Maryland Higher Education Commission

MARYLAND LOAN ASSISTANCE REPAYMENT PROGRAM

for PHYSICIANS (MLARP)

WHO MAY APPLY: Primary care physicians (including medical residents completing residency) in:

• General internal medicine
• Family medicine
• General pediatrics
• Obstetrics and gynecology, or
• General psychiatry

ELIGIBLE PRACTICE SITES: An eligible practice site is one operated as a public clinic by any federal, state, local governmental entity or a non-profit medical care facility that 1) treats all persons regardless of ability to pay, and 2) is located in a geographic region of Maryland that the Health Resources and Services Administration has designated as a HPSA (Primary Care HPSA for internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology; Mental HPSA for psychiatry).

HOW TO APPLY: Complete and file an application available from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).  Information and Application materials are available at the following Web links: http://fha.dhmh.maryland.gov/ohpp/SitePages/pco-larpforms.aspx  and http://fha.dhmh.maryland.gov/ohpp/SitePages/pco-larp.aspx

For information, please contact Elizabeth Vaidya by calling (410) 767-5695 or by e-mail at evaidya@maryland.gov

WHEN TO APPLY:

Application Enrollment Opens:  February 1 Application Deadline:  September 17

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants MUST meet the following requirements:

• have a medical degree (Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy) and completed residency training;

• be a primary care physician (that is, general internal medicine, family medicine, general pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, or general psychiatry);

• have a valid unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State of Maryland at the time the service obligation begins;

• be a citizen of the United States or be a U.S. National;

• be a resident of the State of Maryland at the time the service obligation begins;

• be employed full-time (at least 40 hours per week) at an eligible practice site;

• have not breached an obligation for service to a federal, state, or local governmental entity or another obligation for service even if the obligation was ultimately fulfilled;

• have no judgment lien against your property for a debt to the United States;

• not be excluded, debarred, suspended, or disqualified by a Federal agency;

• have no unserved obligations for service to a federal, state, local government, or other entity, with the exception of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Primary Care Loans, Exceptional Financial Need Scholarships, and Financial Assistance for Disadvantaged Health Professions Students;

• have no existing service obligation with any other loan repayment program;

• have outstanding higher education loan debt and NOT be in default on any eligible higher education loan;

• have no debts written off as uncollectible;

• have no service or payment obligation waived;

• have never violated court-ordered child support or been delinquent in child support payments; and

• practice at an eligible practice site.

FINANCIAL NEED

This award is not based on need.

AWARD AMOUNT

Up to $25,000 per year for a 2-year obligation.

RENEWING AN AWARD

A recipient may reapply for an award after completion of the first two year service obligation. A recipient’s total award amount cannot exceed $100,000, or two 2-year obligations at $25,000 per year.


SERVICE OBLIGATION

You must sign and return a promissory note and service obligation agreeing to serve full-time as a primary care physician in an underserved area in Maryland for a period of two to four years. You must be a resident of Maryland at the time the service obligation begins.  Physicians must begin their service obligation within three (3) months of the close of the fiscal year in which the contract is executed.  Medical residents must begin their service obligation within three (3) months of completion of training. You may not hold this award if you are currently serving another service obligation.

For further information please visit:

http://fha.dhmh.maryland.gov/ohpp/SitePages/pco-larp.aspx

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