 3. HEALR PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS
- 4. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- 5. LOAN REPAYMENT
- 6. SERVICE COMMITMENT
- 7. AWAREDEE RESPONSIBILITIES
- 8. PROGRAM POLICIES
- 9. GLOSSARY OF TERMS
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Document Scope, Purpose, And Use
This document is designed as a central source of information for the Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program administered by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), and provides a detailed overview of the HEALR program, step-by-step instructions about applicant eligibility requirements, the application process, and guidance for individuals selected to receive an award. This guide will be updated throughout the duration of the program with clarifications and additional information as needed.
Additional program resources, including the application, are available on the NYS Department of Health "Healthcare Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program" web page, located at HEALR Program website, located at: Healthcare Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program
Questions that have not been answered in this document or in the companion Healthcare Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program Frequently Asked Questions document, located at: FAQ Document should be directed to healr@health.ny.gov.
2. PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The HEALR program is a workforce initiative authorized under New York's 1115 Medicaid Waiver Demonstration and administered by NYSDOH. The HEALR program directly aligns with the goals of New York's 1115 Waiver which aims to improve NYS Medicaid services by enhancing access, quality, and cost-effectiveness of healthcare for vulnerable populations. The 1115 waiver is effective through March 2027. The HEALR program aims to improve access to high-quality services for NYS Medicaid members by attracting and retaining providers in critical, high-demand roles through NYS.
The HEALR program will provide student loan repayment for qualifying healthcare providers who make a commitment to complete four years of employment at a NYS Medicaid-enrolled provider where at least 30 percent of the patient panel are Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals OR that is contracted with a state-designated Social Care Network (SCN) and providing health-related social needs (HRSNs) screening, referrals, and/or services.
Under the HEALR program, loan payments will be made directly to the loan servicer on behalf of the awardee. Qualifying provider types and their associated award amount thresholds are listed below:
| Eligible Positions | Qualifying Degree(s) | Maximum Award |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrists | Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) | Up to $300,000 per awardee |
| Primary Care Physicians | Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) | Up to $100,000 per awardee |
| Dentists | Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) | Up to $100,000 per awardee |
| Nurse Practitioners (NPs) | Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | Up to $50,000 per awardee |
| Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialists | Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | Up to $50,000 per awardee |
Please note: The amounts listed above are maximum thresholds. Final awards will be calculated based on the applicant's total eligible outstanding student loan debt.
Definitions for the above eligible positions are listed in the Glossary of Terms section at the end of this Program Guide.
3. HEALR PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS
The HEALR Program offers two pathways for submitting application information:
- Individual Application
- Employer Application
Each process is designed to ensure that all necessary details are collected efficiently and accurately. Below is a comprehensive overview of both application options, along with preparation guidance for applicants and employers.
3.1. Individual Application Process
Individuals may apply directly for the HEALR Program by completing an online application. Through this process, applicants will provide all required information, attest to their eligibility, and submit their application independently.
- How to Apply: Access the secure online application on the NYS Department "Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program" web page. The application portal will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
- Notifications and Updates: Applicants are encouraged to subscribe to the Medical Redesign Team (MRT) Listserv, via the NYS Department of Health "Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) LISTSERV" web page, for program updates. Announcements and application updates will also be posted in the Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Frequently Asked Questions document.
- Estimated Completion Time: The application typically takes about one hour to complete. Applicants can save their progress and return to complete the application as needed.
- Support: For technical assistance or questions, email healr@health.ny.gov.
Materials Needed for Individual Applicants
Before starting, please gather the following documents and information:
- Last four digits of Social Security Number (SSN)
- Relevant qualifying degree information (degree, institutions attended, graduation date)
- Employer Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) Number (if applicable)
- Employer Organization Federal Tax Identification (ID)/Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Supervisor contact information (if applicable)
- Loan servicer information (legal name, account number, current loan balance, email, phone number for all qualifying loans)
- Loan billing/summary statements (dated within the past six months for all qualifying loans)
- Government-issued ID
- Recent paystub (within last 30 days), 2025 W-2, or 1099 form (for all current employers) or an offer letter (if applicable)
- NYS Professional License Number (if applicable)
- National Provider Identification (NPI) Number
- MMIS or Provider Identification (PID) Number
- Name change documentation (if applicable)
Please note: A list of all eligible organizations can be found on the NYS Department of Health "1115 Workforce Initiatives Service Commitment Site Directory" web page. An eligible service commitment site, defined as an organization, facility, or practice where at least 30 percent of the patient panel are Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals OR that is contracted with a state-designated SCN and providing HRSN screening, referrals, and/or services.
