Des Moines, Iowa – February 13, 2026 – Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced the opening of applications for the new Health Care Professional Incentive Program, designed to recruit and retain health care providers in underserved rural counties.
Established by House File 972, signed into law in May 2025, the program consolidates five prior incentive initiatives into a streamlined system. It offers nearly $8 million in first-year state funding for income bonuses or federal student loan repayments to eligible professionals who commit to practicing in one of 36 designated high-need counties (including 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).
Eligible professions include physicians, physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners, registered nurses, nurse educators, occupational therapists, physical therapists, licensed professional counselors, and social workers specializing in mental health counseling. Applicants must hold an Iowa license, work in a qualifying role in a high-need county, and not have previously participated in the consolidated programs. Commitments require up to five years full-time (at least 2,080 hours/year) or seven years part-time (at least 1,560 hours/year).
Awards are disbursed annually after each qualifying year, with tiered payouts favoring completion of the full term (e.g., larger final-year payments for full-time participants). Specific amounts vary by profession and details are available on the program’s official page.
“This initial $8 million investment is a critical step in strengthening our health care provider pipeline and ensuring rural communities—home to nearly half of all Iowans—have access to high-quality care,” Governor Reynolds stated. Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow added that the program supports professionals with financial relief while improving access and quality of care statewide.
Applications are open now and must be submitted by March 31, 2026. Applicants will be notified of awards in July 2026. Full eligibility, award structures, and the application are available on the Iowa Department of Education’s Health Care Professional Incentive Program webpage.
The initiative addresses ongoing rural health care workforce shortages driven by geographic challenges, aging populations, and educational debt. While the financial incentives aim to boost recruitment and retention, long-term success may also hinge on complementary factors such as community support, housing, and spousal employment opportunities in these counties. This targeted approach represents a key policy effort to enhance rural health infrastructure and resident well-being in Iowa.