Gov. Kim Reynolds joined the Iowa Department of Education (DOE) and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Friday by opening applications for a new program intended to strengthen Iowa’s rural health care workforce. The Health Care Professional Incentive Program is backed by nearly $8 million in state funding and will provide financial awards to eligible medical professionals who commit to practicing in high-demand fields in underserved counties. The initiative was established by House File 972 and signed into law in May 2025. It offers incentives to providers who commit to serving patients in 36 identified rural counties, including Carroll, Greene, and Guthrie, for up to five years of full-time service or seven years of part-time service. The application deadline is March 31. Eligible professions include physicians, physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed professional counselors, social workers focused on mental health counseling, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and nurse educators. Participants may receive the incentive as an income bonus or as federal student loan repayment, with payments distributed annually based on years of service. State officials say the program consolidates five previous workforce initiatives to more efficiently recruit and retain providers in high-need counties across Iowa. A link with more information about the program is included below.
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