MELRAP-2017 FINAL WITH EDITS.DOCX

MARICOPA COUNTY INTERNAL POLICY
Policy Title: Policy Number: XXXX
MEDICAL EXAMINER LOAN REPAYMENT
Current Adoption Date: x-x-xxxx
ASSISTANCE PLAN
Current Implementation Date: x-x-xxxx
Approved by: Board Agenda Number:
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Original Adoption Date: xx-xx-xxxx
I. PURPOSE
To enhance the recruitment and retention of medical examiners by providing financial assistance to
those with student loan debt.
II. AUTHORITY
This Policy has been authorized by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to A.R.S. § 11-251.
III. APPLICATION
This Policy applies to medical examiners.
IV. DEFINITIONS
A. Administrative Panel: A panel consisting of a representative from each of the following areas:
County Management, County Human Resources, and the Office of the Medical Examiner (OME).
B. MELRAP: Medical Examiner Loan Repayment Assistance Plan.
C. Participant: A medical examiner who meets all of the eligibility requirements and chooses to
participate in the MELRAP.
DRAFT
D. Plan Administrator: An employee designated by OME’s Appointing Authority to manage
MELRAP. Plan Administrators may not participate in MELRAP.
V. POLICY
A. Employee Eligibility
1. Participation is voluntary and employees may end participation at any time. Eligible employees
must:
a. Be in a medical examiner, medical examiner (FP), deputy chief medical examiner or chief
medical examiner market range title.
b. Have obtained and maintained board certifications in Anatomic Pathology and Forensic
Pathology.
c. Be a regular employee who works at least 20 hours per week (excluding contract and
temporary staff).
d. Maintain qualifying employment during the entire quarter for which reimbursement is
requested.

Policy Title: Policy Number: XXXX
MEDICAL EXAMINER LOAN REPAYMENT
ASSISTANCE PLAN Current Adoption Date: xx-xx-xxxx
e. Have a rating of at least "meets" or equivalent on his/her most recent evaluation prior to
each reimbursement. A participant who receives an evaluation rating below "meets" or
equivalent is ineligible for MELRAP for the quarter during which the evaluation is
completed.
f. Apply and be accepted for participation in accordance with this Policy.
B. Responsibilities
1. Qualifying employees who opt to participate must:
a. Apply for and participate in all other sources of loan repayment assistance, forgiveness,
and cancellation for which they are eligible.
b. Submit their initial application and supporting materials by deadlines. This includes:
i. The MELRAP application.
ii. Documentation verifying each loan debt. This includes:
(a) Verification of the eligibility of the loan(s) pursuant to Section (V)(C) of this Policy.
(b) Account number.
(c) Amount of debt remaining.
DRAFT (d) Monthly payment amount.
(e) Lender contact information (name, address, phone number).
iii. Any other documentation requested by the Plan Administrator.
c. Provide updates and supporting documentation regarding changes to loans within the
quarter in which the changes occur (e.g., change in lender, servicer, and account number).
d. An employee may appeal Plan Administrator decisions to the Administrative Panel.
Appeals must be submitted in writing and within 30 days of the decision being appealed.
2. The Plan Administrator shall:
a. Make MELRAP applications and information available to employees.
b. Verify applicant eligibility during each quarter that they request a reimbursement.
c. Process all applications and subsequent documentation in a timely manner
d. Provide County Payroll Division with documentation required to process loan repayments.
e. Maintain all records related to the MELRAP including applications, eligibility verification
documents, quarterly reimbursement requests, account update requests, a list of
employees participating in the MELRAP, and other relevant materials.
f. Track and report performance data relevant to the MELRAP (e.g., number of participants,
amount of payments, and recruitment and retention statistics).
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Policy Title: Policy Number: XXXX
MEDICAL EXAMINER LOAN REPAYMENT
ASSISTANCE PLAN Current Adoption Date: xx-xx-xxxx
3. The Administrative Panel shall:
a. Develop procedures and forms for this Policy.
b. Be the final arbiter of disputes (e.g., appeals from participants or potential participants).
C. Educational Debt Eligibility
1. Loans must be for undergraduate, medical school, and/or joint degree programs where one
degree is an M.D. or a D.O. (e.g., school tuition and other reasonable educational and living
expenses).
2. Eligible expenses include the principal, interest, and related expenses for outstanding, eligible
loans.
3. Eligible Educational Loans:
a. Stafford Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan: A loan made, insured, or guaranteed
under Part B of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. §
1071, 20 U.S.C. § 1078-8, and 20 U.S.C. § 1087a, et. seq.
b. Perkins Loan: A loan made, insured, or guaranteed under Part D or E of Title IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1087aa-1087ii.
c. Federal Consolidated or Federal Direct Consolidated Loan: A loan made, insured, or
guaranteed under section 428C or 455(g) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
DRAFT amended, 20 U.S.C. § 1078-3 and 20 U.S.C. § 1087e(g) to the extent that such loan was
used to repay a Federal Direct Stafford, a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, or a
loan made under section 428 or section 428H of such Act.
d. Graduate Plus Loan: A fixed interest rate student loan guaranteed by the U.S. Government.
e. Health profession student loans available through an educational institution.
f. Private commercial educational or consolidated loans not excluded in this policy.
4. Ineligible Educational Loans:
a. Federal PLUS loans.
b. Private loans from friends, family members, or other private entities.
c. Credit card or other consumer debt used to finance education.
d. Qualifying loans consolidated with non-qualifying loans.
e. Educational loan debt that has been paid and satisfied and/or discharged.
D. Reimbursement Benefit
1. Participants may be reimbursed for payments made on their student loans up to $6,250 per
quarter with a maximum total benefit of $100,000. The reimbursement cannot exceed the actual
amount of payment made for that quarter.
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Policy Title: Policy Number: XXXX
MEDICAL EXAMINER LOAN REPAYMENT
ASSISTANCE PLAN Current Adoption Date: xx-xx-xxxx
2. Participants may request reimbursement at the beginning of the full quarter after acceptance
into the MELRAP for payments made during the quarter in which they are accepted.
3. Reimbursements are prorated for part-time staff working at least 20 hours per week.
4. Receipt of a reimbursement does not constitute a legal entitlement to future benefits nor does
it constitute a right, promise, or entitlement to continued employment.
E. Separations and Repayments
1. Participants who separate from County employment must repay all sums they received under
this policy during the last 12 months prior to their termination.
2. The County may deduct the amount owed or a portion thereof from the employee’s final
paycheck.
3. Participants whose final paycheck is insufficient to cover the full amount owed must establish
a repayment plan with their department to be completed within one (1) year from the date of
their termination.
4. Failure to repay amounts owed by the established due date may result in referral to a debt
collection agency.
F. The County Manager may approve variations to this policy.
DRAFT
Revision History
Version Revision Date Description of Revision
1 Initial version
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