PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1923 PRINTER'S NO. 3443
No. 1633 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY D. R. WRIGHT, DeWEESE, COLE, HALUSKA, LLOYD,
HARPER, E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, COY, STABACK, DEMPSEY, KUKOVICH,
HANNA, JOSEPHS, ARGALL, BOWLEY, TRICH, WILLIAMS, NOYE,
FAIRCHILD, BUSH, MIHALICH, PISTELLA, HASAY, CLARK, TRELLO,
MERRY, STEIGHNER, JOHNSON, PESCI, RUDY, DERMODY, TULLI,
JAROLIN, BILLOW, TANGRETTI, KRUSZEWSKI, VANCE, BELARDI,
CARONE, RICHARDSON, JAMES AND STEELMAN, JUNE 11, 1991
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 7, 1992
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Health Care Professional Loan Repayment <--
2 Program; providing for its administration; conferring powers
3 and duties on the Department of Health; and making an
4 appropriation.
5 PROVIDING FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN STUDENT <--
6 LOANS AND FOR SCHOLARSHIPS IN RELATION TO THE ENCOURAGEMENT
7 OF PHYSICIANS TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE MEDICALLY
8 UNDERSERVED DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREAS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH;
9 ESTABLISHING THE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN FUND ADVISORY
10 COMMITTEE AND PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS AND DUTIES;
11 ESTABLISHING THE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN FUND; AND
12 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION
13 ASSISTANCE AGENCY.
14 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT:
15 (1) LOWER LEVELS OF REIMBURSEMENT IN RURAL AND INNER-
16 CITY AREAS FOR CERTAIN CRITICAL PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES DETER
17 THEIR ESTABLISHMENT IN ECONOMICALLY HARD-PRESSED INNER-CITY
18 AND SPARSELY POPULATED RURAL AREAS.
19 (2) PHYSICIANS TYPICALLY BEGIN THEIR PRACTICES HEAVILY
20 IN DEBT FROM LOANS ACQUIRED TO FINANCE THEIR EDUCATION.
1 (3) BECAUSE OF THE LOWER LEVELS OF REIMBURSEMENT AND THE
2 BURDEN OF EDUCATIONAL DEBTS, THE NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE
3 PHYSICIANS CHOOSING TO PRACTICE IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED
4 DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREAS IS INSUFFICIENT TO ADEQUATELY MEET
5 THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THE POPULATION.
6 (4) REPAYMENT OF STUDENT LOANS FOR PRIMARY CARE
7 PHYSICIANS WHO SET UP PRACTICE IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED
8 DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREAS AND THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL
9 SCHOLARSHIPS TO RESIDENTS WHO WILL ENGAGE IN PRIMARY CARE
10 PRACTICES IN RURAL AND INNER-CITY AREAS, ENCOURAGES THE
11 ESTABLISHMENT OF CRITICAL PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES IN RURAL AND
12 INNER-CITY AREAS WITH A RESULTANT BENEFIT TO ALL CITIZENS OF
13 THIS COMMONWEALTH.
14 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15 hereby enacts as follows:
16 Section 1. Short title. <--
17 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Health Care
18 Professional Loan Repayment Program Act.
19 Section 2. Declaration of policy.
20 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
21 (1) The health care of economically disadvantaged rural
22 citizens of this Commonwealth is adversely affected by the
23 limited availability of professional medical services.
24 (2) Rural areas of this Commonwealth find it more
25 difficult to attract and retain health care professionals.
26 (3) A program providing for the repayment of medical
27 education loans incurred by health care students in return
28 for a commitment to provide professional medical services to
29 citizens of rural counties would be beneficial to the
30 Commonwealth, its citizens and the students enrolled in the
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1 loan repayment program.
2 Section 3. Definitions.
3 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
4 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
5 context clearly indicates otherwise:
6 "Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
7 "Medically underserved area." A geographic area or
8 population group in this Commonwealth which has been determined
9 by the Department of Health to have a health care manpower
10 shortage and which meets the general qualifications criteria of
11 the Federal National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
12 established under section 338B of the Public Health Service Act
13 (58 Stat. 682, 42 U.S.C. § 254l-1). Locations with high
14 incidences of infant mortality, high morbidity or low Medicaid
15 participation by health care professionals may be designated as
16 medically underserved by the department.
