The U.S. Health and Human Services announced a new $15 million loan repayment program to strengthen the pediatric health care workforce.
The new Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, aims to attract and keep clinicians who treat children and adolescents, according to a June 9 news release.
"In order to improve access to care for children and young people in underserved areas, we need to expand the health care workforce," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the release. "Through the Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program, we will be able to recruit and train new doctors, nurses, counselors and other health professionals and improve health outcomes for young people.”
The Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program offers up to $100,000 to qualified clinicians providing pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty or child and adolescent behavioral health care, including substance use prevention and treatment services, in exchange for three years of service working in a health professional shortage area, medically underserved are, or providing care to a medically underserved population, the release reported.
Applications must be submitted by 7:30 p.m. ET July 20, the release said.
The goal of the children Specialty Loan Repayment Program is to provide access to children subspecialty care nationwide, including for behavioral health requirements, according to the release. By providing chances in a variety of fields that benefit children, including neonatal-perinatal medicine and pediatric cardiology, the program also supports HRSA's already-existing loan forgiveness and scholarship programs.
“At the Health Resources and Services Administration, we are focused on recruiting and training the next generation of the health care workforce, yet we know that the cost of medical training can be a barrier for far too many people," HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson said in the release. "That is why we are excited to launch this new loan repayment program specifically focused on supporting pediatric clinicians.”
