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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 22, 2015 09:42 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas P. Murt |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Primary Health Care Practitioner Loan Repayment Program (Prior HB 2179) |
| In the near future, I plan to reintroduce legislation that amends the Children’s Health Care Act of 1992 regarding loan forgiveness for primary health care practitioners. Throughout the United States, there is a need to increase access to health care services in underserved areas and to improve the recruitment and retention of health care practitioners in these communities. In 1992, the Pennsylvania Primary Care Loan Repayment Program was established. This program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, and it provides loan repayment opportunities as an incentive to recruit and to retain primary care practitioners willing to serve underserved Pennsylvania residents. Currently, eligible primary care practitioners include physicians, general dentists, certified registered nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants. Physicians and dentists may receive up to $64,000 in educational loan repayment while nurse practitioners, midwives and physician assistants may receive up to $40,000. Practitioners must be employed full-time at a primary practice site approved by the Department of Health. My legislation establishes a part-time primary care loan repayment program to offer loan repayment opportunities to primary health care practitioners willing to serve on a part-time basis. Part-time physicians and dentists may be able to receive up to $32,000 in loan repayment while nurse practitioners, midwives and physician assistants may be able to receive up to $20,000. Previous Cosponsors: CALTAGIRONE, PASHINSKI, KORTZ, YOUNGBLOOD, READSHAW, SCHLOSSBERG, MILLARD, McNEILL, THOMAS, MAHONEY, COHEN, WATSON, FRANKEL and GILLEN |
Introduced as HB1031