If your organization is not listed, please submit the NYS Department of Health 1115 Waiver Workforce Program Provider Attestation form, and ensure your organization is listed prior to completing the application. If you are not currently employed at an eligible organization but are actively looking for a position with an eligible organization, please complete all application questions as they appear. Once you secure a position at an eligible organization, email HEALR@health.ny.gov.
3.2. Employer Application Process
Employers or organizations can submit a separate employer version of the application to encourage recruitment and retention for prospective and current employees. This process enables the employer to fill out specific sections of the application, after which the information will automatically populate the corresponding fields in the employee's application. The employee will receive an email from healr@health.ny.gov with a link to the pre-filled application for their review, completion, and submittal.
- Submission Limit: Employers may submit applications for a maximum of five employees. In the case of organizations with multiple sites/facilities, this limit applies per site/facility.
- How It Works: Once the employer submits the required information, the employee receives a link to their pre-filled application from healr@health.ny.gov. The employee must then review the pre-populated data, complete any remaining sections, and submit the final application. The full list of information that the employee will have to provide is listed above in the "3.1 Individual Application Process" section.
- Application Access: The employer application is available on the NYS Department of Health "Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program" web page, and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The relevant employee(s) will be able to complete their portion of the application until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
- Estimated Completion Time: The employer portion takes approximately twenty to thirty minutes to complete. Progress can be saved and resumed if necessary.
- Support: For assistance, employers should contact healr@health.ny.gov.
Materials Needed for Organizations/Employers
Before starting, please gather the following documents and information:
- Last four digits of the employee's SSN
- Employee's relevant qualifying degree information (degree, institutions attended, graduation date)
- Employer MMIS Number (if applicable)
- Employer Organization Federal Tax ID/EIN
- Supervisor Contact Information (if applicable)
Please note: A list of all eligible organizations can be found on the NYS Department of Health "1115 Workforce Initiatives Service Commitment Site Directory" web page. An eligible service commitment site, defined as an organization, facility, or practice where at least 30 percent of the patient panel are Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals or that is contracted with a state-designated SCN and providing HRSN screening, referrals, and/or services.
If your organization is not listed, please submit the NYS Department of Health 1115 Waiver Workforce Program Provider Attestation form, and ensure your organization is listed prior to completing the application.
If you are not currently employed at an eligible organization but are seeking eligible employment opportunities, you are still eligible to apply. Please fill out the application accordingly. Your employment start date must occur prior to the execution of the awardee contract (estimated to be late summer 2026). This contract will be considered fully executed on the date that the awardee has signed the contract and returned it to healr@health.ny.gov. When you have secured employment at an eligible organization or if you have any questions about whether a specific employer qualifies, email healr@health.ny.gov.
Please note: Even if an employer submits an employer application on behalf of their employee, the employee is still responsible for fulfilling the service commitment and may be liable for repayment of award if necessary.Employee Steps after Employer Application
Once an employer has submitted the application information on behalf of their employee, the employee will receive an email from healr@health.ny.gov with a personalized link to an application that has the pre-filled information from their employer. The employee is responsible for the following tasks:
- Reviewing the information provided by the employer;
- Making changes as needed to any of the pre-filled information from the employer;
- Completing the remaining sections of the application;
- Completing the attestations; and
- Submitting the final application.