17 "Program." The Health Care Professional Loan Repayment
18 Program established in section 4.
19 Section 4. Program.
20 To encourage qualified health care professionals to practice
21 in medically underserved areas, the department has the power and
22 duty to establish the Health Care Professional Loan Repayment
23 Program. The function of the program is to make payments that
24 offset loans and certain educational expenses incurred by
25 students for studies leading to a medical or nursing degree,
26 medical or nursing licensure, or advanced registered nurse
27 practitioner or physician assistant certification. The program
28 shall conform with section 338I of the Public Health Service Act
29 (58 Stat. 682, 42 U.S.C. § 254q-1) and shall provide for the
30 repayment of government and commercial loans for tuition-related
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1 and education-related expenses of eligible health care
2 professionals who make and honor a contractual agreement to
3 render service for a designated period of time in a medically
4 underserved area.
5 Section 5. Powers and duties of department.
6 The department shall submit an application to the United
7 States Secretary of Health and Human Services for a grant to
8 fund the program within the limits of funds available under
9 section 338I of the Public Health Service Act (58 Stat. 682, 42
10 U.S.C. § 254q-1). The department shall promulgate regulations
11 necessary for the administration of the program. Regulations
12 shall include all of the following:
13 (1) Academic and financial guidelines for participation
14 in program.
15 (2) Procedures for making application.
16 (3) Limits on practitioner participation per year.
17 (4) Penalties and sanctions for practitioners who
18 default on contractual agreements.
19 (5) Procedures for collecting on defaulted contracts.
20 Section 6. Health care professionals eligible for participation
21 in program.
22 (a) Eligibility.--
23 (1) The department shall establish eligibility criteria
24 and conditions for health care professionals seeking to
25 participate in the program. The following licensed or
26 certified health care professionals shall be eligible to
27 participate in the program:
28 (i) Medical doctors with primary care specialties.
29 (ii) Doctors of osteopathy with primary care
30 specialties.
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1 (iii) Physician assistants.
2 (iv) Registered nurses.
3 (v) Advanced registered nurse practitioners.
4 (2) Primary care medical specialties for physicians
5 shall include obstetrics, gynecology, general and family
6 practice, internal medicine, pediatrics and other specialties
7 identified by the United States Secretary of Health and Human
8 Services.
9 (b) Program participants.--The eligibility guidelines for
10 program participants shall meet the qualifications criteria
11 established by the United States Secretary of Health and Human
12 Services in administering section 338I of the Public Health
13 Service Act (58 Stat. 682, 42 U.S.C. § 254q-1).
14 Section 7. Use of funds.
15 It is the intent of the General Assembly to see that funds as
16 appropriated are utilized by the department for the purpose of
17 increasing the number of primary care physicians, nurses,
18 physician assistants and registered nurse practitioners in
19 medically underserved areas. The department may use funds
20 appropriated for the program as matching funds for Federal loan
21 repayment programs for health care professionals. To the extent
22 permissible under the provisions of the Public Health Service
23 Act (58 Stat. 682, 42 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.), loan reimbursement
24 for program participants shall be limited to primary care
25 physicians, physician assistants, nurses and nurse practitioners
26 who agree to practice in a medically underserved rural area for
27 a specific period of time and to medical professionals employed
28 by or affiliated with rural hospitals. Reimbursements shall be
29 contingent on continued proof of full-time or part-time primary
30 care practice in a medically underserved area and the
19910H1633B3443 - 5 -
1 practitioner accepts any Medicaid reimbursement if eligible for
2 it. Locations with high incidences of infant mortality, high
3 morbidity or low Medicaid participation by health care
4 professionals may be designated as medically underserved by the
5 department.
