Gov. Kim Reynolds and state officials are seeking applicants for a new program designed to strengthen Iowa’s rural health care workforce.
Reynolds, along with the Iowa departments of Education and Health and Human Services, announced the launch of the Health Care Professional Incentive Program. Nearly $8 million in state funding is available in the first year.
The program, created under House File 972 and signed into law in May 2025, provides financial incentives to licensed health care professionals who commit to working in high-need counties for up to five consecutive years full time or seven years part time. The application deadline is March 31.
Eligible occupations include physicians, physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners, registered nurses, nurse educators, occupational and physical therapists, licensed professional counselors and certain mental health social workers.
Locally, eligible counties include Butler, Franklin and Grundy.
Participants may choose to receive the incentive as an annual income bonus or as federal student loan repayment. The program consolidates five previous state health care incentive programs into one.
