Friday, May 9, 2025
5/9/2025
Grants to States for Loan Repayment - The purpose of the South Dakota State Loan Repayment Program is to assist eligible entities located in health professional shortage areas recruit and retain health professionals to practice in these shortage areas. Goals of the program include: 1. Recruit and retain providers to sustain a growing primary health care workforce working in HPSAs within South Dakota; 2. Encourage state level partnership/cooperation with other stakeholders to address/meet South Dakota’s health care workforce needs; 3. Increase access to primary care services in underserved communities/populations; 4. Decrease health care disparities in underserved communities; and 5. Improve overall health care outcomes in underserved communities. In exchange for professional service within a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), each eligible health professional can have all or a portion of their educational loans repaid over a two-year period with the option of a third-year extension, provided funds are available and approved by the SD Department of Health. Applications will be reviewed twice per year. Prioritization for placement of health professionals in South Dakota may include rural/urban location; impact on service to SD’s underserved populations; HPSA score of the practice location service area and/or facility; facility type; and other criteria as necessary. Applicants must be screened to meet eligibility requirements. If an eligible practice site located in a Health Professional Shortage Area recruits a health professional who is found eligible to participate in the program, a three-way contract is entered into between the State, practice location, and health professional. The contract obligates the health professional to a two-year period of service in exchange for repayment of all or a portion of their educational loans. Loans are repaid by the State after service has been provided. Participants will receive up to $25,000 per year. Full-time participants can receive up to $50,000 for a two-year commitment. Part-time participants can receive up to $25,000 for a two-year commitment. The State Loan Repayment Program funding will allow the South Dakota Department of Health to recruit health care providers to South Dakota. This will address HHS’s and HRSA’s clinical priorities, specifically to improve access to mental health care and to transform the workforce by targeting the need of additional health care providers in designated HPSAs.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).