Loan Forgiveness a Success

A loan forgiveness program has attracted 47 doctors and nurse practitioners in its first year.

The 47 primary care providers have agreed to work two to three years at a community health center in Massachusetts. In exchange, they'll erase up to $75 thousand dollars in student loan debt.

The program was created to help make sure there are enough doctors for hundreds of thousands of newly insured residents.

Joan Pernice with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers says loan forgiveness is a key recruiting incentive.

"This loan repayment program can almost be a tipping point of really being that one thing that helps people make up their minds of working in community health centers." Says Pernice.

Most of the funding comes from Bank of America and the state.