1. (1) In selecting a recipient for a loan repayment grant award, the department shall evaluate each applicant based on:

   1. (a) the applicant's:

      1. (i) ability and willingness to provide care, regardless of a patient's ability to pay;
      2. (ii) academic standing;
      3. (iii) achieving an early match with an approved site;
      4. (iv) board certification or eligibility;
      5. (v) financial need;
      6. (vi) peer recommendations;
      7. (vii) postgraduate training achievements;
      8. (viii) prior professional or personal experience serving in an underserved area;
      9. (ix) willingness to serve patients who are without insurance or who are insured by government programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP; and
      10. (x) other demonstrable facts that establish the applicant's professional competence or conduct;

   2. (b) the applicant's commitment to serve in an underserved area, demonstrated through:

      1. (i) work or volunteer experience at:

         1. (A) a community or migrant health center;
         2. (B) a geriatric clinic;
         3. (C) a homeless shelter;
         4. (D) a public health department clinic; or
         5. (E) any other service commitment to a medically underserved population;
      2. (ii) work or educational experience with a geriatric or medically underserved population through AmeriCorps VISTA, the Peace Corps, or a similar volunteer agency;
      3. (iii) language skills essential for the provision of health care services to a medically underserved population;
      4. (iv) any other demonstrable fact or experience that establishes the applicant's commitment to serve in an underserved area; and
      5. (v) the availability of the applicant to begin service, with the department giving greater consideration to an applicant available for earlier service dates; and
   3. (c) the approved site's need for a healthcare professional who has training in the applicant's health care specialty;

2. (2) To be considered eligible for a loan repayment grant, an applicant must:

   1. (a) apply for the grant within 18 months of the start of an applicant's employment at an approved site; and
   2. (b) be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
3. (3) The applicant shall submit a written commitment from the health care facility employing the applicant that the facility will provide the employer contribution in an amount equal to 20% of the loan repayment grant amount awarded by the department.
4. (4) The department may give priority to an applicant working at a publicly funded site.

KEY: medically underserved, grants, scholarships, Utah Health Care Workforce Advisory Committee

Date of Last Change: July 1, 2025

Notice of Continuation: May 6, 2024

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26B-1-202; 26B-4-702