The Health Care Professional Incentive Program (HCPIP) was established to recruit and retain health care professionals in high-need areas in Iowa. The program provides an award to individuals who agree to practice in specified locations for up to five full-time years. Eligible health care professionals can elect to receive the award as an income bonus or as a federal student loan payment. The award is paid at the end of each successive year of qualifying employment.
Eligible Health Care Professions
House File 972 (Sec. 11 subsection 2), requires the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, in coordination with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, to determine the number of FY26 awards that will be made in each eligible health care profession under the Health Care Professional Incentive Program prior to the beginning of FY26.
House File 972 (Sec. 11, subsection 2: Program established. The health care professional incentive program is established and shall be administered by the commission, in coordination with the department, for the purpose of offering awards to recruit and retain eligible health care professionals for employment in eligible practice areas. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and each fiscal year thereafter, the commission, in coordination with the department, shall determine the number of awards available for each eligible health care profession prior to the commencement of the fiscal year.