Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) For Dentists
The Maryland Dent Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) is the student loan repayment program for dentists. Like similar physician repayment programs, MDC-LARP provides student loan repayment assistance to dentists for treating Maryland's most vulnerable populations. The purpose of MDC-LARP is to increase access to oral health care services for Maryland Medical Assistance Program (MMAP) recipients by increasing the number of dentists treating this population.
MDC-LARP Background
During the 2000 Maryland legislative session, House Bill 543/Senate Bill 519, entitled the Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP), was passed providing State funding for a student loan repayment program for dentists. The purpose of MDC-LARP is to increase access to oral health care services for Maryland Medical Assistance Program (MMAP) recipients by increasing the number of dentists treating this population. Through receipt of $23,740 per year in loan repayment assistance over a three-year period, participating dentists agree to treat a minimum of 30% MMAP recipients as a portion of their total patient population per year. For a three-year commitment and dependant upon available funding, MDC-LARP may provide loan repayments to five Maryland licensed dentists a year.
The Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Program (MDC-LARP) is a collaboration between two state agencies, the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Oral Health (OOH) and the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), Office of Student Financial Assistance. The Office of Student Financial Assistance distributes the offer letters, distributes the loan repayment checks and addresses any questions related to the loan repayment checks. The Office of Oral Health promotes the program, collects program applications and supporting documents, convenes a review panel, plans the new awardee orientation, monitors awardee monthly obligation and gathers programmatic feedback from awardees.
Recipient Obligations
• Serves three years in a full-time eligible dental practice site (s).
• Treats a minimum of 30% MMAP recipients as a portion of the total patient population.
• Enrolled with MMAP’s Maryland Healthy Smiles program.
• Keeps record of all patients treated (MMAP and non-MMAP) and provides monthly written reports to the Office of Oral Health.
MDC-LARP Application and Guidelines for Submission
The application period is now OPEN. The deadline to submit all application documents is July 30, 2021.
We are requesting that ALL application materials be emailed to mdh.mdclarpprogram@maryland.gov if possible, due to the current closure of the State Office Buildings. Please do not hesitate to contact the Program Manager, Stacy Costello, at mdh.mdclarpprogram@maryland.gov, with any questions.
Application and Support Materials
Guidelines for Submission
Current Participants
Contact Information:
Stacy Costello, MPH, CHES
Program Manager
mdh.mdclarpprogram@maryland.gov
