Federal Health Professions

Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS)

The Loans for Disadvantaged Students program provides long-term, low-interest rate loans to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds, to pursue a degree in allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatric medicine, pharmacy or veterinary medicine.

Primary Care Loan (PCL)

The Primary Care Loan program provides long-term, low interest rate loans to full-time, financially needy students to pursue a degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine. Loans to third and fourth year students may be increased to repay outstanding balances on other loans taken out while in attendance at that school.

Medical students receiving a Primary Care Loan must agree to:

• Enter and complete residency training in primary care within four years after graduation.
• Practice in primary care for the life of the loan.

If you are interested in obtaining a PCL or LDS, please contact the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM) for qualification requirements.

Loan Servicer

It is the borrower’s responsibility to update their Federal Health Professions (LDS or PCL) contact information with Ohio University’s loan servicer:

ECSI
1200 Cherrington Parkway, Suite 200
Moon Township, PA 15108
1.888.549.3274

ECSI provides web-based access to your loan account which allows you to view payment history, update address and phone information, verify account balances, obtain loan payoff amounts, sign-up for electronic billing, and make payment. ECSI provides payment options such as recurring electronic funds transfer and credit card payments (additional fee applies to credit card payments; no additional fee for most eCheck payments). You can view your loan account status online. For questions regarding login, please contact ECSI at 1.888.549.3274.

ECSI will bill each loan in accordance with the terms of the signed promissory note and repayment schedule presented during the exit interview counseling. In the case of multiple loan accounts, you may receive a consolidated statement. Monthly billing starts following the expiration of the initial 12-month grace period with payment due in the thirteenth month.

The Consequences of Default

• Ohio University is required, by federal regulation, to report the status of the Loans for Disadvantaged Students and Primary Care Loans to at least one of the three national credit bureaus. If your loan becomes past due, your credit rating can be adversely affected.
• You may not utilize the deferment provisions of each loan program while your loan is in default.
• You are ineligible to receive additional Federal financial aid while in default.
• If your loan payment becomes seriously past due, your loan may be accelerated, which means the entire loan becomes due and payable immediately. Accelerated loans will be forwarded to the Ohio Attorney General’s office for further collection proceedings. All associated collection costs are your responsibility and will increase your outstanding balance due.

  Attorney General of Ohio
  Collections Enforcement
  30 E. Broad St., 14th Floor
  Columbus, Ohio 43215
  1.888.665.5440

Collection Cost

The Ohio Attorney General and/or their collection agencies will assess collection fees and interest to the account holder. The Ohio Attorney General reserves the right to employ legal counsel to handle litigation necessary to collect the debt. If litigation is filed, all costs associated with the litigation may be passed to the account holder. The Ohio Attorney General and his designees will at all times act in compliance with the provisions of the “Fair Debt Collection Practices Act” and any applicable Ohio statues.