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(Iowa) -- The state of Iowa is launching a new program to attract healthcare workers in high-need parts of the state.
The Health Care Professional Incentive Program will provide financial awards to eligible healthcare workers who agree to practice in high-demand and underserved Iowa counties. The program requires medical professionals to practice in high-demand locations for five consecutive years for full-time employment and seven years for part-time employment. Nearly $8 million dollars of state funding is available for this first year of the program.
Healthcare occupations eligible for the program include:
- Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Nurse Educator
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Physician Assistant
- Physician
- Registered Nurse
- Social Worker (specific to mental health counseling)
Applications must be licensed to practice in the following Iowa counties: Adair, Adams, Allamakee, Appanoose, Benton, Buena Vista, Butler, Carroll, Cedar, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clayton, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hamilton, Iowa, Keokuk, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Mills, O'Brien, Osceola, Pocahontas, Ringgold, Tama, Taylor, Wayne, Winnebago and Worth.
The Health Care Professionals Incentive Program was created in May of 2025 when Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 972 into law. More information on the program is available on the program's website.