The Peru Gazette

Funding Supports 352 Healthcare Professionals Committed to Serving Medicaid Members and Uninsured New Yorkers

September 25, 2026 – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced awards for the Healthcare Access Loan Repayment (HEALR) Program, a $48.3 million student loan repayment initiative designed to expand access to care for Medicaid members and uninsured individuals while also attracting providers in critical, high-demand roles across New York State. The HEALR Program provides significant financial incentives to qualifying healthcare professionals who commit to four years of employment serving high-need populations.

“Every New Yorker deserves access to high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live or how much they earn,” Governor Hochul said. “By helping hundreds of healthcare professionals repay their student loans in exchange for serving communities that need them most, we are strengthening our workforce and making it easier for New Yorkers to get the care they need, when they need it.”

A total of 352 providers from across New York State were selected for awards from a pool of nearly 900 applicants based on their specialty, geographic location, ability to provide care in a language other than English and other criteria. The awardee cohort includes 99 psychiatrists, 43 dentists, 76 primary care physicians, and 134 nurse practitioners. Certain specialties, including psychiatrists serving children and adolescents and dentists serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, received added priority. Sixty percent of awardees provide services in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area. Forty-five percent of awardees – representing 29 unique languages – provide services in a language other than English.

All HEALR awardees must make a four-year commitment to serving New York State Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals. Maximum award amounts are based on title, with psychiatrists eligible for up to $300,000 in repayment, primary care physicians and dentists eligible for up to $100,000 and nurse practitioners eligible for up to $50,000.