Topeka ? A Kansas University-run scholarship program that puts physicians in underserved areas in the state has become such a success that it needs more money, officials said Wednesday.

Kansas Board of Regents member Jarold Boettcher said the program “has a tremendous impact and is one we should work hard to protect.”

In preliminary budget discussions, KU has requested authorization to seek $1.87 million in additional funding for the Medical Loan Program for the fiscal year that starts July 1, 2012.

The program is administered by the KU Medical Center and provides tuition, fees and a monthly stipend for students at the KU School of Medicine.

The loans can be repaid by entering a primary care specialty and then practicing in an underserved county in Kansas for one year for each year of loan support.

Historically, the program has been funded by tax dollars, and by those who fail to satisfy the service commitment, who are then required to repay the loan plus a 15-percent penalty, according to a regents memo.

But over the years, more recipients have been satisfying their service obligation. Ten years ago, 350 recipients were re-paying the loans; now that number has fallen to 28, according to the memo.

The program supports about 120 loans per year.

Next year, the program will have about $4 million, but will need $5.8 million, creating the shortfall.

Without additional support, fewer physicians will be available to serve in underserved areas of the state, the memo states.

The regents board is expected to work on its budget proposal this summer and submit it to Gov. Sam Brownback in September.