Rhode Island Educational Loan Repayment Program for Primary Care Providers

The Rhode Island Primary Care Educational Loan Repayment program was established to ensure a stable and adequate supply of primary care physicians to meet the health care needs of Rhode Islanders, and is intended to recruit new primary care physicians into the state of Rhode Island. The program is a collaborative effort of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI), Rhode Island Area Health Education Center (AHEC), the Rhode Island Foundation, the Rhode Island Medical Society, and the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority. The physician program is funded by a grant by BCBSRI. The Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, as administrator, will make loan repayment awards in exchange for service commitments by health care physicians newly recruited to the state. Loan repayment recipients must have outstanding educational debt acquired in pursuit of an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college or university that exceeds the amount of the loan repayment award.
( View Program Announcement )

How do I qualify?
Licensed physicians (MDs or DOs) newly recruited to practice in Rhode Island and work in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine or Pediatrics are currently eligible to apply.

The Rhode Island Primary Care Educational Loan Repayment Committee will be making final decisions on who is awarded loan repayment and will determine loan forgiveness awards up to $20,000 annually for four years for individuals, for a total maximum award of $80,000. Eligible physicians must provide an average of 32 hours of direct patient care per week during each year of service.

Awards go directly to pay educational loans and cannot exceed candidate level of educational debt.

How do I apply?
You can download an application for loan forgiveness here. Once you have completed the form, please return it to Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, 560 Jefferson Blvd. Suite 200, Warwick, RI 02886-1371.

More questions about the program?
Please download our Frequently Asked Questions or submit your questions in writing to primarycareforgiveness@risla.com.