Montana Rural Physician
Incentive Program
Benefits and Obligations 
Program benefits allow payment of up to $45,000 in total (maximum) toward the qualified educational loans of full-time participating health professionals over a one– to five-year period of service. Proportionately reduced repayment amounts may be approved on an individual basis for physicians practicing less than full-time. All physicians remain eligible for assistance only for the first five years of practice within an eligible locale. Awards are not made retroactively. Service occurring more than 90 days prior to the date of application is subtracted from the five years of potential eligibility.
Graduated payments are disbursed directly to verified lending institutions in six-month increments over the physician’s designated service period. Completion of the full six-month period is required prior to eligibility for disbursement. The graduated payment schedule for full-time medical practice is as follows:
$3,500—6 mos. of service $4,500—36 mos. of service
$3,500—12mos. of service $5,000—42 mos. of service
$4,000—18 mos. of service $5,000—48 mos. of service
$4,000—24 mos. of service $5,500—54 mos. of service
$4,500—30 mos. of service $5,500—60 mos. of service
These benefits are in addition to any salary or other compensation received by the physician until the obligation is satisfied. If an individual is receiving funds from a federal loan repayment program, payments from the Montana Rural Physician Incentive Program will not begin until the federal funds have been exhausted. State and federal loan repayment benefits may not be received concurrently.
