UMC of El Paso - El Paso County
Overview
In an effort to invest in our healthcare providers, UMC of El Paso put in extensive effort to lay the groundwork for three types of federal designations for our county. We are now a recognized Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). This opens the doors for benefits such as federal and state funded student loan forgiveness for physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, and mental health professionals. Along with our healthcare providers, UMC of El Paso is committed to the health and wellbeing of our community with the hopes that through this recruitment and retention initiative, we can boost access to healthcare in our county.
What is a HPSA?
HPSAs are designations that indicate health care provider shortages in three platforms of health: primary care, mental health, and dental health. Each platform of health receives its own designation. Each designation is scored to show the severity of the shortage. Scores range from 0 to 25, with 25 having the greatest shortage. The maps below outline each type of HPSA for El Paso County, TX.
In a Primary Care HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: LI - East El Paso SA
ID: 1484023385
Designation Type: Low Income Population
Status: Designated
HPSA Score: 17
Designation Date: 09/21/2020
Last Update Date: 07/02/2021
In a Mental Health HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: LI - MHCA - El Paso County
ID: 7488864050
Designation Type: Low Income Population
Status: Designated
HPSA Score: 18
Designation Date: 07/30/2021
Last Update Date: 07/30/2021
In a Dental Health HPSA: Yes
HPSA Name: LI-Central El Paso
ID: 6484310296
Designation Type: Low Income Population
Status: Designated
HPSA Score: 17
Designation Date: 08/12/2019
Last Update Date: 09/10/2021
What are the benefits of a HPSA?
In an effort to boost provider recruitment and retention in these often-rural shortage areas, benefits have been established to help build healthcare access to those who need it the most. Here are the benefits available in our specific shortage designations.
Loan repayment opportunities are possible because UMC of El Paso forged new partnerships and secured HPSAs in this region. Loan repayment is just one benefit that acknowledges you as the driving force that makes healthcare possible in our community. UMC of El Paso truly appreciates working with you.
Programs available to eligible UMC of El Paso primary care and mental health providers:
Physicians – Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, Texas Physician Education Loan Repayment Program
Advanced Practitioners – Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (Nurses Only), Texas Loan Repayment Program for Mental Health Professionals (PSYCH or Mental Health APRNs Only)
Registered Nurses – Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
Mental Health Providers – Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (Nurses Only), Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, Texas Loan Repayment Program for Mental Health Professionals
What do these loan repayment programs offer?
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – Advanced practice nurses and registered nurses working at least 32 hours per week may be eligible to apply for loan repayment worth up to 85% of their student loan balance in return for working at a Critical Shortage Facility like our hospital.
Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program – Providers working full-time with pediatric patients may be eligible to receive up to $100,000 in loan repayment in return for a 3-year service commitment. Eligible types include: Physicians, Psychologists, LCSWs, LSWs, LCMSWs, Psychiatric NPs, MFTs, LPCs, and SUD Counselors working in a pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, as a child or adolescent psychiatrist, or behavioral health providers working in pediatrics or substance use disorder services. Please refer to program guidelines for a full list of specialties and subspecialties.
Texas Physician Education Loan Repayment Program – Physicians (MDs and DOs) who are practicing primary care in family medicine, general medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, psychiatry, geriatrics, or other area of critical need can receive loan repayment up to $180,000 in return for a 4-year service commitment. Physicians must be working in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).
Texas Loan Repayment Program for Mental Health Professionals – Mental health professionals may be awarded up to $10,000 - $160,000 in return for a 5-year service commitment at their practice site located in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).
To find out if your address is located in this HPSA designation, please visit the following website:
https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/shortage-area/by-address
For more information, please contact:
HPSA Acumen’s Benefit Support Specialists are available to you:
716.483.0888 ext. 206
Email us here at [email protected]
Facility Contact Information:
Monica Armendariz
Training and Development Manager
University Medical Center of El Paso
Phone: 915-521-7037
Email: [email protected]