Health care provider loan reimbursement program. Regulations

(a) As used in this section: (1) “Federally qualified health center” has the same meaning as provided in Section 1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act, 42 USC 1396d(l)(2)(B), as amended from time to time; (2) “Health care provider” means a health care provider licensed by the Department of Public Health; and (3) “Primary care” means the medical fields of family medicine, general pediatrics, primary care, internal medicine, primary care obstetrics or primary care gynecology, without regard to board certification. (b) The Department of Public Health shall establish, within available appropriations, a health care provider loan reimbursement program. The health care provider loan reimbursement program shall provide loan reimbursement grants to health care providers who are employed on a full-time basis as health care providers in the state. As used in this subsection, “employed” does not include an individual who is self-employed as a health care provider or a sole proprietor of a professional health care practice. (c) The Commissioner of Public Health shall (1) develop eligibility requirements for recipients of such loan reimbursement grants, which requirements may include, but need not be limited to, income guidelines, (2) award not less than twenty per cent of such loan reimbursement grants to persons employed full-time as primary care providers, and (3) award not less than twenty per cent of such loan reimbursement grants to persons employed full-time as health care providers (A) in a rural community in the state, or (B) by a federally qualified health center in the state. The commissioner shall consider health care workforce shortage areas when developing such eligibility requirements. A person who qualifies for a loan reimbursement grant shall be reimbursed on an annual basis for qualifying student loan payments in amounts determined by the commissioner. A health care provider shall only be reimbursed for loan payments made while such person is employed full-time in the state as a health care provider. Any person may apply for a loan reimbursement grant to the Department of Public Health at such time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes. (d) The Department of Public Health may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.