HARTFORD, Conn — A state student loan repayment program has been launched to attract a larger healthcare workforce in underserved communities, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday.
According to the governor's office, up to $50,000 will be offered through the Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program for full-time healthcare practitioners who commit to working in state communities that are underserved for "at least two years." $12,500 per year, a two-year period totaling $25,000, will be offered for part-time workers.
“Our administration is committed to ensuring that every resident of Connecticut has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their zip code," Lamont said. “This program is a significant investment in our healthcare workforce and a step towards reducing health disparities across our state. We recognize that not all providers can commit to full-time work, so we’re offering flexible options to attract a wider range of talent to our underserved communities.”
The governor's office said that the program, overseen by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and administered by the Connecticut Area Health Education Center, will allow federal and private student loan debt to be repaid, offering a "more comprehensive solution for healthcare providers with diverse educational debt."
According to the governor's office, these providers will be eligible for the student loan repayments:
- MDs and DOs in family practice, general practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN
- APRNs, including certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and psychiatric nurse specialists
- Physician assistants
- Registered nurses
- Dentists and dental hygienists
- Psychiatrists, psychologists, and core behavioral health providers, including licensed clinical social Workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors and substance use disorder counselors
- Pharmacists
Applications for the program will begin on May 22. Those looking for information on applying can visit the state webpage here.
“This program will help open doors to financial relief that are typically only thought to be exclusively available to advanced practice providers," Lamont said. “Whether you’re working in underserved areas, critical shortage facilities, or even in educational settings, opportunities are here for these medical professionals to have their student loans forgiven.”
Manisha Juthani, MD, Connecticut public health commissioner, said that the incentive for healthcare providers to "practice in underserved areas" will allow for "significant progress in improving health outcomes for all Connecticut residents."
Petra Clark-Dufner, director of the Connecticut Area Health Education Center, said, "By incentivizing healthcare providers to practice underserved areas, we can make significant progress in improving health outcomes for all Connecticut residents."
According to the governor's office, the center is a program that which works to improve basic healthcare access by connecting local community groups to "the resources of health professionals, health professional groups and health professional training programs." Its office is located at the UConn Health Center.
Sean Humphrey is a Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at shumphrey@fox61.com.
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