Georgia Behavioral Health Provider Loan Repayment Program (GBHPLRP)

404.232.7972
GBHCW@dch.ga.gov

The Georgia Behavioral Health Provider Loan Repayment Program (GBHPLRP) offers loan repayment assistance for mental health and substance use professionals in return for practicing in rural and underserved areas of Georgia. The program requires a commitment to practice as a mental health or substance use professional full-time for 4 years in a Mental Health Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) in the state.

The service contract requires a commitment to practice a mental health or substance use provider for a minimum of 40 total hours per week, with at least 32 hours of clinical or direct patient care, in a Mental Health HPSA located in an underserved area in Georgia. Participants must provide direct patient care during normal clinic hours. On-call hours do not count toward the full-time service requirement.

The mental health or substance use provider must practice in a qualifying practice that actively treats Medicaid or PeachCare patients.

Eligibility requirements:

• Be a citizen or national of the United States, and a resident of the state of Georgia
• Licensed with no restrictions and in good standing to practice in Georgia by the Georgia Composite Medical Board or the appropriate licensing board under the Georgia Secretary of State's Office
• Agree to practice full-time, a minimum of 40 total hours per week, with at least 32 hours of clinical or direct patient care, in a Mental Health Health Professional Shortage Area
• Must work in a qualifying practice that actively treats Medicaid or PeachCare patients
• Be in good standing with regard to meeting the contractual requirements of all existing student loans
• Must not have other current contractual service obligations, such as National Health Service Corps Scholarships or Military Service Obligations
• Must have mental health or substance use professional education or undergraduate loans for repayment in good standing and must not have any loans in default status even if the creditor now considers the defaulted loan to be in good standing

Up to $150,000 in loan repayment in return for a 48-month service commitment.

• $150,000 for psychiatrists
• $80,000 for doctoral degrees:
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed clinical social workers
  • Licensed professional counselors
  • Licensed marriage and family therapists
  • Nurse practitioners
• $40,000 for those without doctoral degrees:
  • Clinical nurse social workers
  • Licensed professional counselors
  • Licensed specialists in school psychology
  • Licensed marriage and family therapists
  • Nurse practitioners
• $10,000 for licensed chemical dependency counselors who hold associate degrees or any other behavioral health licensee not listed above

A link to the online application is available on the program website.