The New York State Doctors Across New York (DANY) initiative includes several programs collectively designed to help train and place physicians in underserved communities, in a variety of settings and specialties, to care for New York’s diverse population. The DANY Physician Loan Repayment (PLR) and Physician Practice Support (PPS) programs make funds available to help recruit physicians to and encourage them to remain in medically underserved areas of the state. Funding is provided in exchange for a physician’s commitment to work in an underserved area for a three-year period (DANY service obligation period).

This is the nineth DANY PLR/PPS cycle of funding, referenced herein as Cycle IX. Previous cycles were awarded funding in amounts that were different for PLR and PPS. These previous cycles also required different lengths of time for the physician’s commitment to work in an underserved area. For Cycle IX, pursuant to changes made by Public Health Law (PHL) § 2807-m (12) in 2016, both PLR and PPS awards will provide up to $40,000 per year for three years (not to exceed $120,000 in total funding) to or on behalf of a physician who agrees to practice in an underserved area for the three-year DANY service obligation period. Up to $15.8 million is currently available under this Solicitation of Interest (SOI), which is expected to result in approximately 132 three-year awards. If additional funds become available, the Department may make additional awards.

Pursuant to PHL § 2807-m, DANY funds can be awarded to: (1) a physician to pay qualified educational debt; (2) a physician to submit the costs of establishing or joining medical practices; or (3) a health care facility to recruit or retain a physician by providing the physician with a sign-on bonus, funds to repay outstanding qualified educational debt, or enhanced compensation. In all cases, 100 percent of the funds ultimately must be distributed to the physician or the physician’s practice.