Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 18 011
The State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) is a federal grant opportunity run by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its core aim is to strengthen the primary care workforce in underserved areas by giving states and territories funding to operate their own educational loan repayment programs. Rather than paying individual clinicians directly from the federal level, HRSA funds state-run programs, and those state programs then provide loan repayment awards to eligible health care providers who agree to serve in communities that have been designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). In practical terms, SLRP is designed to help communities that struggle to recruit and retain clinicians by making service in those areas financially more realistic for professionals carrying student debt.
Under this opportunity, eligible applicants are the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Awards are structured as grants (a discretionary funding mechanism) under CFDA 93.165. HRSA anticipated making approximately 45 awards under this funding cycle (Funding Opportunity Number HRSA-18-011; created February 28, 2018; original closing date May 7, 2018). The program emphasizes that states have flexibility: they can decide which health disciplines to prioritize and which HPSA service sites best match their specific workforce gaps. This is important because workforce needs look different across states, rural versus urban settings, and different types of safety-net providers.
A central feature of SLRP is the service-for-loan-repayment model. Health care providers receive loan repayment assistance in exchange for committing to practice in underserved communities. The expectation is that by tying loan repayment to a service obligation, states can increase access to essential primary care and related services in areas that otherwise face chronic shortages. Because the program is administered by states, they can tailor the details of their loan repayment offerings, including which types of provider roles and which practice settings are most urgently needed.
This particular notice of funding opportunity also signals HRSA priorities for how states might think about using SLRP to address pressing public health challenges. HRSA encourages applicants to consider directing support toward clinical needs connected to the opioid crisis and behavioral health, including mental health conditions and substance use treatment. The intention is to help states align their workforce incentives with high-impact needs, especially in underserved communities where opioid use disorder and co-occurring mental health issues may be prevalent and where treatment capacity is often limited.
One notable expansion in this funding announcement is that SLRP-supported disciplines were broadened to include masters-level, licensed alcohol and substance abuse counselors. This change reflects a wider recognition that addressing opioid misuse and substance use disorders requires a broader care team, not only traditional primary care clinicians. By allowing states to include these counselors among eligible disciplines, the program gives states another lever to expand treatment capacity and strengthen behavioral health services in shortage areas.
In summary, SLRP (HRSA-18-011) provides federal grant funding to states, DC, and U.S. territories to run tailored loan repayment programs that incentivize health professionals to work in HPSAs. It is workforce-focused, state-directed, and designed to improve access to primary care and related services in underserved communities, with an explicit encouragement to support opioid and mental health priorities and an expanded eligibility that includes masters-level, licensed alcohol and substance abuse counselors.Apply for HRSA 18 011
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.165.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 28, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 45 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), HRSA-18-011
What is the State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)?
The State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) is a federal grant opportunity administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its purpose is to strengthen the primary care workforce in underserved areas by providing funding to states and territories so they can run their own educational loan repayment programs.
What is the main goal of SLRP?
SLRP is designed to help underserved communities recruit and retain health care providers. It does this by making it more financially realistic for clinicians with student debt to practice in areas that have chronic health workforce shortages.
Who receives the federal grant funding under SLRP?
SLRP awards are made to governments: the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. HRSA funds state- and territory-run programs rather than paying individual clinicians directly at the federal level.
Does HRSA pay loan repayment directly to clinicians?
No. Under SLRP, HRSA provides grant funding to states and territories, and those state/territory programs then provide loan repayment awards to eligible health care providers who meet the program requirements.
Who are the eligible applicants for this opportunity?
Eligible applicants are the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
What kind of funding mechanism is used for SLRP awards?
Awards are structured as grants using a discretionary funding mechanism.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number listed for SLRP is 93.165.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) identified in the notice is HRSA-18-011.
How many awards were anticipated for this funding cycle?
HRSA anticipated making approximately 45 awards under this funding cycle.
When was this funding opportunity created and when did it close?
This funding opportunity (HRSA-18-011) was created on February 28, 2018, and the original closing date was May 7, 2018.
How does the SLRP model work?
SLRP uses a service-for-loan-repayment model. Health care providers receive educational loan repayment assistance in exchange for committing to practice in underserved communities. The service obligation is tied to practice in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Where must providers serve to receive SLRP loan repayment support?
Providers supported through SLRP must serve in communities that have been designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
What is a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) in the context of SLRP?
In the context of SLRP, HPSAs are designated communities where access to health care professionals is limited due to shortages. SLRP loan repayment is tied to service in these shortage areas.
How much flexibility do states have in designing their SLRP programs?
The program emphasizes state flexibility. States and territories can decide which health disciplines to prioritize and which HPSA service sites best match their particular workforce gaps, reflecting differences across rural and urban areas and among safety-net provider settings.
Can states choose which disciplines and service sites to prioritize?
Yes. A key feature of SLRP is that states can tailor their program to address their specific workforce needs by prioritizing certain health disciplines and selecting HPSA service sites that align with local shortages.
What kinds of workforce needs is SLRP meant to address?
SLRP focuses on addressing chronic clinician shortages in underserved communities, with an emphasis on strengthening access to essential primary care and related services in areas that struggle to recruit and retain providers.
Does this funding opportunity mention any public health priorities?
Yes. HRSA encourages applicants to consider directing SLRP support toward needs connected to the opioid crisis and behavioral health, including mental health conditions and substance use treatment, especially in underserved communities where treatment capacity is often limited.
How does SLRP relate to the opioid crisis and behavioral health needs?
The notice encourages states to align workforce incentives with high-impact needs related to opioid use disorder and behavioral health. This includes supporting clinicians and services that expand access to substance use treatment and mental health care in shortage areas.
What expansion of eligible disciplines is highlighted in this funding announcement?
The funding announcement notes an expansion to include masters-level, licensed alcohol and substance abuse counselors among the disciplines that states may support through SLRP.
Why were masters-level, licensed alcohol and substance abuse counselors added?
The change reflects recognition that responding to opioid misuse and substance use disorders requires a broader care team beyond traditional primary care roles. Including these counselors gives states another way to strengthen behavioral health services and expand treatment capacity in shortage areas.
Is SLRP a program for individuals to apply to HRSA directly?
Based on the information provided, SLRP is a federal grant opportunity for states, DC, and U.S. territories to operate their own loan repayment programs. HRSA funds state-run programs rather than providing awards directly to individual clinicians from the federal level.
What types of communities benefit from SLRP?
SLRP is intended to benefit underserved communities, particularly those designated as HPSAs, where there are persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining health care providers.
What is the practical benefit of tying loan repayment to a service obligation?
Linking loan repayment to a service commitment is intended to increase access to essential care in shortage areas by making it more feasible for providers with educational debt to practice in communities that otherwise face chronic shortages.
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