Before starting, please gather the following documents and information to verify and complete any remaining application sections:
- Last four digits of SSN
- Relevant qualifying degree information (degree, institutions attended, graduation date)
- Employer MMIS Number (if applicable)
- Employer Organization Federal Tax ID/EIN
- Supervisor contact information (if applicable)
- Loan servicer information (legal name, account number, current loan balance, email, phone number for all qualifying loans)
- Loan billing/summary statements (dated within the past six months for all qualifying loans)
- Government-issued ID
- Recent paystub (within last 30 days), 2025 W-2, or 1099 form (for all current employers) or an offer letter (if applicable)
- NYS Professional License Number (if applicable)
- NPI Number
- MMIS or PID Number
- Name change documentation (if applicable)
Please note: The entire application will not be considered complete or eligible for award if the employee does not submit their portion of the application. Employees must submit their individual application by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
3.3. Additional Notes
- Applicants not currently employed at an eligible organization may still apply. Please complete the application accordingly and update employment status before contract execution (estimated late summer 2026).
- For technical assistance or questions about the application, email healr @health.ny.gov.
3.4. Application Scoring
All applications will go through a competitive review process based on federal and state requirements according to the 1115 Waiver Special Terms and Conditions that govern the HEALR Program. Applications will be evaluated based on factors, such as NYS residency, provider type, and dedication to providing services to underserved communities and areas with health provider shortages.
4. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
You must be a psychiatrist, primary care physician, dentist, NP, or pediatric clinical nurse specialist to be eligible for the HEALR Program. In addition, individuals must meet the following requirements:
- You are a United States (U.S.) citizen/eligible non-citizen (as defined on the Federal Student Aid "Eligibility for Non-U.S. Citizens" web page.
- You are currently licensed to practice in NYS or anticipate being licensed prior to the date of awardee contract execution. This contract will be considered fully executed on the date that the awardee has signed the contract and returned it to healr@health.ny.gov. Contracts are expected to be executed in late summer 2026.
- Your NYS Professional License is in good standing (this will not apply if you are not currently licensed to practice in NYS).
- You have not participated in any other student loan repayment program, excluding Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
- You are currently employed full-time (35 hours per week minimum) or anticipate being employed full-time by late summer 2026: with a personal practice panel that serves at least 30 percent of the patient panel are Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals; OR at an organization where at least 30% of the patient panel are Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals or that is contracted with a state-designated SCN and providing HRSN screening, referrals, and/or services.
If you are not currently employed at an eligible organization, you may still apply for the program and fill out the application accordingly. When you have secured employment at an eligible organization or if you have any questions about whether a specific employer qualifies, please reach out to healr@health.ny.gov. Your employment start date must occur prior to the execution of the awardee contract (estimated to be late summer 2026).
4.1. Eligible Employers
To be an eligible employer you must meet the criteria below and have an approved attestation form submission for the HEALR or Career Pathways Training programs. Prior to starting the application, please verify that your organization is listed as an eligible organization on the NYS Department of Health "1115 Workforce Initiatives Service Commitment Site Directory" web page. An appropriate representative from your organization can fill out the NYS Department of Health 1115 Waiver Workforce Program Provider Attestation form, in accordance with the process outlined below.
Eligibility Criteria
An eligible service commitment site, defined as an organization, facility, or practice:
- where at least 30 percent of the patient panel are Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals; or
- that is contracted with a state-designated SCN and providing HRSN screening, referrals, and/or services.
Process for Attestation Form Submission:
Approval is granted at the individual site level. For example, a health system must submit a separate attestation for each of its locations.
- Verify Facility Listing: Visit the NYS Department of Health "1115 Workforce Initiatives Service Commitment Site Directory" web page
- If your facility is not listed – Check Eligibility: Facilities not found in the listing must first confirm they satisfy at least one of the eligibility criteria.
Please note: Applications submitted by employers prior to form verification of eligibility and approval by NYSDOH will not be processed until eligibility is verified.- Download the Form: Download the NYS Department of Health 1115 Waiver Workforce Program Provider Attestation form.
- Complete and Submit Form: Have an authorized representative from your organization complete NYS Department of Health 1115 Waiver Workforce Program Provider Attestation form, and submit it to healr@health.ny.gov.