6 Section 8. Appropriation.
7 The sum of $1,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
8 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of Health
9 for the fiscal year July 1, 1991, to June 30, 1992, for
10 development and implementation of the Health Care Professional
11 Loan Repayment Program.
12 Section 9. Effective date.
13 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
14 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. <--
15 THIS ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE MEDICAL
16 SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN ACT.
17 SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
18 THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ACT SHALL
19 HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
20 CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
21 "AGENCY." THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE
22 AGENCY.
23 "COMMITTEE." THE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN FUND ADVISORY
24 COMMITTEE.
25 "DEPARTMENT." THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
26 "FUND." THE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN FUND.
27 "MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREA." ANY OF THE
28 FOLLOWING AND AS FURTHER DEFINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH:
29 (1) AN AREA DESIGNATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AS A
30 PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE AREA USING CRITERIA WHICH TAKE INTO
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1 ACCOUNT THE SPECIAL BARRIERS TO THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE
2 SERVICES IN RURAL AND INNER-CITY AREAS.
3 (2) A MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREA AS DESIGNATED BY THE
4 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
5 (3) A CRITICAL MANPOWER SHORTAGE AREA AS DEFINED BY THE
6 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
7 "PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN." A FAMILY PRACTITIONER AS DEFINED
8 BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL SPECIALTIES, A GENERAL
9 PRACTITIONER AS DEFINED BY THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC BOARD OF
10 GENERAL PRACTICE OR A GENERAL PEDIATRICIAN OR OBSTETRICIAN-
11 GYNECOLOGIST AS DEFINED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL
12 SPECIALTIES OR THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC BOARD OF GENERAL
13 PRACTICE.
14 SECTION 3. MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN FUND ADVISORY
15 COMMITTEE.
16 (A) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.--THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED
17 THE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH
18 SHALL ADVISE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE AGENCY ON THE
19 ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND, THE SELECTION OF LOAN AND
20 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AND THE ASSIGNMENT OF RECIPIENTS TO
21 MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREAS.
22 (B) COMPOSITION.--THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE COMPOSED OF 11
23 MEMBERS WHICH SHALL INCLUDE:
24 (1) FOUR MEMBERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION
25 ASSISTANCE AGENCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TO BE APPOINTED BY THE
26 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.
27 (2) SEVEN MEMBERS SELECTED BY THE GOVERNOR AS FOLLOWS:
28 (I) TWO LICENSED PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS ACTIVELY
29 PRACTICING IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED DESIGNATED SHORTAGE
30 AREAS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
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1 (II) TWO CONSUMERS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF MEDICALLY
2 UNDERSERVED DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREAS OF THIS
3 COMMONWEALTH.
4 (III) ONE MEMBER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA MEDICAL
5 SOCIETY.
6 (IV) ONE MEMBER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF
7 FAMILY PHYSICIANS.
8 (V) ONE MEMBER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA OSTEOPATHIC
