The purpose of the program is to assist medically underserved communities in Arkansas with physician recruitment by offering additional financial incentives to participating physicians.

 How it works: A physician who is either in their residency or no more than two years out of residency, and a Rural Community in Arkansas may jointly apply. The physician agrees to practice Primary Care in the community for a period of four years. In return, the community agrees to pay the physician an additional $10,000 per year and the State pays $10,000 per year for a total of $80,000 for four years.

A physician applicant must be:

• a graduate from an accredited medical school in the United States and currently enrolled in a residency or other training program in an area of primary care or completed training no more than 2 (two) years prior to the date of application
• in any rural community in Arkansas in need of a physician
• approved by the Arkansas Rural Medical Practice Student Loan and Scholarship Board
• a person of good moral character who clearly demonstrates a desire to practice full-time primary care medicine in the match community
• able to make a 4 (four) year commitment to practice full time medicine in their match community