June 03, 2026 Louisiana opens applications for Rural Clinician Credit BankNew $5.6 million program helps rural providers recruit and retain health care professionals

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jun 03, 2026 - Applications are now open for the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability (ORHTS) Rural Clinician Credit Bank, a new $5.6 million program designed to help rural health care providers recruit and retain physicians, nurses, dentists, EMS personnel, behavioral health professionals and other clinicians serving in the state’s rural communities.

“One of the biggest challenges facing rural providers across the state is recruiting and keeping the clinicians they need to serve their communities,” said LDH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein. “The Rural Clinician Credit Bank helps providers compete for talent while creating a stronger, more sustainable rural health care workforce for the long term.”

The Rural Clinician Credit Bank provides matching funds to eligible rural health care providers for recruitment and retention incentives including sign-on bonuses, retention bonuses, relocation assistance, and professional training. Participating clinicians must commit to serving in rural Louisiana for at least five years. The program helps rural providers remain competitive in attracting and retaining clinicians while supporting workforce development.

 The program is part of Louisiana’s broader Rural Health Transformation efforts to improve access to care, address workforce shortages, and build sustainable health care delivery models in rural communities statewide.

“Rural health care providers know better than anyone the challenges of recruiting and retaining the workforce needed to serve their communities. The Rural Clinician Credit Bank was created with those challenges in mind,” said Julie Foster Hagan, executive director of the Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability. “This program gives providers a new tool to attract and keep talented health care professionals where they are needed most.”

Eligible applicants include a wide range of rural health care providers, including hospitals, clinics, federally qualified health centers, physician practices, behavioral health providers, EMS agencies, pharmacies, and dental providers.

Applications for the first budget period are being accepted through June 25, 2026.

For additional information, eligibility requirements, or to apply, please visit bit.ly/rhtp-funding or email RuralHealthTransformation@la.gov.

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $208,374,447.57 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.