9 MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
10 (C) TERMS OF OFFICE.--EACH MEMBER SHALL SERVE FOUR YEARS OR
11 THE TERM OF THE OFFICE BY WHICH HE HOLDS MEMBERSHIP ON THE
12 COMMITTEE, AND UNTIL HIS SUCCESSOR HAS BEEN APPOINTED AND
13 QUALIFIED.
14 (D) CHAIRMAN.--THE COMMITTEE SHALL SELECT ANNUALLY A
15 CHAIRMAN FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS.
16 SECTION 4. FUND.
17 (A) ESTABLISHMENT.--THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE
18 PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AGENCY A SPECIAL FUND
19 TO BE KNOWN AS THE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN FUND.
20 (B) ADMINISTRATION AND PURPOSE.--THE AGENCY SHALL ADMINISTER
21 THE FUND UPON THE ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE TO
22 PROVIDE FOR REPAYMENT OF RURAL AND INNER-CITY PRIMARY CARE
23 PHYSICIANS' STUDENT LOANS AND FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL OR OSTEOPATHIC
24 MEDICAL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
25 EACH YEAR LOANS OR SCHOLARSHIPS OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF SHALL
26 BE AWARDED UNDER THE GUIDELINES AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 5.
27 SECTION 5. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE.
28 (A) GENERAL RULE.--THE AGENCY MAY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THE
29 REPAYMENT OF ANY STUDENT LOAN FOR EDUCATION AT AN INSTITUTION OF
30 HIGHER LEARNING IN THIS COMMONWEALTH, INCLUDING LOANS FOR
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1 UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION, RECEIVED BY A PHYSICIAN AND EXECUTED
2 PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT. AFTER THE EFFECTIVE
3 DATE OF THIS ACT, THE AGENCY, WITH THE ADVICE AND UPON THE
4 RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE, SHALL MAKE LOANS FROM THE FUND
5 CREATED UNDER THIS ACT USING THE CRITERIA DEVELOPED UNDER THIS
6 ACT AND ANY OTHER CRITERIA DEVELOPED BY THE AGENCY THAT ARE NOT
7 INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT. THE AGENCY MAY NOT PROVIDE REPAYMENT
8 ASSISTANCE FOR A LOAN THAT IS IN DEFAULT AT THE TIME OF THE
9 APPLICATION.
10 (B) ELIGIBILITY.--TO BE CONSIDERED FOR LOAN REPAYMENT
11 ASSISTANCE, AN APPLICANT SHALL MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
12 (1) (I) BE ENROLLED AS A FULL-TIME STUDENT IN AN
13 ACCREDITED PENNSYLVANIA MEDICAL SCHOOL OR OSTEOPATHIC
14 MEDICAL COLLEGE AND BE A LEGAL RESIDENT OF THIS
15 COMMONWEALTH AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION; OR
16 (II) HAVE A MEDICAL DEGREE FROM AN ACCREDITED
17 PENNSYLVANIA MEDICAL SCHOOL OR OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL
18 COLLEGE AND HAVE COMPLETED AN APPROVED PENNSYLVANIA
19 GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM IN PRIMARY CARE MEDICINE AND BE
20 LICENSED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.
21 (2) AGREE TO SERVE IN A DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREA OF THIS
22 COMMONWEALTH AS A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN ONE YEAR FOR EACH
23 $12,500 IN LOANS REPAID BY THE AGENCY.
24 SECTION 6. CONTRACTS.
25 EACH RECIPIENT OF A REPAYMENT LOAN SHALL ENTER INTO A WRITTEN
26 CONTRACT WITH THE AGENCY WHICH SHALL BE CONSIDERED A CONTRACT
27 WITH THIS COMMONWEALTH. IN EXECUTING CONTRACTS, THE AGENCY SHALL
28 GIVE PRIORITY TO THOSE APPLICANTS WHO AGREE TO ENGAGE IN PRIMARY
29 CARE PRACTICE A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS IN A MEDICALLY
30 UNDERSERVED DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREA. THE CONTRACT SHALL INCLUDE
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1 THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
2 (1) AN UNLICENSED APPLICANT SHALL APPLY FOR A LICENSE TO
3 PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THIS COMMONWEALTH AT THE EARLIEST
4 PRACTICABLE OPPORTUNITY.
5 (2) WITHIN SIX MONTHS AFTER LICENSURE AND THE COMPLETION
6 OF ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRIMARY CARE SPECIALTY, THE
7 APPLICANT SHALL ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF PRIMARY CARE
8 MEDICINE IN THE MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED DESIGNATED SHORTAGE
9 AREA SELECTED BY THE AGENCY UPON THE ADVICE AND
10 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
11 (3) THE APPLICANT SHALL AGREE TO SERVE ONE FULL YEAR FOR
12 EACH LOAN REPAYMENT OF $12,500 MADE ON HIS BEHALF.
13 (4) THE PHYSICIAN SHALL TREAT PATIENTS IN THE AREA
14 ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICARE AND DEVELOP A SLIDING FEE
