No
Purpose
The Nebraska Rural Health Workforce Incentive Program offers monetary incentives to health care providers in exchange for a service commitment to work in a rural county for a 5-year period. The program supports recruitment, retention, and expansion of clinical services in rural communities as described by the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
This program is separate and distinct from the other loan repayment programs.
Provider Eligibility
- Full-time and part-time providers are eligible. Part-time minimum: 20 hours per week on average over one year, including telehealth services given to rural Nebraska residents.
- Providers must live in Nebraska.
- Providers must provide care in rural counties (all counties except Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy).
- Providers must be U.S. citizens or qualified aliens (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 4‑108 to 4‑114).
- Providers must accept Medicaid according to required participation thresholds.
- Volunteer providers in EMS (Emergency Medical Technician, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, and Paramedic). Volunteers must respond to 20% of their station's calls and attend half of their station's meetings and/or training sessions as reported by ENARSIS.
- Providers must work in an eligible facility type, which includes:
- Rural Health Clinics (RHC)
- Emergency Medical Service agencies
- Nursing Homes/Assisted Living Facilities
- Critical Access Hospitals (CAH)
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) in rural areas
- Indian Health Clinics in rural counties
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC)
- Rural Emergency Hospital (REH)
- Prospective Payment System hospitals
- Private practice
- Mental/behavioral health clinics
- Schools
- Local health departments
- Dental clinics
Incentive Program Default
- Providers who stop providing care in rural areas before finishing the 5-year service commitment must repay the amount received, according to a DHHS-approved repayment schedule.
- Providers may change local entities and remain eligible if the new employer verifies qualifying work time, meets Medicaid requirements, and provides required cost share. Providers must notify the Office of Rural Health before switching employers for contract amendment.
Award Types
- Relocation/Expansion: For providers moving from urban to rural areas or expanding service locations in rural areas.
- Retention: For providers already practicing in rural counties.
| Provider Type | Relocation/Expansion Award | Retention Award |
| Acupuncturist | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Audiologist | 45,000.00 | 22,500.00 |
| Behavioral Analyst | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Certified Nurse Anesthetist | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Certified Nurse Assistant | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Certified Social Worker | 15,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Chiropractor | 45,000.00 | 22,500.00 |
| Dental Hygienist | 45,000.00 | 22,500.00 |
| Dentist | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Dialysis Patient Care Technician | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Dietician nutritionist or Licensed nutritionist | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Emergency Medical Service Professionals - Emergency Medical Technician, Advanced Medical Technician | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Genetic Counselor | 45,000.00 | 22,500.00 |
| Licensed Athletic Trainer | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Licensed Dental Assistant | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Licensed Independent Mental Health Provider | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Licensed Pharmacy Technician | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Licensed Surgical First Assistant | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Marriage and Family Counselor | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Medical Radiography or Limited Medical Radiography | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Medication Aid | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Mental Health Peer Support Specialist | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Mental Health Practitioner | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Occupational Therapist | 45,000.00 | 22,500.00 |
| Occupational Therapist Aid | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 15,000.00 | 7,500.00 |
| Optometrist | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Paramedic | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Perfusionist | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Pharmacist | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Physical Therapists | 45,000.00 | 22,500.00 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Physician | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Physician Assistants | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Podiatry | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Psychiatrist | 75,000.00 | 37,500.00 |
| Psychologist | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| Public Health Dental Hygienist | 45,000.00 | 22,500.00 |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | 45,000.00 | 22,500.00 |
| Respiratory Care Practitioner | 25,000.00 | 12,500.00
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Prioritization (If Applications Exceed Funding)
- Providers serving in frontier counties
- Higher percentages of Medicaid/uninsured patients served
- Professions identified as high need
- Providers serving 100% of their time in rural counties
Facility Eligibility
- Local entities must be registered with the Nebraska Secretary of State as required by law.
- Local entities must carry liability and malpractice insurance.
- Employer must attest to employment status, Medicaid/uninsured participation rate, and cost share, subject to DHHS verification.
Medicaid Participation Requirements
Providers must maintain the following minimum participation levels:
- Year 1: 5% Medicaid
- Year 2: 5% Medicaid + 2% Medicaid or uninsured (total 7%)
- Year 3: 5% Medicaid + 2% Medicaid or uninsured (total 9%)
- Year 4: 5% Medicaid + 2% Medicaid or uninsured (total 11%)
- Year 5: 5% Medicaid + 2% Medicaid or uninsured (total 13%)
Employers will attest to Medicaid billing each year with required employment verification, responses subject to audit.
Facility Cost Share Requirement
Employers must contribute a 10% yearly cost share for each provider. The amount may be updated annually via the employer verification form. Cost share can be provided in a variety of ways, including:
- Continuing education (CEUs)
- Training
- License fees
- Relocation stipends
- Health insurance
- Preceptorships
- Other approved contributions
- Monetary cost share may also be used
Contact Us
The Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (US HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $218,529,075.01 with 100 percent funded by CMS/US HHS. The contents are those of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/US HHS, or the U.S. Government.