The Hawai‘i/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center is pleased to announce the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program (HELP), funded by the Hawai‘i State Legislature. HELP provides qualified educational loan debt repayment to health professionals licensed, or otherwise certified, to practice in and provide care to patients in Hawai‘i. The Internal Revenue Service defines Qualified Educational Loans under 26 USC 221(d)(1). The State expects HELP to help improve the number of providers in medically underserved areas of Hawai‘i, as well as improve the recruitment and retention of healthcare workers caring for the people of Hawai‘i by lessening the burden of large educational debt.
To qualify for HELP, applicants must be (or must become) a healthcare professional licensed or otherwise certified in Hawai‘i who provides clinical care to human patients living in Hawai‘i and accepts public insurance for at least 30% of their patient care claims. This can be measured in two ways as described in Section G of this document. For HELP purposes, the following are considered public insurance: Medicare Fee For Service, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Fee For Service, QUEST Integration (Med-QUEST), Veterans Administration, and TRICARE.
Interns, residents, or fellows currently in professional training in one of the recognized health professions may apply. Terms of loan repayment and other HELP programmatic terms and conditions may differ from already licensed or certified healthcare professionals.
Awarded participants will be selected by a subcommittee of the HELP Steering Committee.
All applicants who are selected for the HELP program and choose to participate are obligated to commit to a minimum of two (2) years of full-time or half-time service at a site serving patients in Hawai‘i. In addition to caring for the community they serve, participants are encouraged to be involved with workforce development activities, including health career recruitment, teaching, or community health outreach.
Funding will be secured for the full contract amount. After the initial contract period, participants may be eligible to extend their contract. However, as this is a state-funded program, continuation from year to year is subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the state legislature.
Contracts will be awarded on a competitive basis. The highest priority will be given to primary care providers and behavioral health providers working throughout the state, specialists in rural Hawai’i, and individuals in residency programs as defined by Hawai’i Revised Statutes 1B-1. Priority will also be given to other healthcare providers working in professions and areas for which there is a documented shortage.
The following documents MUST BE submitted for an application package to be considered complete:
Completed Online Application, including all parts. The following must be submitted via Dropbox link:
*If the practice site is not finalized, please contact the AHEC Office.
*An employment start date is required.
If you have read through the instructions and are ready to apply, click here to submit an online application.