15 SCALE FOR LOW-INCOME PATIENTS.
16 (5) THE PHYSICIAN SHALL PRACTICE FULL-TIME IN THE
17 DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREA. FULL-TIME MAY INCLUDE HOSPITAL AND
18 CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES CONSISTENT WITH THE
19 NORMAL DELIVERY OF PATIENT SERVICES.
20 (6) THE PHYSICIAN SHALL PERMIT THE AGENCY TO MONITOR THE
21 PRACTICE TO DETERMINE COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE
22 CONTRACT.
23 (7) THE AGENCY SHALL CERTIFY COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS
24 OF THE CONTRACT FOR PURPOSES OF RECEIPT BY THE PHYSICIAN OF
25 LOANS FOR YEARS SUBSEQUENT TO THE INITIAL YEAR OF THE LOAN.
26 (8) THE CONTRACT SHALL BE RENEWABLE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS
27 UPON CERTIFICATION BY THE AGENCY THAT THE PHYSICIAN HAS
28 COMPLIED WITH THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT.
29 (9) IN THE EVENT OF THE RECIPIENT'S DEATH OR TOTAL OR
30 PERMANENT DISABILITY, THE AGENCY SHALL NULLIFY THE SERVICE
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1 OBLIGATION OF THE RECIPIENT AND THE AGENCY SHALL REPAY THE
2 LOAN IN FULL.
3 (10) IN THE EVENT THE RECIPIENT IS CONVICTED OF A FELONY
4 OR MISDEMEANOR OR THE RECIPIENT COMMITS AN ACT OF GROSS
5 NEGLIGENCE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF SERVICE OBLIGATIONS OR WHERE
6 THE LICENSE TO PRACTICE HAS BEEN REVOKED OR SUSPENDED BY THE
7 APPROPRIATE LICENSING BOARD, THE AGENCY SHALL HAVE THE
8 AUTHORITY TO TERMINATE THE RECIPIENT'S SERVICE IN THE PROGRAM
9 AND DEMAND REPAYMENT OF THE OUTSTANDING LOAN.
10 (11) NO PHYSICIAN MAY RECEIVE REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR
11 MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.
12 (12) LOAN RECIPIENTS WHO FAIL TO FULFILL THE OBLIGATIONS
13 CONTRACTED FOR SHALL PAY TO THE AGENCY THE FULL AMOUNT
14 RECEIVED PLUS INTEREST FROM THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL LOAN AT
15 THE RATE OF 10% ABOVE THE PRIME RATE AT THE TIME OF THE
16 BREACH.
17 SECTION 7. SCHOLARSHIPS.
18 TO BE CONSIDERED FOR SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE, AN APPLICANT
19 SHALL MEET THE FOLLOWING:
20 (1) BE A RESIDENT OF THIS COMMONWEALTH AND HAVE
21 SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION AT AN
22 INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
23 (2) AGREE TO ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF PRIMARY CARE
24 MEDICINE FOR A MINIMUM OF FOUR YEARS IN A MEDICALLY
25 UNDERSERVED DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREA TO WHICH HE IS ASSIGNED
26 BY THE AGENCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT
27 AFTER COMPLETION OF ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE AS A
28 PHYSICIAN IN THIS COMMONWEALTH AND OF THE PRIMARY CARE
29 SPECIALTY.
30 (3) MEET SUCH OTHER CRITERIA AS SHALL BE DEVELOPED BY
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1 THE AGENCY UPON THE ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE
2 COMMITTEE AS ARE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSES OF THIS
3 ACT.
4 SECTION 8. ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA.
5 THE AGENCY, UPON THE ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE
6 COMMITTEE, SHALL ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR ASSIGNING RECIPIENTS TO
7 A MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED DESIGNATED SHORTAGE AREA. IN MAKING THE
8 ASSIGNMENTS, THE AGENCY SHALL MATCH THE CHARACTERISTICS AND
9 PREFERENCES OF THE RECIPIENT WITH THOSE OF THE AREA, POPULATION
10 GROUP OR HEALTH CARE FACILITY TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE TO MAXIMIZE
11 THE PROBABILITY OF THE RECIPIENT REMAINING IN THE AREA UPON
12 COMPLETION OF THE ASSIGNMENT PERIOD.
13 SECTION 9. APPROPRIATION.
14 THE ANNUAL SUM OF $3,000,000, OR AS MUCH THEREOF AS MAY BE
15 NECESSARY, IS HEREBY APPROPRIATED TO THE PENNSYLVANIA HIGHER
16 EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AGENCY, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 1992,
17 TO JUNE 30, 1993, FOR THE START-UP COSTS, LOANS, SCHOLARSHIPS
18 AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN FUND.
19 SECTION 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.
20 THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.
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