Chapter 22. Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians and Physician Assistants

“Department” means the Maryland Department of Health.

“Education loan” has the meaning stated in Health-General Article, §24-1701, Annotated Code of Maryland. ​

“Eligible field of employment” has the meaning stated in Health-General Article, §24–1704, Annotated Code of Maryland.

“Full-time” means an individual’s work week consists of 40 or more hours at an eligible practice site.

“Guidelines” means the Maryland Loan Repayment Programs Guidelines and any subregulatory guidance established by the Department.

“Medical resident” means an individual who has completed medical school and is participating in a post-graduate residency education program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, or its successor, or the American Osteopathic Association, or its successor, who is not licensed to practice medicine in the State.

“Participant” means an individual who has been offered a Program award and is under a service obligation with the Program.

“Part-time” means an individual’s work week consists of between 20 to 39 hours at an eligible practice site.

“Physician” has the meaning stated in Health-Occupations Article, §14-101, Annotated Code of Maryland, who practices medicine either full-time or part-time.

“Physician assistant” has the meaning stated in Health-Occupations Article, §15-101, Annotated Code of Maryland, who practices full-time or part-time.

“Practice site” means a site where a participant provides clinical services and fulfills their service obligation.

“Primary care” has the meaning stated in Health-General Article, §24-1701, Annotated Code of Maryland.

“Program” means the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians and Physician Assistants.

“Promissory Note” means a contractual agreement between a participant and the Department describing disbursement methods, participant roles and responsibilities, compliance penalties, and other terms as determined by the Department.

“Service Obligation Agreement” means a contractual agreement between a participant and the Department specifying participant service obligations, total and annual Program award amounts, required data and verifications, penalties for breach, and other terms as determined by the Department.

Meet the licensure requirements set forth in §B of this regulation;

Be a United States citizen or national;

Be liable and personally owe educational debt;

Have a valid employment contract with an eligible practice site in the State that will be in effect by the start of any service obligation to be fulfilled;

Provide evidence of practice as either part-time or full-time at that eligible practice site;

Practice full-time or part-time providing health care services at an eligible practice site, with at least 80 percent of time spent in direct patient care for a minimum of 45 weeks per year; and

Utilize Program funds for the repayment of eligible education loans.

A physician possessing active and valid licensure without restrictions or encumbrances to practice Allopathic Medicine in the State;

A physician possessing active and valid licensure without restrictions to or encumbrances to practice Osteopathic Medicine in the State;

A physician assistant possessing active and valid licensure without restriction or encumbrances in the State; or

A final year medical resident who is specializing in primary care and overseen by a postgraduate training program in the State.

A federal or state judgment lien;

Defaulted on any federal or state payment obligations even if the governmental creditor now considers them to be in good standing;

Breached a prior service obligation to federal, state, or local government or other entity, even if the obligation is subsequently satisfied;

Any federal or non-federal debt written off as uncollectible or received a waiver of any service or payment obligation;

Any outstanding contractual obligations for a health care professional service to the federal government, another state loan repayment program, or other entity unless those service obligations are completely satisfied prior to the commencement of the Program service obligation; and

Received the two maximum awards for service obligations to the Program.

Be an eligible field of employment in accordance with Health-General Article, §24–1704, Annotated Code of Maryland;

Be physically located in the State;

Provide services to all patients regardless of their ability to pay; and

If the practice site charges for health care professional services:

Submit a complete application to the Department;

Facilitate submission of application components by all contributors; and

Submit any supporting documentation as requested by the Department.

Fails to provide sufficient information or comply with requested documentation;

Has the appropriate documentation but is determined to be ineligible; or

Does not satisfy the requirements established by law or the Department.

Assess applicant eligibility based on documentation received by the published deadline;

Require from an applicant additional documentation or use independent verification means to verify information in the application; and

Score an eligible application based on priority criteria in accordance with:

An application determined as ineligible; or

Cancellation of any offered awards.

An applicant may appeal the decision to disapprove an application by submitting an appeal request in writing to the Department within 30 calendar days of the date on the notice of the disapproved application.

If an applicant submits an appeal, the Department, within 60 calendar days, shall:

An applicant may request a hearing within 10 calendar days after the date of written notice of the Department’s disapproval of an application as stated in §D(2) of this regulation. When the Department receives the request, it will follow hearing procedures in accordance with COMAR 10.01.03.

Failure to be present for the hearing without prior notice, communication, or approval from the Department may result in:

The maximum number of participants for the Program in each priority area; and

The minimum and maximum amount of loan repayment assistance awarded.

The loan repayment amount specified in the Service Obligation Agreement; or

A participant's total verified debt from eligible education loans.

Lender verification of education loan balance;

Documentation of employer verification;

A signed Promissory Note that includes:

A Service Obligation Agreement that includes:

All other documentations as requested by the Department.

Continue to meet the eligibility requirements as stated in Regulation .03A and B of this chapter; and

Serve a minimum service obligation as stipulated in the Service Obligation Agreement with the Department.

Meet all requirements set forth in §A of this regulation;

Complete residency training in primary care, and begin their service obligation without interruption; and

Fulfill all requirements of §B of this regulation once the service obligation commences.

The Program Promissory Note;

The Service Obligation Agreement; and

Any subregulatory guidelines developed by the Department.

Approved practice site that the participant provided services in the previous year and continues to practice at the practice site; and

Lender institution that the participant has an outstanding education loan balance that is not in default.

Receive confirmation from the residency training program that the participant is specializing in primary care; and

Follow the same verification procedures stated in §§A and B of this regulation once service obligations by the participant commences.

Financial penalties dependent on the funding source of the award provided to the participant;

The elimination of future eligibility for the Program; or

Referral of the participant to the Maryland Board of Physicians for investigation of the participant's violation of breach of service obligation.

The Department may consider practice site transfer requests during a participant’s service obligation period.

A participant shall submit a site transfer request to the Department for consideration and receive approval of the site transfer from the Department prior to a participant’s separation from an approved practice site.

A site transfer request may not be submitted until the second service obligation year.

Illness or injury that prohibits future possibility of service; or

Death as determined by a death certificate or other conclusive evidence of death under State law.