Frequently Asked Questions
The community or facility should contact the Office of Rural Health to request a community assessment. This assessment will determine if the community meets the eligibility requirements for the program.
The RAP aims to help recruit certain health professionals by providing financial incentives to fill vacancies in rural healthcare facilities.
The Recruitment Assistance Program (RAP) provides qualifying physicians, dentists, physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, or certified registered nurse anesthetists incentive payment in return for three continuous years of practice in an eligible rural community.
The health professional will enter a three-way contract and complete a three-year service obligation. The professional must provide full-time services within their occupation at an eligible facility in South Dakota.
The payment is split between the state and the employing facility, with the proportion depending on the community size:
- Communities of 2,500 or fewer: 25% paid by the community.
- Communities of 2,501 – 4,999: 50% paid by the community.
- Communities of 5,000 – 10,000: 75% paid by the community.
The community portion of the payment can be made at any time, but the state payment is issued only after the completion of the three-year service obligation.
Full-time employment requires a minimum of 40 hours per week, including at least 32 hours of patient care and no more than eight hours of administrative work, for 48 weeks each year.
Yes, the health professional must be a new employee at an eligible facility, defined as someone who has been employed in their occupation for no longer than four months at an eligible facility. Additionally, the individual cannot participate if they are already enrolled in or have completed another state or federal tuition reimbursement or loan forgiveness program that requires them to provide medical services in an underserved area.
No, the program has limited slots available: 15 for physicians, 15 for NPs/PAs/CRNAs/Nurse Midwives, and 5 for dentists. Slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Yes, the payments made to participants are considered taxable income by the IRS.
For more information, contact the South Dakota Office of Rural Health at 600 E. Capitol, Pierre, SD, 57501, or call 1-800-738-2301.