CalHealthCares

DHCS | CalHealthCares

CalHealthCares administers loan repayment on educational debt for California physicians and dentists who provide care to Medi-Cal patients, which represent one-third of Californians and half of the state’s children. Eligible physicians and dentists can apply for up to $300,000 in loan repayment in exchange for a five-year service obligation.

CalHealthCares commits $340 million voter-approved, state tobacco tax revenues from Proposition 56 (2016) to support and incentivize physicians and dentists to increase participation in the Medi-Cal program. In April 2019, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) launched CalHealthCares, and DHCS has contracted with PHC to administer the statewide program.

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Interactive Data Map

Explore our interactive data maps by awardee cycle and practice specialty.

Program Status

Pursuant to the enacted 2025-26 State Budget, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will not be moving forward with a new cohort for the CalHealthCares Loan Repayment Program (LRP) at this time. Additional information is available here: DHCS-FY-2025-26-Budget-Act-Highlights (see Suspension of the Proposition 56 Loan Repayment Program). DHCS recognizes the program's significance to Medi-Cal providers and communities and will share updates as new information becomes available.  

Last updated: 9/17/2025

Impact

CalHealthCares administers loan repayment on educational debt for California physicians and dentists who provide care to Medi-Cal patients. It is a publicly funded program through voter-approved tobacco tax revenues (Proposition 56 in 2016) and administered by Physicians for a Healthy California. CalHealthCares has awarded 1,414 physicians and dentist across five cohorts who serve Medi-Cal patients through various California counties. CalHealthCares is entering its fifth application cycle, FY 2022-2023, in which the program strives to continue increasing access to care for Medi-Cal patients.

2024 CalHealthCares Brochure

Eligibility 

  • Have an unrestricted license and be in good standing with their licensing board
  • Be an active enrolled Medi-Cal provider without existing suspensions, disbarments or revocations or have applied to DHCS to become a Medi-Cal provider
  • Have graduated within the last five years (January 1, 2018) or will be graduating from a residency or fellowship program no later than June 30, 2023. For dentist applying to the Practice Support Grant must have graduated from dental school or residency program within the last fifteen years (January 1, 2008)
  • Have existing educational loan debt incurred while pursuing a medical or dental degree, or have an existing dental practice and willing to relocate, expand or establish a new practice to a target county
  • Not participating in another disqualifying loan repayment program or practice support grant as of August 1, 2023
  • Not concurrently participating in a residency or fellowship program as of July 1, 2023
  • Practice in California or willing to relocate to practice in California
  • Be employed, self-employed or have a validated offer of employment by August 1, 2023
  • Maintain a patient caseload comprised of a minimum of 30 percent Medi-Cal beneficiaries and within 10 percent of the Medi-Cal patient caseload proposed in their application 

In the News

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Questions?

Email CalHealthCares@phcdocs.org or call (916) 551-2579.

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