About

CT STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

The Program

The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the critical shortage of primary care providers in Connecticut, which has widened health outcomes, as were apparent in ethnic mortality rates. In 2022, Governor Lamont’s administration introduced a $72 million legislative proposal to expand access to care and address the healthcare worker shortages.


The Connecticut Department of Public Health received funds to strengthen healthcare workforce development through the American Rescue Plan (ARPA Public Act 22-80) and a complementary Health Resources and Services Administration cooperative award (HRSA-22-048).


CT DPH has partnered with CT AHEC to implement the Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) which had not been active since 2009.

Dr. Leslie Bumpus, MA, DDS

Lead Dentist, CT Department of Correction, York Correctional Institution

  • Purpose of the CT SLRP

    The CT SLRP will promote the recruitment and retention of providers to sustain a growing primary healthcare workforce working with medically underserved populations.


    In exchange for loan repayment, individuals agree to provide primary healthcare services in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) of greatest need.


    The length of service commitment is expected to equal 2 years. The renewal of commitment into concurrent term is dependent on availability of funding.


    Penalty for breaking contractual obligation: the amount of time obligated and the time NOT SERVED, multiplied by $7,500, plus interest/fees (refer to NHSC policy for more).


  • Eligibility Requirements

    Recipients must be United States citizens or nationals (naturalized citizens), legally authorized to work in the United States, and must practice in Connecticut.


    Recipients must work at eligible practice sites.


    Practitioners must provide direct patient care full-time or part-time at an approved site for the duration of their service commitment.


    Recipients must not have any federal judgment liens; have defaulted on any federal payment obligations including student loans; have any federal or non-federal debt written off as uncollectible; have a waiver of any federal payment obligation.


    Recipients must apply the SLRP loan repayment to qualifying debt.

  • Providers Considered Ineligible

    • With federal breach of contract for a previous service obligation,

    • Who are not practicing the eligible specialties,

    • Holding J-1 visa waivers,

    • With current contractual service obligation with federal government, state, or other entity, including loan repayment from other sources (i.e., Primary Care Loans through HHS, HRSA, Bureau of Health Professions) and/or be on a contract to receive a sign-on bonus,

    • Actively training in a residency and/or fellowship program and not in final year of training,

    • Working under clinical hour requirements and not in final year of training.

  • The CT SLRP will promote the recruitment and retention of providers to sustain a growing primary healthcare workforce working with medically underserved populations.

  • In exchange for loan repayment, individuals agree to provide primary healthcare services in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) of greatest need.

  • The length of service commitment is expected to equal 2 years. The renewal of commitment into concurrent term is dependent on availability of funding.

  • Penalty for breaking contractual obligation: the amount of time obligated and the time NOT SERVED, multiplied by $7,500, plus interest/fees (refer to NHSC policy for more).

Recipients must be United States citizens or nationals (naturalized citizens), legally authorized to work in the United States, and must practice in Connecticut.


Recipients must work at eligible practice sites.


Practitioners must provide direct patient care full-time or part-time at an approved site for the duration of their service commitment.


Recipients must not have any federal judgment liens; have defaulted on any federal payment obligations including student loans; have any federal or non-federal debt written off as uncollectible; have a waiver of any federal payment obligation.


Recipients must apply the SLRP loan repayment to qualifying debt.


  • With federal breach of contract for a previous service obligation,

  • Who are not practicing the eligible specialties,

  • Holding J-1 visa waivers,

  • With current contractual service obligation with federal government, state, or other entity, including loan repayment from other sources (i.e., Primary Care Loans through HHS, HRSA, Bureau of Health Professions) and/or be on a contract to receive a sign-on bonus,

  • Actively training in a residency and/or fellowship program and not in final year of training,

  • Working under clinical hour requirements and not in final year of training.

CT STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

Service Commitment

Full-Time Option

  • For all health professionals, except as noted below: 36 hours/week providing patient care at an SLRP-approved site.

  • View the NHSC LRP APG for the discipline specific full-time clinical practice requirements.

  • No more than 8 hours/week may be spent in a teaching capacity or performing clinical-related administrative activities (limited to 4 hours/week).


Half-Time Option

  • For all health professionals, except as noted below: 18 hours/week providing direct patient care at an SLRP-approved site.

  • View the NHSC LRP APG for the discipline specific half-time clinical practice requirements.

  • No more than 4 hours/week may be spent in a teaching capacity of performing clinical-related administrative activities (limited to 2 hours/week).

Eligible Specialties Within Primary Care and Behavioral Health

  • Primary Care (Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics)
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology
  • Geriatrics
  • Psychiatry/Psychologists
  • Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs)
  • Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)
  • Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM)
  • Pharmacists
  • Psychiatric Nurse Specialists (PNS)
CT STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

Eligible Sites and Employer Expectations

  • CT SLRP Eligible Site Requirements

    Public and non-profit private entities located in and providing healthcare services in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area.


    Sites must accept Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and see all patients regardless of their ability to pay.


    Eligible practice sites must charge for professional services at the usual and customary prevailing rates, except free clinics.


    Eligible practice sites must provide discounts for individuals with limited incomes (a sliding-fee scale).


  • CT SLRP Applicant Employer Expectations

    Provide certification of SLRP clinician’s 1) eligibility to practice: license verification from National Practitioner Data Bank; 2) citizenship; 3) monthly employment certification (hours, F/T and P/T, patient care vs. administrative, etc.) 4) related Field Strength data as required by HRSA.


    Promote CT SLRP as well as HRSA Loan Repayment opportunities to current and potential employees.


    Provide on-site space for meetings with potential CT SLRP applicants and CT AHEC personnel.


  • CT SLRP Eligible Practice Sites

    Federally qualified health centers (FQHC)

    FQHC look-alike facilities

    Rural health clinics

    Community outpatient facilities

    Community mental health facilities

    State and county health department clinics

    Free clinics

    Mobile units

    School-based programs

    Critical access hospitals affiliated with qualified outpatient clinics

    State mental health facilities

    Indian health service facilities

    Tribally-operated 638 health programs

    Urban Indian health program

    Correctional or detention facilities

    Private practices (solo or group - must meet certain stipulations)

    State Operated Facilities

  • Public and non-profit private entities located in and providing healthcare services in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area.

  • Sites must accept Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and see all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

  • Eligible practice sites must charge for professional services at the usual and customary prevailing rates, except free clinics.

  • Eligible practice sites must provide discounts for individuals with limited incomes (a sliding-fee scale).

  • Provide certification of SLRP clinician’s 1) eligibility to practice: license verification from National Practitioner Data Bank; 2) citizenship; 3) monthly employment certification (hours, F/T and P/T, patient care vs. administrative, etc.) 4) related Field Strength data as required by HRSA.

  • Promote CT SLRP as well as HRSA Loan Repayment opportunities to current and potential employees.

  • Provide on-site space for meetings with potential CT SLRP applicants and CT AHEC personnel.

  • Federally qualified health centers (FQHC)
  • FQHC look-alike facilities
  • Rural health clinics
  • Community outpatient facilities
  • Community mental health facilities
  • State and county health department clinics
  • Free clinics
  • Mobile units
  • School-based programs
  • Critical access hospitals affiliated with qualified outpatient clinics
  • State mental health facilities
  • Indian health service facilities
  • Tribally-operated 638 health programs
  • Urban Indian health program
  • Correctional or detention facilities
  • Private practices (solo or group - must meet certain stipulations)
  • State Operated Facilities