Health Care Provider Incentive Program

Health Care Provider Incentive Program

Background and History

The 2017 Oregon Legislature approved HB 3261, establishing the Healthcare Provider Incentives Program within the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to support access to care for underserved communities throughout Oregon. The Program offers various incentives, which include loan repayment, loan forgiveness and insurance subsidies to both students and providers who commit to serving patients in underserved areas of the state. This program is overseen by OHA and is being administered in partnership with the Oregon Office of Rural Health.

Program Guidelines

Oregon Administrative Rule 409-036, effective January 2, 2018, establishes guidelines for implementation and participation in the Program.

Health Care Provider Incentive Loan Repayment Program

The Health Care Provider Incentive Loan Repayment Program helps support underserved communities in their recruitment and retention of high quality providers who serve patients regardless of their source of coverage (Medicaid, Medicare, private, etc.) or ability to pay. In exchange for service at a qualifying practice site, participants receive funds to repay qualifying student loan debt. Awards are calculated based on the balance owed on qualifying loans upon program entry. See below for How to Apply.

Eligible Provider Types:

• Dentists in general or pediatric pracite;
• Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists;
• Pharmacists;
• Physicians (MD, DO, or ND) who practice in family medicine or 
  general practice, general internal medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, or obstetrics and gynecology;
• Physician Assistants who practice in the specialties of family medicine or general practice,general internal medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics or obstetrics and gynecology;
  
• Nurse Practitioners who practice in the specialties of adult primary care, women's health care,geriatrics, pediatrics, family practice, or nurse midwifery
  

Qualifying Practice Sites

To qualify, as site must:

• Be located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), or have a Facility HSPA; OR
  
• Be serving Medicaid and Medicare patients in no less than the same proportion of such patients in the county; OR
  
• Provide essential health care services to an underserved population, as determined by the Authority; AND
• Have a Site Application on file with the Oregon Office of Rural Health and have received confirmation of site qualification.
  

Primary Care Loan Forgiveness

Primary Care Loan Forgiveness (PCLF) is an incentive for students participating in approved rural training tracks to receive funding during their education in exchange for a future service obligation in a rural or frontier area in Oregon. PCLF participants receive loan forgiveness funds during their education, and must contract with an approved practice site within 90 days of graduation (or completion of residency). Participants are required to practice at an approved site for the life of their obligation, which is one obligation year for every year of funding. 

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for PCLF students must:

• Be in good academic standing; AND
  
• Be participating in the Oregon AHEC Scholars Program or accepted to an approved Oregon rural trainingtrack; AND
  
• Be prepared to begin practice in primary care at an approved rural practice site within 90 days ofgraduation or completion of residency (if applicable)
  

Rural Insurance Subsidy

The purpose of the Rural Insurance Subsidy is to support and stabilize the health care workforce in rural and frontier areas of Oregon by providing partial payments to authorized medical professional liability insurance carriers on behalf of health care providers in rural Oregon who otherwise would have to pay the full cost of malpractice insurance themselves.

Eligibility Requirements

• Physician (M.D., D.O,) or Nurse Practitioner 
• Providers must be practicing in an eligible rural area.
  
• Providers who do not recieve malpractice insurance through their employer, providers who have to repay their employer for coverage may be eligible.
  
• Providers receiving an insurance subsidy must be willing to agree to Medicaid and Medicare patients in no less than the same proportion of such patients in the county or other service area.
  

How to Apply

OHA welcomes applications from sites and clinicians that will help expand and diversify the health care workforce, and access to health services, particularly for communities that have lacked access to care.

For sites seeking eligibility to participate in the Health Care Provider Incentive Program

For clinicians seeking to apply for incentives

For questions or additional information, please contact:

Contact the Provider Incentive Program
Oregon Health Authority
503-812-1933

or

Oregon Office of Rural Health
503-494-4450 or toll free 866-674-4376