In 2001, the Colorado Legislature enacted the Dental Loan Repayment
Program
(CRS-25-23-101)
to encourage and enable dental professionals to provide care to
underserved populations in Colorado.
The Oral Health Unit partners with the Primary Care Office, the
administrators of the Colorado Health Service Corps loan repayment
program, to manage
this program for the purpose of improving access to oral health
professionals in underserved Colorado communities by repaying the
educational loans of providers who agree to practice in areas with a
health professional shortage.
To qualify for the traditional Colorado Health Service Corps: Dentists and Dental Hygienists may be eligible to receive repayment
of
qualified student loans if they practice
full time, in a
Health Professional Shortage Area or deliver services to Medicaid,
CHP+, OAP and other traditionally underserved client populations. The
practice must accept public insurance and offer
discounted
services to low-income, uninsured patients. Nontaxable awards
may be made up to $105,000 for dentists and up to $22,500 for dental
hygienists for a three year service obligation at a qualifying site.
The Expanded Dental Loan Repayment Program provides incentive for
eligible dental professionals to serve traditionally underserved
Colorado populations. Individuals who meet minimum eligibility
criteria are encouraged to apply. However, with limited funding
appropriated annually, the selection process for the program remains
highly competitive. Awards are made based on several priority
criteria including service to areas with the greatest un-met need, place
of employment (i.e., Community Health Center, Non-Profit Clinics), years
of service and the number of patients served. During the
ranking of applications, the highest priority scores are awarded to
those applicants serving in health professional shortage areas as
designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Priority points are also awarded to those individuals who have
established practices serving large numbers of Medicaid, CHP+,
uninsured, and other underserved populations. Nontaxable awards
through this option may be made up to $25,000 for dentists and up to
$6,000 for dental hygienists for a two year service obligation at a
qualifying site.
Applications for both the Colorado Health Service Corps and the
Expanded State Dental Loan Repayment Program are
accepted through the
Colorado Health Service Corps in March, July and November of each
year. For more information and to submit an application online, proceed
to the CHSC web site.
Dental Loan Repayment Map