- Review and Notification of Outcome: NYSDOH will review your submission.
- NYSDOH will send the result of their review to the email address used for submission. If you are not the party submitting the application and would like to be directly notified of eligibility decision, please ensure that you are cc'd on the attestation submission email.
- If approved, your facility will be added to the eligible list and may immediately submit employer applications for up to five employees. You may submit applications upon receipt of eligibility verification and do not need to wait for your facility to appear on the public list.
4.2. Eligible Loan Types
Only student loans for educational costs related to the program of study that led to the qualifying clinical title are eligible for repayment under this program. For example, if an applicant has student loans for their undergraduate course of study as well as for their MD program, only the loans used to pay for the MD program will qualify.
Definitions:
- Government loans are defined as loans that are made by federal, state, county, or city agencies that are authorized by law to make such loans.
- Commercial loans, also known as private loans, are defined as loans made by banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, schools, and other financial or credit institutions.
- Credit institutions are defined as those which are subject to examination and supervision in their capacity as lenders by an agency of the United States or of the States in which the lender has place of business.
The following types of debt are NOT eligible for repayment under the program:
- Loans in default
- Loans repaid in full
- Credit card debt
- State or Federal Primary Care Loans [e.g., National Health Service Corps Repayment (NHSC) or New York State Primary Care Service Corps (PCSC)]
- Personal lines of credit
- Residency loans
- Eligible educational loans that have been consolidated with any other non-eligible educational loans
- Eligible educational loans consolidated with loans owed by any other person, such as a spouse or child
- Eligible educational loans consolidated with any other type of debt (non-educational)
- Parent Plus Loans
- Loans from a family member or friend
- Loans not obtained from a government entity or commercial lending institution
- Loans from institutions outside the U.S.
5. LOAN REPAYMENT
5.1. Loan Disbursement Timeline And Amount
Following notification of a HEALR award, awardees must continue to make payments on their loans until HEALR funds are disbursed to loan servicers and reflected in the individual's account statement. Awardees will receive a HEALR Continued Eligibility and Loan Verification Form, to be distributed with the onboarding package, that collects their updated loan information prior to their award disbursement. Awardees must complete this form to receive their award. The award will be disbursed directly as a lump sum payment to the awardee's student loan servicer(s).
No award value will exceed the value of the applicant's outstanding educational debt. If the applicant's educational debt is less than the maximum award value, then the outstanding educational debt at the time of payment will be the maximum award amount. If the award amount does not cover the full amount of the applicant's remaining student loans, the awardee must continue to make payments after the award is applied to fulfill the terms of their loan.
If an applicant has several loan servicers for their eligible debt, loans with higher interest rates will take priority and will be paid off before loans with lower interest rates.
5.2. Loan Tax Exemption
Funds to support loan repayment under the HEALR program may be currently exempt from federal and state taxes. If you receive an award under the HEALR program, you should not be issued a 1099 statement from the New York State Department of Health. Please consult your tax professional for more information about your specific tax situation.
Section 10908 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) addresses federal taxability of state loan repayment programs intended to provide for the increased availability of healthcare services in underserved or health professional shortage areas. That section provides:
SEC. 10908. Exclusion for assistance provided to participants in state student loan repayment programs for certain health professionals. (a) In general —Paragraph (4) of section 108(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: ''(4) Payments under national health service corps loan repayment program and certain state loan repayment programs.—In the case of an individual, gross income shall not include any amount received under section 338B(g) of the Public Health Service Act, under a State program described in section 338I of such Act, or under any other State loan repayment or loan forgiveness program that is intended to provide for the increased availability of healthcare services in underserved or health professional shortage areas (as determined by such State).'' (b) Effective date — The amendment made by this section shall apply to amounts received by an individual in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.
The HEALR program is intended to support workforce recruitment and retention to promote the increased availability of certain healthcare practitioners who serve Medicaid beneficiaries. The aim of the program is to address shortages in qualified providers serving Medicaid members. This places the HEALR program on par with the federal/state loan repayment program in terms of federal taxability.
