HEADS UP: SUD Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program

June 9, 2021

Many thanks to Josh Rubin at HMA for passing along the following useful information regarding the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program.  A fact sheet is available here and application available here.  More information is at https://bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-loan-repayment/star-lrp#disciplines

Brief details:

  • This program has many more eligible types of professionals and many more potential settings are available than other loan repayment programs.
  • Commitment is 6 years, which is longer than other programs.
  • Not all SUD programs are eligible. They have to meet at least one of the following requirements:
    •     Have a mental health HPSA (MHPSA) designation; or
    •     Are located in a county with a three-year overdose rate greater than the national average (based on CDC data)

Who is eligible?

The person must be working in a full-time SUD job. 

  • Physician – Allopathic (MD) or Osteopathic (DO)
    • Addiction Medicine
    • Family Medicine
    • General Internal Medicine
    • General Pediatrics
    • Obstetrics/Gynecology
    • Geriatrics
    • Psychiatry
  • Physician Assistant (PA), Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Registered Nurse (RN)
    • Adult
    • Family
    • Pediatric
    • Women’s Health
    • Geriatrics
    • Mental Health & Psychiatry
  • Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
  • Pharmacists (PHARM)
  • Health Service Psychologist (HSP)
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Psychiatric Nurse Specialist (PNS)
  • Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselors
  • Psychology Doctoral Interns

Clinical Support Staff

  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
  • Licensed Occupational Therapists
  • Medical Assistants

Behavioral Health Paraprofessionals

  • Community Health Workers
  • Peer Recovery Specialists
  • Case Managers
  • Health Navigators

Eligible sites:

  • Your facility is eligible to become STAR LRP-approved if you meet at least one of the following requirements:
    • Have a mental health HPSA (MHPSA) designation; or
    • Are located in a county with a three-year overdose rate greater than the national average*.
      • *We calculate this information based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.
  • Eligible STAR LRP facilities* can include but are not limited to:

• SAMHSA-certified outpatient treatment programs (OTPs)

• Office-based opioid treatment facilities (OBOTs)

• Non-opioid substance use disorder treatment facilities (SUD treatment facilities)

• Federally Qualified Health Care Centers (FQHCs)

• Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)

• American Indian Health facilities and Indian Health Service (IHS) hospitals

• FQHC Look-Alikes

• State or federal correctional facilities

• Critical Access Hospitals

• Community health centers

• State or local health departments

• Community outpatient facilities

• Private practices

• School-based clinics

• Mobile units and free clinics Inpatient psychiatric facilities

• Inpatient/Outpatient Rehabilitation

• Health system-affiliated inpatient treatment center

• Youth detention center or program

• Crisis stabilization units

• Migrant Health Center

• Faith-based settings

• Recovery Center

• Detox Facilities

• Prevention Coalition/Agency

• Local Community Jails and Detention Centers