191.611.  Loan repayment program to cover certain loans — amount paid per year of obligated service — schedule of payments — communities sharing costs to be given first consideration. — 1.  A loan payment provided for an individual under a written contract under the Missouri state loan repayment program shall consist of payment on behalf of the individual of the principal, interest, and related expenses on government and commercial loans received by the individual for tuition, fees, books, laboratory, and living expenses incurred by the individual.

  2.  For each year of obligated services that an individual contracts to serve in an area of defined need, the director may pay an amount not to exceed the maximum amounts allowed under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program, 42 U.S.C. Section 254l-1, on behalf of the individual for loans described in subsection 1 of this section.

  3.  The department may enter into an agreement with the holder of the loans for which repayments are made pursuant to the Missouri state loan repayment program to establish a schedule for the making of such payments if the establishment of such a schedule would result in reducing the costs to the state.

  4.  Any qualifying communities providing a portion of a loan repayment shall be considered first for placement.