Bill > S780

This bill renames and expands the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program to the Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program, broadening its scope to include additional healthcare professions like psychiatry. The bill increases the maximum loan redemption amount from $120,000 to $200,000 for participants working at approved sites, and allows the Commissioner of Health to designate additional healthcare fields experiencing critical statewide labor shortages. Key changes include expanding eligible professions, modifying site approval criteria, and creating new reporting requirements. The program will now automatically consider a site as approved if it serves a high percentage of Medicaid patients, uses a sliding fee scale, and does not discriminate based on patients' ability to pay. The bill also requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to submit an annual report detailing program participation, loan redemption amounts, participant demographics, and the program's impact on healthcare workforce needs. Participants will continue to be required to work in underserved areas, with priority given to applicants employed at approved sites and those from underserved communities. The modifications aim to address healthcare professional shortages and improve access to care in medically underserved areas of New Jersey.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S780