The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced the launch of a new loan repayment program that will help encourage medical professionals to work in the field of addiction. The program, similar to others in the field of medicine and public service such as education, will reward medical students who pledge to work full-time in the addiction field for at least six years.
HRSA has dedicated 28 million dollars to the program.
Helping Bridge Gaps in Addiction Medicine
The money will help encourage more medical students and health care professionals to spend time in the addiction industry while also paying for their education.
“We commend Congress and the HRSA for their steadfast support of the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, which will strengthen our country’s addiction treatment infrastructure and ultimately save lives,” said Dr. William Haning, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. “With national drug overdose deaths at record levels, there are still too few healthcare providers with both the requisite knowledge and training to prevent, identify, and treat addiction. We must meet the magnitude of the crisis proportionately by bolstering the addiction treatment workforce and expanding access to evidence-based treatments. The energies that we dedicate to this class of illnesses will be reflected in the health and happiness of millions of Americans initially – and ultimately, by example, across the world.”
Applying for Funding for Loan Forgiveness
You do not need to be a recent graduate to apply for the program. Funds can be applied for starting June 8. The Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR-LRP) can help repay up to $250,000 in eligible educational loans to healthcare professionals who can pledge a six-year, full-time minimum service commitment in the addiction field.
The loan repayment program is available to a variety of professionals within the addiction field, including “psychiatrists, psychologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, licensed social workers, and peer recovery specialists.”
The funds are supported via the landmark SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act of 2018.
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