ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • 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

CT STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

Frequently Asked Questions

CT STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

If you applied for the program, you may have some questions about what happens next.

Please take a look at the frequently asked questions (FAQ - Post Application) provided below. If you have a question that is not included in this list, please email the SLRP Team.

  • 1. Does CT SLRP have an application fee associated with the program?

    No, CT SLRP is a state/federal funded program that does not require an application fee. Any correspondence or request for information via email will come from an email address with uchc.edu. 


  • 2. When will I be notified of my status with the CT SLRP?

    Applicants will be notified by email on August 31, 2024.


    All applications will receive email notification of their status with CT SLRP August 31, 2024.


    For updates, please refer to the CT SLRP website, www.ctslrp.org . 


  • 3. Did everyone who applied to CT SLRP receive a loan repayment award?

    No, CT SLRP is a competitive program with finite award dollars and prescriptive qualifications. Eligible healthcare professionals are individuals providing primary care health services in ambulatory settings (medicine, dental, mental health). 


    Qualifications for eligible disciplines and facilities can be found at the CT SLRP website, www.ctslrp.org.


  • 4. Why did I have to provide support documents with my application?

    The CT SLRP team as administrators of the program, must verify all documents provided by applicants as per the CT DPH contract and guidelines.  

  • 5. Can I be in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program and the CT SLRP at the same time?

    No, awardees cannot participate in multiple loan repayment programs at the same time. 


    Dual enrollment will result in a financial penalty as well as disqualification.


  • 6. If awarded CT SLRP, do my prior years of employment count toward my 2-year service requirement?

    No.The service period starts with your official enrollment in CT SLRP.  This policy mirrors the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.

  • 7. When does the two-year commitment begin?

    09/16/24, upon the participant contract being signed and the employer memorandum of agreement signed/received.

  • 8. What is the next step after being awarded CT SLRP?

    CT SLRP will host an Orientation Program for awardees who will receive loan repayment. Monitor your emails and the CT SLRP website (www.ctslrp.org) for additional information.

  • 9. Will there be another round of funding for CT SLRP?

    At this time, we do not know if future funds will be available.


  • 10. Will eligible disciplines for future funding be expanded to include health professionals not currently eligible for CT SLRP?

    We do not know but will provide CT DPH and policy leaders with information regarding the number and type of CT SLRP applications from applicants whose disciplines are currently deemed ineligible.

  • 11. What is the best way for me to contact a member of the CT SLRP team?

    Please utilize the “Contact Us” feature on the CT SLRP website (www.ctslrp.org).  

  • 12. How do I find out about CME/CEU Courses?

    You have to register for  "My Portal" on the CT SLRP website.  Information about courses is included in the portal.