The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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An Act relative to creating a program to reward doctors and nurses who administer help in certain health facilities. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter
15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby
amended by adding after section 19A the following section:—
Section 19B. There shall be a student loan repayment program for the purpose of
encouraging outstanding students to enlist in the doctor and nursing facilities
that service uninsured and low-income patients in the commonwealth by providing
financial assistance for the repayment of qualified education loans, as defined
below. The program shall be administered by the department of public health in
accordance with guidelines promulgated by the department of public health. The
program shall be subject to appropriation.
The term “qualified education loan” shall mean any indebtedness including
interest on such indebtedness incurred to pay tuition or other direct expenses
incurred in connection with the pursuit of an undergraduate or graduate degree
by an applicant, but shall not include loans made by any person related to the
applicant.
The council shall promulgate guidelines governing the attracting excellence in
the doctor and nursing profession program. These guidelines shall include the
following provisions:
(1) Eligibility for the program shall be limited to persons who have graduated
in the top 15 per cent of their undergraduate classes or who have graduated
with honors designations, as certified by the institution attended by any such
applicant;
(2) Eligibility shall be limited to persons entering the doctor or nursing
profession after July 1, 2005 who have signed a contract stating that they will
work full time in a health clinic, established doctor’s office or medical
facility that treats patients who are uninsured, or low-income. These specific
facilities will be deemed by the Public Health department;
(3) The commonwealth shall repay a participating doctor’s or nurse’s student
loan at a rate not to exceed $150.00 per month for a period not to exceed 48
months;
(4) Repayment shall be made to the participating doctor or nurse annually upon
the presentation by the participating doctor or nurse of satisfactory evidence
of payments under the loan, as well as satisfactory service to the commonwealth
through medical facilities that treat low-income or uninsured patients;
(5) Payments by
the commonwealth shall cover only loan payments made by the participating
doctor or nurse in the months during which the participating doctor or nurse
practices in the commonwealth;
(6) The program will be limited to doctors and nurses who practice in health
care facilities designated by the department of public health as caring for
low-income or uninsured patients.
Expenses for administration of the program may be retained in an interest
bearing trust fund to be established by the department of public health and
expended for the costs of administering the program without further
appropriation, and any funds remaining in the trust at the termination of the
program shall be returned of the General Fund.