Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education Program (FRAME)

Who is eligible?

• Medical Doctors with primary care specialties, including psychiatrists
• Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine with primary care specialties, including psychiatrists
• Physician Assistants
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) with primary care specialties such as certified nurse-midwives
• APRNs registered to engage in autonomous practice under section 464.0123, Florida Statutes
• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Registered Nurses
• All providers must have a license in clear/active status

The FRAME program will be using the HRSA Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations to identify areas of unmet needs. Please visit HRSA’s HPSA Find Tool to determine the potential eligibility of service location(s).

All payments are contingent on continued proof of primary care practice in an area defined in section 395.602(2)(b), Florida Statutes, or an underserved area designated by the Department, provided the practitioner accepts Medicaid reimbursement if eligible for such reimbursement.

Reimbursement Amounts

• Up to $20,000 per year for physicians
• Up to $15,000 per year for advanced practice registered nurses practicing under section 464.0123, Florida Statutes
• Up to $10,000 per year for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants
• Up to $4,000 per year for licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.

Application Process:

The current FRAME program application period will open from 2/01/2023 through  04/28/2023.

To facilitate your application process, please log on and register on the FRAMEworks Portal.

You may alternatively choose to mail applications to the address below:

FRAME Program
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin A-05
Tallahassee, FL 32399

The required submission forms for applicants applying through the mail can be found below (forms are Adobe PDF and will open in a new window):

• FRAME Application
• FRAME Loan Certification Form
• FRAME Employment Verification Form
• FRAME Solo Practitioner Attestation

Applications will be evaluated, and selections will be made on or before July 31, 2023.

• Section 1009.65, Florida Statutes, provides the Department with the authority to administer the FRAME program, subject to appropriations. 
• Section 395.602, Florida Statutes, provides the Department of Health (Department) with the intended use of funds guidance associated with the FRAME program, subject to appropriations..

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC)

Interested Applicants: Medical practices and clinics

The NHSC was created in 1960 to address a shortage of physicians supporting health centers located in rural, urban, and tribal communities. They provide support to healthcare providers who are dedicated to working in areas of the United States with limited access to care.

Why should medical practices and clinics become an NHSC site?

Being an NHSC-approved site helps with recruitment, hiring, and retention.

How can being an NHSC site help with recruitment, hiring, and retention?

NHSC approved sites’ employees may apply for financial support in return for service at the NHSC site, which helps with recruitment and hiring. Being an NHSC-approved site helps with the retention of current staff already participating in one of the NHSC programs. Eligible health care facilities can apply to become NHSC-approved sites.

Click here for more information on eligibility and a listing of eligible sites.

NHSC Scholarship Program

Interested Applicants: Students in health professional programs

The NHSC Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students pursuing eligible primary care health professional training. In exchange, scholars commit to providing primary care health services in HPSA-designated areas after graduation.

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program

Interested Applicants: Registered Nurses (RN) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN)

Loan repayment is available to RNs and APRNs working in a public or private eligible CSF or nurse faculty employed at an eligible school of nursing. Awarded participants will receive payments totaling 60% of their outstanding qualifying educational loan balance incurred while pursuing an education in nursing in exchange for a two-year service commitment. Qualifying participants may receive an additional 25 percent of their original loan balance for an optional third year of service.

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

Interested Applicants: Registered Nurses (RN) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) 

Loan repayment is available to RNs and APRNs working in a public or private eligible CSF or nurse faculty employed at an eligible school of nursing. Awarded participants will receive payments totaling 60% of their outstanding qualifying educational loan balance incurred while pursuing an education in nursing in exchange for a two-year service commitment. Qualifying participants may receive an additional 25 percent of their original loan balance for an optional third year of service.

NHSC Loan Repayment Program

Interested Applicants: Licensed primary care clinicians working at an approved NHSC site

Licensed primary care clinicians in eligible disciplines can receive loan repayment assistance through the NHSC Loan Repayment Program. In exchange for loan repayment, participants must complete at least two years of service at an NHSC-approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). NHSC loan repayment program participants can also apply for a continuation contract for additional financial support in return for extended service at the NHSC site.

Click here for more information on HPSAs.

Department of Education- Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Interested Applicants: Students in health professional programs

The Florida Legislature established the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program (NSLFP) in 1989 to encourage qualified personnel to seek employment in areas of the state where critical nursing shortages exist. The program provides funds to assist in the repayment of nursing education loans.

What’s the purpose of the FRAME program? 

The purpose of the FRAME is to encourage qualified medical professionals to practice in underserved locations of the state by providing annual payments intended to offset the loans and educational expenses for studies leading to a medical or nursing degree, medical or nursing licensure, or advanced practice registered nurse licensure or physician assistant licensure. 

