UnityPoint Health Network
Overview
UnityPoint Health Network is committed to the health and well-being of the communities, which it serves. UnityPoint Health Network has made extensive efforts to lay the groundwork to acquire three types of federal designations for counties in Iowa and 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, UnityPoint Health Network will continue to offer excellent care in a compassionate environment.
UnityPoint Health Network encourages its healthcare providers to contact our team of experts at HPSA Acumen to determine eligibility and opportunities for loan repayment awards. An individual consultation can be scheduled with us at the bottom of this webpage.
What is a HPSA?
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 indicating the greatest shortage. The maps below outline each type of HPSA for counties in Iowa and 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 most. Here are the benefits available in your specific shortage designations.
Loan repayment opportunities are possible because UnityPoint Health Network has forged new partnerships and secured HPSAs in this region. Loan repayment is just one benefit that acknowledges you, the provider, as the driving force that makes healthcare possible in your community. UnityPoint Health Network truly appreciates working with you.
Programs available to eligible UnityPoint Health Network primary care and mental health providers:
Physicians – Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, Illinois Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Program
Advanced Practitioners – 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, Iowa Health Care Award Program
Registered Nurses – Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program, Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Iowa Health Care Award Program
Mental Health Providers – Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, Illinois Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program, Iowa Mental Health 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% of their student loan balance in return for working at a Critical Shortage Facility, like our hospital.
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 six-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 three-year service commitment. Eligible disciplines 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 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 list of specialties and subspecialties for Physicians.
Illinois Underserved Health Care Provider Workforce Program – General Pediatricians, General Internists, Emergency Medical Physicians, Family Physicians, General Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, Obstetricians, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants, and Chiropractors may be eligible to receive up to $50,000 in exchange for a 2-year service commitment.
Iowa Health Care Award Program – Physician Assistants, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Nurse Educators may be eligible for up to $6,000 yearly for up to a 5-year service commitment.
Iowa Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program – Non-prescribing practitioners who have at least a Master’s Degree in a mental health field from an Iowa University in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Mental Health Counseling, and provide mental health services to patients on a full-time basis may be eligible for loan repayment up to $40,000 for up to five consecutive years.
Illinois Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program – Psychiatrists, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants, Psychologists (Psy.D or PhD.), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Certified Recovery Support Specialists, 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]