January 12, 2025 – The New York State Department of Health is accepting applications for the Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program.

The Health Care Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program is a Medicaid workforce initiative authorized under New York’s 1115 Demonstration Waiver, which aims to address shortages in high-demand health care roles and boost the availability of critical providers in the health care workforce. This program offers student loan repayment assistance to providers in the eligible titles, listed below, who make a four-year commitment to maintain a personal practice panel or work at an organization where at least 30% of the patient panel are Medicaid enrollees and/or uninsured individuals, or that is contracted with a state-designated Social Care Network (SCN) and providing Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) screening, referrals, and/or services (New York’s Special Terms and Conditions).

The goals of the HEALR Program are to:

  • Improve access to critical services for Medicaid members.
  • Attract exceptional providers dedicated to delivering high-quality services to Medicaid members throughout the state.
  • Strengthen the availability and capacity of the health care workforce in New York State.
  • Reduce awardees educational debt to boost provider recruitment and retention

By working at a qualified service commitment site, participants in the HEALR Program will receive awards paid directly to their loan servicer(s). The HEALR Program will increase awardees’ financial stability while they make a valuable contribution to communities in need and help to bridge gaps in access to quality care across New York State.

There are two ways to apply for this program:

  1. Individual applications: Eligible individuals may apply on their own. See eligibility criteria below. Individual applications are due at 11:59 pm on April 15, 2026.

  2. Employer applications: Employers that have been approved as service commitment sites may initiate up to five applications on behalf of their staff. Those individuals will then be sent a link to a pre-filled application where they will verify the information provided by the employer, complete any remaining sections, and submit the final application. Employer-initiated applications are due at 11:59 pm on March 31, 2026; employees must complete the final application by 11:59 pm on April 15, 2026.

Awards are limited; those interested in participating in the program are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Learn more, see if you’re eligible, and apply: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/med_waiver_1115/healr/

Note: This program is administered by NYS DOH, not FLPPS.