6. SERVICE COMMITMENT
To receive a student loan repayment award, you must commit to working full-time at an eligible organization for four years starting from the date of the full execution of your awardee contract with NYS Department of Health. If you are awarded, you must respond to quarterly employment verification requests during the service commitment period to confirm your continued eligibility.
- Eligible Organization: An eligible service commitment site, defined as an organization, facility or practice where at least 30 percent of the patient panel are Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals or that is contracted with a state-designated SCN and providing HRSN screening, referrals, and/or services.
- A non-exhaustive list of eligible organizations can be found on the NYS Department of Health "1115 Workforce Initiatives Service Commitment Site Directory" web page.
- Full-time work: To be considered full-time you will need to work a minimum of 35 hours per week at an eligible organization. If you work part-time at multiple organizations, you may be eligible if your total hours add up to at least 35 hours per week.
The service commitment begins on the date your awardee contract with NYSDOH is signed and returned. Even if you are already working at the organization, time worked prior to the contract execution does not qualify for the service commitment.
The service commitment must be completed as a term of your acceptance of an award.
Awardees should contact healr@health.ny.gov regarding any change to their employment status or if special consideration of their circumstances is required. Please refer to section "8. Program Policies" in this guide for more details.
7. AWARDEE RESPONSIBILITIES
7.1. Employment Verification
NYSDOH requires that all applicants complete the four-year service commitment as a condition of accepting a HEALR award. Awardees who do not comply may be subject to repayment of their award, meaning that the entire award amount will have to be repaid to NYS Department of Health.
Employment will be verified using an the HEALR Employment Verification Form, to be completed and submitted quarterly via email, throughout the duration of the four-year service commitment. Awardees will receive communication from NYSDOH at the beginning of each quarter to remind them to complete their employment verification. Awardees will have 30 days to return the Employment Verification Form, after which they will receive a reminder email and additional follow-up until employment verification is complete.
Please note: If the awardee fails to provide quarterly verification of employment, the individual may be considered in breach of the service commitment, and their award may be subject to repayment.
7.2. Communications
Awardees must email healr@health.ny.gov within these specific timeframes for the following reasons:
- Immediately:
- If you are no longer employed by an eligible organization (refer to section "8.2 Change of Employer/Job Separation Policy" of this guide, for more information)
- Requesting a leave of absence from the service commitment (refer to section "8.1 Leave Policy" of this guide, for more information)
- Change of contact information (mailing address, phone number, or email address)
- 30 calendar days prior to:
- Changing your name (refer to section "8.3 Awardee Name Change Policy" of this guide, for more information)
- Making any changes to your employer and employment status (refer to section "8.2 Change of Employer/Job Separation Policy" of this guide, for more information)
8. PROGRAM POLICIES
8.1. Leave Policy
The HEALR Program allows a single 12-week leave period during the four-year service commitment period without initiating the repayment process or extending the service commitment end date. This leave period may be used for personal, family, or medical reasons as permitted by the participant"s employer and/or applicable state and federal laws, or for reasons such as job separation (refer to section "8.2 Change of Employer/Job Separation Policy"). Participants who will be taking extended leave should notify NYSDOH at healr@health.ny.gov and provide the start and projected end dates of that leave.
Please note: It is not necessary to notify NYSDOH regarding employer-granted paid time off for vacations, sick time, bereavement, etc.
In the event that a leave of more than 12 weeks is needed, participants must notify NYSDOH at healr@health.ny.gov immediately. Once NYSDOH receives this request, the participant will be sent the HEALR Service Commitment Review Form (Jotform) for NYSDOH"s consideration,setting forth the reasons, circumstances, and expected duration for the request.
Upon returning to work, the participant must email healr@health.ny.gov confirming that their leave is over, and that the participant has returned to full-time work hours. The HEALR inbox will also reach out to participants approximately 2 weeks before the participant's anticipated return date to confirm when they will be returning to work and ensure they are in good standing with employment verification checks.
