Nurses Across NY Loan Repayment SOI Available

LeadingAge NY is pleased to report that the Nurses Across New York (NANY) Solicitation of Interest (SOI) is now available. Members may recall that LeadingAge NY served on the advisory group to provide input into the process. The purpose of the program, which was developed in last year’s State budget, is to help address the nursing shortage through a loan repayment program. Applications are due by April 12, 2023.

Awards will provide up to $25,000 for a registered nurse (RN) or $10,000 for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who agrees to practice in an underserved area for the three-year NANY service obligation period. Funds can be awarded to:

1. RNs licensed to practice under Section 6905 of the Education Law and LPNs licensed under Section 6906 of the Education Law; or
2. a health care facility to recruit or retain a nurse by providing the nurse funds to repay qualifying outstanding debt. In all cases, 100 percent of the funds ultimately must be distributed to the nurse.

Individuals and organizations interested in this opportunity should review the application carefully; however, we provide the following highlights for members.

Eligibility

A nurse who seeks a NANY award to repay educational debt must have an employment contract or offer letter with a health care facility requiring the nurse to provide services for at least the entire NANY service obligation period. The documents outline the definition of “health care facility” to include a variety of providers, including but not limited to nursing homes, licensed home care services agencies (LHCSAs), certified home health agencies (CHHAs), diagnostic and treatment centers, and other facilities overseen by other State agencies.

A health care facility is eligible for a NANY award for the period (Aug. 1, 2023 – July 31, 2026) to provide a nurse with funds to repay outstanding educational debt, if meeting certain eligibility requirements. The term "health care facility" again includes a variety of providers, including but not limited to nursing homes, LHCSAs, CHHAs, diagnostic and treatment centers, and other facilities overseen by other State agencies.

There are a variety of criteria that the individual must also meet to be eligible, including but not limited to that the services that the nurse will provide under the employment contract must constitute full-time clinical practice. The health care facility or practice where the nurse will be employed must be located in an underserved area, as defined in Attachment 6 (Tool to Identify an Underserved Area) of the SOI.

Funding Details

The loan repayment funds would be distributed to a successful applicant as follows: 30 percent of the total award for the first year, 30 percent of the total award for the second year, and any unpaid balance of the total award not to exceed the maximum award amount for the third year. The allocation of funding is anticipated to be as follows:

1. Approximately 50 percent of funding will be allocated to newly licensed nurses (i.e., those who have been licensed for two years or less).
2. Approximately 50 percent of funding will be allocated to nurses who have been licensed for two to five years.
3. Nurses licensed for five years or more may be eligible if funding is available after initial awards are made.

DOH will accept written questions until 4 p.m. on March 9, 2023. All questions should be submitted electronically to NANY@health.ny.gov with the subject line “NANY Cycle 1 Question.”

LeadingAge NY urges potential applicants to review all the documents in the SOI carefully and be sure to submit by the deadline.

Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828