Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program for Registered Nurses Entering Employment at Eligible Health Facilities (93.908)
Program
93.908 Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program for Registered Nurses Entering Employment at Eligible Health Facilities
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Health Resources and Services Administration
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Section 846, as amended, Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002, Public Law 107-205.
Program Number
93.908
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To assist in the recruitment and retention of professional registered nurses (RN) in approved critical shortage areas to increase access to quality health care by offering loan repayment in return for full-time service at an eligible health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses.
Types of Assistance
DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED USE
Uses and Use Restrictions
The program offers Registered Nurses (RN) substantial economic assistance to repay their qualifying educational loans in exchange for full-time service at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses. Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) participants enter into a contract agreeing to provide full-time service at an approved Critical Shortage Facility (CSF) for two years. In return, NELRP will pay 30 percent of the participant's total qualifying loan balance each year (total of 60 percent). A participant may be eligible to amend his/her two-year NELRP contract to serve for a third (optional) year at a CSF. If a participant works full-time for a third year in a CSF, the NELRP will pay an additional 25 percent of the participant's original qualifying loan balance, bringing the total to 85 percent of eligible loan balances. Critical Shortage Facilities currently include, but are not limited to, Indian Health Service health centers, hospitals, Federal Hospitals, Federally Qualified health centers, Native Hawaiian health centers, rural health clinics, nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice programs, State or local public health departments, and ambulatory surgical centers.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Individuals who satisfy the following criteria are eligible to apply: (1) have received a baccalaureate or associate degree in nursing (or an equivalent degree), a diploma in nursing or a graduate degree in nursing; (2) have unpaid qualifying loans obtained for nursing education; (3) a U.S. citizen, national or a permanent legal resident of the United States; (4) employed full-time (32 hours or more per week) at a critical shortage facility (CSF); (5) have a current unrestricted license in the State in which they intend to practice or be authorized to practice in the State under the Nurse Licensure Compact; and (6) submit a complete application, including a signed contract to work full-time as a registered or advanced practice nurse for 2 years at an eligible health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Beneficiaries include registered nurses who have received a diploma, an associate degree, a baccalaureate degree or a graduate degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants should review the individual HRSA Guidance documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov.
All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions
Award Procedure
Once a determination has been made as to who will receive an award, that individual will be accepted into the program. The individual will be notified in writing and be sent a copy of their signed contract of his/her acceptance.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 5 months.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Renewals for the third year of service will be considered based on the availability of funds.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Loan repayments for 1 year of obligated service will be made no later than the end of the Federal fiscal year in which the individual completes such year of service. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Direct Deposit into recipients account through PSC.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
The employing CSF must complete and send to the NELRP a semi- annual certification that the participating nurse has engaged in a year of full-time continuous service as a registered nurse. The certification includes an endorsement by an appropriate official of the facility. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.
Audits
Not Applicable.
Records
None.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: Awards made for the following year: FY 08, 424. The estimate for FY 09 is 454. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0350-0-1-550.
Obligations
(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 08 $18,901,576; FY 09 est $20,190,324; FY 10 est $73,626,934
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$20,000 to $150,000, with an average award being $42,574.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Not Applicable.
Related Programs
93.162 National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program; 93.164 Indian Health Service Educational Loan Repayment; 93.364 Nursing Student Loans
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program, Division of Applications and Awards, Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (BCRS), Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-36, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 594-4130.
Headquarters Office
Division of Applications and Awards 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-37, Rockville, Maryland 20857 Phone: (301) 594-4130
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: Loan Repayments for education costs made to registered nurses in health care facilities with a critical shortage of nurses. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Funding preference is defined as the funding of a specific category of group of approved applicants ahead of other categories or groups of approved applicants. As provided in section 846(e) of the PHS Act, as amended, a funding preference is given to eligible applicants with the greatest financial need. Awards are made to the highest ranked applicants until funds are expended. Please review the HRSA Preview or BCRS website at www.hrsa.gov for important information regarding funding preferences.
