Bill > H4666

This bill establishes the "Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care Workforce Trust Fund" to provide loan repayment assistance to primary care physicians who work in geographically underserved communities with integrated primary and behavioral healthcare settings. The fund will be administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who will award grants to eligible physicians, prioritizing those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. To qualify for grants, physicians must: work in a practice with a significant public payor patient population, integrate primary and behavioral healthcare, have outstanding educational debt, not participate in other Massachusetts loan repayment programs, and commit to a minimum 4-year contract with the commonwealth. Grant amounts will be prorated for part-time workers. The executive office of health and human services will develop regulations for grant applications, fund usage, and penalties for non-compliance. Recipients will be required to submit detailed annual reports to various legislative committees, including information on the number of applications received, grants awarded, and grant amounts. The fund will be supported by appropriations, bond proceeds, federal grants, and private donations, with any unspent balance rolling over to subsequent fiscal years.

Health and Social Services

Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4666