Code of Maine Rules
94 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
457 - FINANCE AUTHORITY OF MAINE (FAME)
Chapter 612 - MAINE DENTAL EDUCATION LOAN AND LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS
Section 457-612-II - Loan Repayment Program

1. Be eligible for licensure to practice dental medicine in the State of Maine;

2. Have qualifying outstanding education loans, including loans for dental education;

3. Have received an offer to practice at a dental care facility in an underserved population area, as evidenced by a letter of intent or other written offer of employment, or by providing written intent to establish a dental care facility in an underserved population area, which may be conditioned on obtaining a loan repayment agreement from the Authority;

4. [Reserved]

5. Certify that he or she is not currently practicing under a contract with the National Health Service Corps.; and

6. [Reserved]

1. A successful applicant will receive repayment of outstanding education loans at a rate of up to $20,000 (or up to $25,000 for agreements first signed after January 1, 2020) per year of service for up to four years as long as the applicant continues to serve as dentist in the dental care facility originally approved by the Authority or a substitute dental care facility in an underserved population area approved by the Authority and provided that no individual may receive more than $80,000 (or $100,000 for agreements first signed after January 1, 2020) in the aggregate of loans for dental students pursuant to section III hereof and through a loan repayment agreement.

2. Payments by the Authority under the loan repayment agreement will be made directly to the holder of the education loans in two disbursements annually. The dentist must provide evidence of total outstanding education loan debt from all lending institutions and instructions for payment to a specific holder. Upon receipt by the Authority of the loan repayment agreement signed by the dentist, the first disbursement of one half of the agreed upon annual amount will be made in approximately six months if the dentist has already begun eligible employment, or approximately six months after commencement of eligible employment. Each subsequent disbursement will be made approximately six months after the previous disbursement assuming completion of additional eligible employment.

3. The loan repayment agreement will provide that the dentist must repay amounts paid under the agreement if applied to ineligible purposes.

4. A person entering into a loan repayment agreement must agree that:

5. The Authority may approve a substitute dental care facility for completion of service under a contract if the individual receiving loan repayment submits a request to the Authority, which includes:

6. The loan repayment agreement may require or encourage the recipient to participate in presentations at one or more high schools in the State of Maine concerning careers in oral health care, and such other terms and conditions as the Authority deems necessary to fulfill the policy objectives of the loan repayment program.

1. The Authority will prioritize the applications received for loan repayment. The Authority may consider each of the following criteria when determining which applicant(s) receive(s) a loan repayment agreement:

2. Final determinations will be made by the chief executive officer.

1. If a dentist fails to complete the required period of service under a loan repayment agreement the Authority may terminate the loan repayment agreement and award any remaining funds under another loan repayment agreement with another eligible applicant.

2. In the event that the dental care facility chooses not to renew the contract of any individual receiving loan repayment, the Authority is not under any obligation to locate another dental care facility which will accept the individual. The loan repayment agreement will terminate and the Authority may offer the funds available to eligible applicants. The loan repayment recipient may reapply for loan repayment at another dental care facility.