8.2. Change of Employer/Job Separation Policy
Change of Employer
An awardee does not have to work at the same eligible organization for the full four-year service commitment. The awardee may change settings during the service commitment period provided they obtain a position with an eligible organization. Awardees must notify healr@health.ny.gov 30 days prior to making changes to their employing organization and should verify with NYSDOH that a potential employer qualifies as a service commitment site prior to accepting an offer of employment.Job Separation
If an awardee separates from an eligible employer during the service commitment period, please contact healr@health.ny.gov immediately . The awardee is allowed a single 12-week grace period to obtain a position at another eligible organization. If the awardee cannot obtain a position within that time, the awardee must reach out to NYSDOH for next steps.Please note: If the awardee is unable to obtain employment with an eligible service commitment organization within 12 weeks, the end date of their four-year service commitment may be extended.
The same steps will be taken if an awardee works at multiple eligible organizations to fulfill 35 full-time hours and loses one of those positions, resulting in a less than 35 hour per week workload, therefore no longer meeting the time commitment. As noted above, the awardee should contact healr@health.ny.gov immediately and a 12-week grace period to obtain a position at another eligible organization may be granted.
8.3. Awardee Name Change Policy
Awardees must notify NYSDOH via email 30 days prior to changing your name, address, phone number or email address.
8.4. Repayment Policy
If an awardee breaches the service commitment or any of the other terms or contractual obligations of the HEALR Program and their circumstances do not meet the requirements for an authorized exemption, the awardee will be required to repay their awarded funds, in full, to NYS Department of Health. Further details regarding the repayment process will be defined and provided with the awardee contract.
9. GLOSSARY OF TERMS
1115 Demonstration Waiver: A provision under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act that allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve projects that promote the objectives of the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs. Certain provisions of the Medicaid law may be waived to give states additional flexibility to design and improve their programs.
Approved Organization: An eligible organization which has been reviewed and accepted by NYSDOH as a location where HEALR participants may fulfil their service commitment. For a full list of eligible organizations that have been approved to date, refer to the 1115 Workforce Initiatives Service Commitment Site Directory.
Dentists: Qualifying degrees include board eligible Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), and Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS).
Eligible Organization: An organization operating in New York State that serves at least 30 percent NYS Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals or is contracted with a state-designated SCN and providing HRSN screening, referrals, and/or services. If your employer is not on the list and would like to serve as an eligible commitment site, please visit the 1115 Workforce Initiatives Service Commitment Site Directory web page to obtain the attestation form linked here.
Nurse Practitioners (NPs): Qualifying degrees include board eligible Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Specialties may include adult health, community health, family health, gerontology, obstetrics and gynecology, palliative care, pediatrics, perinatology, psychiatry, school health, and women’s health.
Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialists: Qualifying degrees include Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a specialty in pediatrics.
Primary Care Physicians (PCPs): Qualifying degrees include board eligible Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). PCP specialties include family medicine, geriatrics, internal medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine/pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology.
Psychiatrists: Although the program will accept all board eligible psychiatrists with a qualifying degree, including Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), there will be a priority for psychiatrists who serve children and adolescents.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): A federal program designed to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the remaining balance of their federal student loans after meeting specific criteria. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid "Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)" web page.
Repayment: Participants who fail to fulfil the terms of their HEALR Program Service Contract will be subject to repayment. This means they may be required to repay to NYSDOH the full award amount that the HEALR program paid to their loan servicer(s) on their behalf.
Service Commitment: The four years of employment a participant is required to serve at an approved organization as a condition of accepting the HEALR award. The service commitment begins on the date the participant’s signed HEALR Program Service Contract is received by NYSDOH. Participants must respond to quarterly employment verification requests during the service commitment period to confirm continued eligibility.
Social Care Networks (SCN): A core part of the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) 1115 Demonstration Amendment to build a robust Network of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and other organizations providing HRSN services and coordinating with health and behavioral health providers. For more information, visit the NYS Department of Health "Social Care Networks (SCN)" webpage.