Section 577.310  Application

a)         Any Illinois psychiatric physician or one who can be expected to be licensed in Illinois and who intends to practice full-time in a designated shortage area of Illinois may apply for educational loan repayment.

b)         The Department shall prepare and distribute applications to eligible applicants.

c)         Applicants shall document currently existing educational loan indebtedness to a governmental or commercial lending institution incurred for educational expenses in pursuit of the applicant's medical degree in Illinois.  The documentation of indebtedness shall include a photocopy or original copy of promissory notes or other evidence of indebtedness with disclosure of lending institution or agency, loan amount, loan period, interest rate, and any amounts repaid prior to the date of application.

d)         Applicants shall practice, or be willing to practice, full-time in a designated shortage area in Illinois.

e)         Applicants not yet in practice, or not yet in practice in a designated shortage area in Illinois, shall document intent to do so by written confirmation from a community-based organization or agency, or from other physicians located within the designated shortage area.