SSM Health - Illinois
Overview
SSM Health is committed to the health and well-being of the communities in which it serves. SSM Health has made extensive effort to lay the groundwork to acquire three types of federal designations for counties in Illinois. These designations, known as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), open the door to benefits such as federal and state funded student loan repayment programs and grants for physicians, advanced practitioners, and nurses. The goal of this initiative is to promote access to quality healthcare in the surrounding service area by recruiting and retaining clinicians like you. Together with its team of healthcare providers, SSM Health will continue to offer excellent care in a compassionate environment.
SSM Health encourages its healthcare providers to contact our team of experts at HPSA Acumen to determine the eligibility and opportunity for loan repayment awards. An individual consultation can be scheduled with us at the bottom of this webpage.
HPSAs are designations that indicate healthcare 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 Illinois counties.
Primary Care HPSAs – Illinois
Mental Health HPSAs – Illinois
Dental Health HPSAs – Illinois
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 your specific shortage designations.
Loan repayment opportunities are possible because SSM Health forged new partnerships and secured HPSAs in this region. Loan repayment is just one benefit that acknowledges you, the providers, as the driving force that makes healthcare possible in your community. SSM Health truly appreciates working with you.
Programs available to eligible SSM Health primary care and mental health providers:
Physicians – National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, Illinois Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Program, Illinois Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program (Psychiatrists Only)
Advanced Practitioners – National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (nurses only), Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners Only), Illinois Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Program, Illinois Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program
Registered Nurses – Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program, Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program
Mental Health Providers – National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, Illinois Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program
What do these loan repayment programs offer?
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – Advanced Practice Nurses and Registered Nurses may be eligible to apply for loan repayment worth up to 85% off their student loan balance in return for working at a Critical Shortage Facility, like our hospital.
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program – Primary Care Professionals may be eligible for up to $75,000 and Mental Health or Dental Health Professionals may be eligible for up to $50,000, plus a one-time Spanish language award enhancement of $5,000, in return for a 2-year service commitment at an NHSC-certified site. 1-year extension contracts are available for the remaining student loan balance.
Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program – Healthcare professionals providing direct treatment or recovery support of patients with or in recovery from a substance use disorder including but not limited to Physicians, Clinicians, Bachelor’s-level Substance Use Disorder Counselors, Behavioral Health Paraprofessionals, and Clinical Support Staff may be eligible for up to $250,000 for a 6-year service commitment at a STAR-certified site.
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 discipline types include Physicians, Psychologists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed or Certified Master’s Level Social Workers, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Substance Use Disorder Counselors working in a pediatric medical subspeciality, 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.
Illinois Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Program (UHCWP) – General Pediatricians, General Internists, Emergency Medical Physicians, Family Physicians, General Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, Obstetricians, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants, and Chiropractors are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in exchange for a 2-year service commitment.
Illinois Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program – Psychiatrists, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Psychologists (Psy.D or PhD.), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors, and other qualifying mental health professionals may be eligible to receive up to $40,000 (depending on profession) in exchange for a 1-year service commitment.
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]