Wyo. Code R. 048-0050-2
Rural Health, Office of
Chapter 2: Wyoming Healthcare Professional Loan Repayment Program
Effective Date: 04/14/2016 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 048.0050.2.04142016
Section 1. Authority. These rules are promulgated by the Department of Health, Public Health Division, pursuant to W.S. §§ 9-2-118 and 119, and the Wyoming Administrative Procedures Act at W.S. § 16-3-101, et seq.
Section 2. Purpose and Applicability.
(a) These rules implement the Wyoming Healthcare Professional Loan Repayment Program which governs the award of grant funds to healthcare professionals to repay loans taken for educational expenses.
(b) The Department may issue manuals, bulletins, or both, to interpret the provisions of these Rules. Such manuals and bulletins shall be consistent with and reflect the policies contained in these Rules. The provisions contained in manuals or bulletins shall be subordinate to the provisions of these Rules.
Section 3. Severability. If any portion of these rules is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall continue in effect.
Section 4. Definitions. The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of these rules.
(a) “Allied Healthcare Professional” means an individual who is licensed or certified to practice in the state as defined under Wyoming Statutes, Title 33, Chapter 9 (Podiatrists), Chapter 10 (Chiropractors), Chapter 15 (Dental Hygienists), Chapter 21 (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurses Assistants), Chapter 23 (Optometrists), Chapter 24 (Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians), Chapter 25 (Physical Therapists), Chapter 26, Article 5 (Physician Assistants), Chapter 27 (Psychologists), Chapter 33 (Speech Pathologists and Audiologists), Chapter 34 (Laboratory Directors), Chapter 36 (Emergency Medical Technicians), Chapter 37 (Radiologic Technologists), Chapter 38 (Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Social Workers, and Chemical Dependency Specialists), Chapter 40 (Occupational Therapists), and Chapter 43 (Respiratory Care Practitioners).
“Dentist” means an individual licensed under Wyoming Statutes, Title 33, Chapter 15, excluding Dental Hygienists.
“Department” means the Wyoming Department of Health, Public Health Division.
“Physician” means an individual who is licensed to practice in the state under Wyoming Statutes, Title 33, Chapter 26, of the Wyoming Medical Practice Act.
(e) 'This Program' means the loan repayment programs authorized by W.S. § 9-2-118 and W.S. § 9-2-119.
(a) The Department may provide loan repayment grants to physicians, dentists, and allied healthcare professionals to repay loans taken for educational expenses in exchange for their agreement to provide full-time service at an approved practice location in the state for a period of three (3) years.
(b) Under either W.S. § 9-2-118 or W.S. § 9-2-119, loan repayment grants may be given only to repay bonafide loans that meet the following criteria:
(i) A commercial loan made by a bank, credit union, savings and loan association, insurance company, school, or credit institution; or
(ii) A governmental loan made by a federal, state, county, or city agency.
(iii) Educational loans may only include those costs related to the applicant's education in a healthcare profession, including the cost of books, education equipment, fees, materials, reasonable living expenses, supplies and tuition. Loans which include debt belonging to an individual other than the applicant or costs not associated with the applicant's healthcare professional education are not eligible for repayment under this Program.
(iv) Educational loans which are in default at the time of the healthcare professional's application for loan repayment are not eligible for repayment under this Program.
(c) Before receiving an award under this Program, the recipient shall enter into a contract with the Department agreeing to the conditions upon which the award is to be made. The contract shall include necessary conditions to carry out the purposes of this Program including, but not limited to: service obligation and reporting requirements; payment schedule and terms; and penalties for breach of contract pursuant to Section 7 of these Rules.
(d) In exchange for financial assistance under this Program, the recipient shall serve full-time for a minimum of three (3) years at a practice location approved by the Department.
(i) The recipient's three (3) year service obligation begins on the date the contract between the Department and the recipient is finalized or the first day of full-time service at the approved practice location, whichever is later. Periods of internship, preceptorship, or other clinical training do not satisfy the service obligation under this Program.
(ii) The recipient must be licensed, including a temporary license, or be certified to practice in the recipient's healthcare specialty in Wyoming before the recipient's first day of service under the contract.
(iii) The recipient must obtain approval from the Department of the practice location where the recipient will complete the service obligation.
(iv) Full-time is defined as working at least forty (40) hours per week. The Department, at its discretion, may consider less than forty (40) hours per week as full-time when the industry standard for full-time for the healthcare professional's discipline is less than forty (40) hours per week.
(e) The Department may not disburse any grant monies under this Program until the recipient's contract has been finalized and the recipient has performed at least six (6) months of full-time service at the approved practice location. The date on which the recipient's initial six (6) months of service begins is the first day of the recipient's three (3) year service obligation pursuant to Section 5(d)(i) of these Rules.
(f) The loan repayment grant recipient must apply one hundred percent (100%) of the grant payments received under this Program to the educational loans identified in the application and approved by the Department.
(a) Applicant Eligibility.
(i) Applicants must indicate full time employment or an offer for full time employment on their application.
(ii) Applicants must agree to treat Medicaid, Medicare or Kid Care eligible patients.
(iii) Applicants must be licensed or certified in Wyoming, or within one (1) year of licensure in their profession.
(iv) Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents.
(v) Applicants must disclose any other obligations to practice at a specific location and any other loan repayment arrangements in their application.
(A) An applicant with an obligation to practice professionally at a specific location is not eligible to receive a loan repayment grant under this Program until the existing obligations are fulfilled.
(B) Applicants required to practice in Wyoming, but not required to practice at a specific location, may be eligible to receive a loan repayment grant under this Program. The Department will determine applicant eligibility upon review of the application and circumstances of the obligation.
(C) WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) Medical Education Program participants required to practice in Wyoming are eligible for a loan repayment grant under this Program.
(D) Any portion of the applicant’s educational loans to be forgiven or repaid as a result of paragraphs (B) and (C), is not eligible for repayment under this Program.
(b) Applicant Selection.
(i) The Department shall prioritize selections on geographic need for healthcare professionals due to demand exceeding capacity.
(ii) The Department shall prioritize selections on need for a given profession. Healthcare professions enhancing access to primary care will be prioritized over other healthcare professions.
(iii) The Department may consider other information in the application to further prioritize selections as needed to best meet the needs of Wyoming.
(a) A loan repayment grant recipient under this Program who fails to complete the service obligation or fails to comply with the requirements of W.S. §§ 9-2-118 or 119, these Rules, or the terms and conditions set forth in the contract shall repay:
(i) The total amount of the loan repayment grant monies received under this Program according to a schedule established by the Department and set forth in the contract; and
(ii) Costs and expenses incurred in collection, including attorney fees.
(iii) The amount to be paid back shall be determined from the end of the month in which the recipient breached the contract as if the recipient had breached at the end of the month.
(iv) Amounts recovered and damages collected under this section shall be deposited as dedicated credits to be used to carry out the provisions of this Program.
(b) The Department may cancel or release, in full or in part, a recipient from the requirements of W.S. §§ 9-2-118 or 119, these Rules, and the terms and conditions of the contract without penalty:
(i) If the recipient is unable to fulfill the service obligation due to permanent disability or a chronic or life threatening illness that prevents the recipient from performing any work for remuneration or profit;
(ii) If the recipient dies;
(iii) A family member for whom the recipient is the principle caregiver has a chronic or life threatening illness; or
(iv) For other good cause shown, as determined by the Department.
(c) The Department may allow a loan repayment grant recipient to transfer to another practice location to fulfill the service obligation if the recipient is unable to fulfill the service obligation at the current practice location.