Where can I find the FRAME in the Florida Statutes? 

Florida’s statutory requirements and intended use for the FRAME program can be found in two places: 

• Section 1009.65, Florida Statutes, provides the Department of Health with the authority to administer the MERLRP, subject to appropriations. 
• Section 395.602, Florida Statutes, provides the Department of Health with the intended use of funds guidance associated with the Medical Education Reimbursement and Loan Repayment Program (FRAME), subject to appropriations. 

What types of healthcare providers are eligible to participate in the FRAME? 

The health care provider types eligible to participate in the FRAME include: 

• Medical Doctors with primary care specialties, including psychiatrists. 
• Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine with primary care specialties, including psychiatrists. 
• Physician Assistants. 
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) with primary care specialties. 
• APRNs registered to engage in autonomous practice under section 464.0123, Florida Statutes. 
• Licensed Practical Nurses. 
• Registered Nurses. 

 Are there specific healthcare specialties that are eligible to participate in the FRAME? 

Yes. Primary care medical specialties for physicians include obstetrics, gynecology, general and family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Primary care medical specialties for advanced practices registered nurses include family medicine, general pediatrics, general internal medicine, and midwifery. 

Are there limits regarding where a FRAME participant can practice? 

Yes. To be eligible to participate in the FRAME, you must be practicing in an underserved area. Underserved areas include health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), correctional facilities, state hospitals, geographic areas designated as rural by the federal Office of Rural Health Policy, county health department, the Children’s Medical Services program, a federally funded community health center, a federally funded migrant health center, any publicly-funded health care program, or a nonprofit health care program. 

Are there reimbursement limits for participants in the FRAME? 

Yes. Reimbursement limits are established by Section 1009.65, Florida Statutes: 

• Up to $20,000 per year for physicians. 
• Up to $15,000 per year for advanced practice registered nurses to engage in autonomous practice under s. 464.0123, Florida Statutes. 
• Up to $10,000 per year for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants. 
• Up to $4,000 per year for licensed practical nurses and registered nurses. 

Can I apply even if I don’t need the full amount that I could potentially receive? 

Yes. While the reimbursement limits are established by section 1009.65, Florida Statutes, you may apply for less than the full reimbursement limits for your health care provider type. 

As a program participant, will I receive reimbursement directly? 

No. The program will provide reimbursement to the lender you designate when completing your application. The FRAME program does not provide direct reimbursement to program applicants. 

Can I apply for more than one year at a time? 

No. To be responsive to the needs of the most underserved communities, you will need to reapply in each year of the FRAME application cycle. You may apply for reimbursement over multiple years. 

Can I participate in the program if I also receive reimbursement through another state-sponsored program? 

No. To ensure the greatest impact for the funding available, you may not receive funding from this program if you already receive funding from another state-funded program for the same service period. 

If I am also pursuing the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program benefits, am I eligible to participate in FRAME? 

Yes. There are no prohibitions against pursuing PSLF benefits. 

If I don’t receive funding during one application cycle, does that mean I won’t be eligible to participate in the future? 

No. To be responsive to the needs of the most underserved communities, FRAME uses the most current data available for each application cycle. As the number of applicants, county conditions, and program funding may change each year, you may or may not be eligible from year to year. You’re encouraged to apply during each funding cycle. 

Am I eligible to participate as a medical resident? 

Yes. As a resident, you are eligible to participate in the FRAME program. 

I’m not a Florida resident but provide medical services in a Florida health professional shortage area, am I eligible to participate? 

Yes. As you provide services to Florida residents in a health professional shortage area, you are eligible to participate in the FRAME program, however your out-of-state residency will factor into your prioritization for the FRAME award. 

While I don’t provide face-to-face services in a Florida health professional shortage area, I do provide telehealth medical services in a Florida health professional shortage area. Am I eligible to participate? 

No. While you may provide telehealth services to Florida residents in a health professional shortage area, FRAME program funding is intended to promote face-to-face services in Florida’s underserved areas. 

If I am receiving loan repayment from the National Health Service Corps or Nurse Corps, can I receive FRAME loan assistance? 

Yes, since there is no service obligation for FRAME participants to work at specified locations for any length of time. At this time, FRAME is only looking at where you are currently working and how long you have worked there. 

If I receive a FRAME award, is that award considered income by the Internal Revenue Service? 

No. The Internal Revenue Service’s Publication 525 (2022) states that “student loan repayments made to you are tax free if you received them for any of the following:” 

• The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program. 
• A state education loan repayment program eligible for funds under the Public Health Service Act. 
• Any other state loan repayment or loan forgiveness program that is intended to provide for the increased availability of health services in underserved or health professional shortage areas (as determined by such state).