Health division awards grants

The Utah Department of Health has awarded $422,900 in grants to health care professionals under the Utah Health Care Workforce Financial Assistance Program, which increases the number of health care professionals in underserved areas by providing financial assistance to repay loans taken for educational expenses. In exchange, the professionals agree to serve for a specific period of time at an approved site serving underserved populations.

The program operates on a competitive basis, using a statutory committee to review and make recommendations for awards. Both the health care professional and the employment site must qualify and apply to be considered. Health care professionals eligible to apply include general dentists, primary care physicians, primary care midlevel practitioners, nurses and mental health therapists. Employment sites that serve a large proportion of medically-underserved populations and have a difficult time recruiting and/or retaining health care professionals are eligible. They must accept Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP and PCN to be eligible.

This fiscal year, 97 health care professionals applied to the Program, and 30 were awarded a total of $422,900 in funding for a minimum two-year service obligation.

For more information on the program, contact the UDOH at 801-538-6214 or visit online at health.utah.gov/primarycare/scholarloanmenu.html.