Bill > S781

This bill establishes a primary care workforce development and loan forgiveness grant program at community health centers in Massachusetts. The program aims to enhance the recruitment and retention of primary care physicians, other clinicians, and bachelor's-level mental health and primary care professionals, such as community health workers, recovery coaches, and family partners. The grant program will be administered by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which may contract with an organization to oversee it. The program will prioritize a culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse workforce, and individuals eligible for loan repayment assistance must work at a community health center, have outstanding educational debt, not participate in any other loan repayment program, and commit to a minimum 4-year contract with the Commonwealth. The program will be funded through the Behavioral Health and Community-Based Primary Care Reserve established in a previous legislative act.