Health Professions Scholarship Program – Section 104

 

*      The Health Professions Scholarship Program provides financial assistance for American Indian and Alaska Native (Federally recognized only) students only  enrolled in health professions and allied health professions programs. For this program, there are service obligations and payback requirements that the recipient incurs upon acceptance of the scholarship funding. Priority is given to Graduate Students, and Junior and Senior Level Students, unless otherwise specified.

 

*      Priority Health Career Categories

 

*      There are many health career caterogories that are given priority.  For a complete list go to www.ihs.gov

 

*      Dental Hygiene

*      Dentistry

*      Diagnostic Radiology Technology

 

*      Applicants must:

  1. be an American Indian or Alaska Native (Federally recognized only and applicant must be a member of his/her tribe);
  2. be a high school graduate or equivalent; and
  3. be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a full or part-time study program leading to a degree in a health related professions school within the United States for one of the health career priority categories listed above.
  4. Documentation must be received from part-time applicants that their school and course curriculum allows less than full-time status.

*      Scholarship for recipients in the Health Professions Program is available for up to four calendar years for full-time or up to eight years for part-time of health professional education. Applicants who are more than 4 years away from securing a degree are not eligible to apply. Each scholarship is awarded for a 1 year period with reapplication for each continuation. Those students who meet specific continued eligibility requirements and have been reviewed and recommended for continuation will be given priority consideration for additional periods of support. Scholarship recipients receive 12 months of support.

 

*      A recipient of Health Professions scholarship support must continue to meet the following eligibility requirements:

  1. He/she must maintain an overall 2.0 grade point average in his/her chosen health/allied health professions curriculum;
  2. he/she must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours for the next semester/quarter which is considered full-time. An applicant enrolled in a program with 12 full-time credit hours or 6–11 part-time credit hours which is considered part-time, must submit a letter from their Program Director verifying the full-time or part-time status of that institution's graduate level program.

*      Applicants for a Health Professions scholarship support must submit a signed Indian Health Scholarship Program Contract (form  I H S–818) as part of the application, agreeing to accept payment of scholarship funds if they are selected for the award and to enter into a service obligation with the I H S to provide health services upon completion of their health education program in the full-time professional practice of their health profession. Applicants should read this contract carefully prior to submitting an application for this scholarship in order to fully understand the obligation they incur by accepting a Health Professions scholarship.

*      Allopathic and osteopathic physicians can be deferred for up to 3 years for further training to complete an internship, residency, or other advanced training as specified by the Indian Health Service.

*      Dental Scholarship recipients may begin their obligated service upon completion of their degree program without receiving any advanced training. However, 1-year deferments may be approved to secure advanced clinical training.

*      Scholarship recipients in pharmacy and optometry may begin their obligated service upon completion of their degree programs without receiving any advanced training. However, 1-year deferments may be approved to secure advanced clinical training.

*      No deferments will be approved for any other priority health career categories. A deferment packet containing policies and procedures will be mailed to all eligible Health Professions program scholarship recipients in their senior year.

 

*      Subject to applicable regulations and to the Indian Health Scholarship Program Contract, there is a requirement that a Health Professions Scholarship Program recipient serve one year for each year of scholarship support which he/she receives or the part-time equivalent thereof with a minimum service period of 2 years. After graduation from the health professions program, the I H S scholarship recipients must meet their active duty service obligation in one of the following areas, as designated by the Director, I H S:

  1. Indian Health Service (I H S);
  2. A program conducted under a contract or compact entered into under the Indian Self-Determination Act (P.L. 93–638), as amended;
  3. An Urban Indian organization assisted under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (I H C I A)(P.L. 94–437), as amended; or
  4. In private practice in a designated health professional shortage area addressing the health care needs of a substantial number of Indians.

However, at their election, scholarship recipients may serve in one of the other areas that:

                                 i.            is located on the reservation of the tribe in which the recipient is enrolled; or

                               ii.            serves the tribe in which the recipient is enrolled.

The I H S will review assignment opportunities with each student early in the final school year and will approve the student's confirmed assignment.

The Director, I H S, reserves the right to make final decisions regarding assignment of scholarship recipients to fulfill their service obligation.

Before the service obligation begins, paticipants will be given information about both the PHS Commissioned Corps and Civil Service employment systems. For information regarding programs conducted under a contract entered into under the Indian Self-Determination Act (P.L. 93–638), or Title V urban programs, scholarship recipients may contact the Tribal (“638”) program or Title V urban program directly. The Indian Health Service Scholarship Program (I H S S P) staff are also available for placement assistance. Once on duty providing service, the scholarship recipient must submit an annual data sheet report to the I H S on the current status of his/her service obligation.

*      Breach of Contract

Defaulting on the Scholarship Obligation

For Failure To Complete Academic Training Health Professions Scholarship Program  

Participants who are dismissed from school for academic or disciplinary reasons, or who voluntarily terminate academic training before graduation from the educational program for which the scholarship was awarded, will be liable to the United States for repayment of all Scholarship Program funds paid to them and to the school on their behalf. Payment must be made within 3 years from the date academic training is terminated. No interest will be charged on any part of this indebtedness to the United States within the 3-year period.

For Failure To Begin or Complete the Service Obligation or Meet the Terms and Conditions of Deferment  

Participants may breach their Scholarship contracts by failing to begin or complete their service obligations for any reason other than failure to complete academic training, or by failing to comply with the terms and conditions for deferment. In these cases, participants are liable to repay three times the amount of all scholarship funds paid to them and the school on their behalf, plus interest.

The amount which the United States is entitled to recover shall be paid within 1 year of the date upon which the applicant failed to begin or complete the period of obligated service, or failed to meet the terms and conditions of deferment, or a longer period beginning on a date specified by the Secretary of H H S (as delegated to the Scholarship Program).

Delinquent Debt

If the debt remains unpaid after the due date (delinquent), it will be referred to the Health Resources and Services Administration for debt collection and/or the Department of Justice for litigation. All delinquent debts must be reported to a commercial collection agency and are subject to charges for administrative and court costs of collection.