Oklahoma health department launches loan repayment plan for healthcare jobs amid shortage

Alexia Aston, The Oklahoman
·2 min read

The Oklahoma State Department of Health announced the launch of a state loan repayment plan last week for healthcare professionals in shortage areas.

The program, called the OK Health Corps, will award $35,000-$50,000 to healthcare professionals in exchange for a two-year service commitment at certified community-based facilities, according to a press release.

OSDH's program is hosted in partnership with the Office of Primary Care, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the National Health Service Corps.

“We want to support the health workforce and increase access to health care in Oklahoma,” Jana Castleberry, director of the OSDH Primary Care Office, said in a release. “We hope this program provides incentives for health care providers to practice in areas of the state that experience significant shortages of health professionals.”

Eligible disciplines include:

  • Certified nurse midwife

  • Clinical psychologist

  • Licensed alcohol and drug counselor

  • Licensed behavioral practitioner

  • Licensed clinical social worker

  • Licensed marriage and family therapist

  • Licensed professional counselor

  • Nurse practitioner

  • Pharmacist in behavioral health settings

  • Physician assistant (urban only)

  • Psychiatrist

  • Registered nurse in behavioral health settings

The criteria for eligible healthcare facilities include:

  • Approval as an NHSC-certified site before any current OK Health Corps participant beginning their service commitment, or be contracted with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to provide outpatient behavioral health services.

  • Being located in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area, or assigned a facility score by the Bureau of Primary Health Care.

  • ODMHSAS-contracted facilities that aren't certified by NHSC are considered as conditional eligibility and must apply for National Health Service Corps Certification during the first year of participation with OK Health Corps.

According to the release, awards will be prioritized to providers addressing mental health and substance abuse disorders in Oklahoma, with a preference for behavioral health providers working in community mental health centers, substance use disorder treatment facilities, community health centers and Tribal health facilities.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OK Health Corps program to repay loans for health jobs amid shortage