Bill > LB27

This bill modifies the Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act to expand financial assistance programs for healthcare professionals in Nebraska, with a particular focus on creating a new loan repayment program specifically for dentists who provide services to Medicaid patients. The bill updates several existing statutes to add a fifth purpose to the act: establishing a loan repayment program for dentists serving Medicaid patients. For eligible dentists who have practiced for less than five years and have not previously received financial assistance, the new program offers up to $60,000 per year for up to five years to repay educational debts, contingent upon the dentist practicing in Nebraska for five years and serving a specified number or percentage of Medicaid patients. The bill also makes changes to the Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund, allowing it to be used for loan repayments under the Rural Health Systems and Professional Incentive Act, and indicates legislative intent to appropriate $1.5 million from this fund in fiscal year 2025-26 to support the new dentist loan repayment program. Additionally, the bill slightly modifies existing loan repayment provisions for other healthcare professionals, including physicians, psychiatrists, and mental health practitioners, with some provisions allowing for full debt repayment under specific practice conditions.

Health and Social Services

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=58943