HF 2335 (LSB 5270YH (3) 83)

HOUSE FILE 2335

BY  HEATON

A BILL FOR

An Act creating a mental health workforce loan repayment program, providing for contingent implementation, and providing for a repeal.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 135.175, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code Supplement 2009, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  A health care workforce support initiative is established to provide for the coordination and support of various efforts to address the health care workforce shortage in this state. This initiative shall include the medical residency training state matching grants program created in section 135.176, the health care professional and nursing workforce shortage initiative created in sections 261.128 and 261.129, the safety net provider recruitment and retention initiatives program created in section 135.153A, health care workforce shortage national initiatives, and the physician assistant mental health fellowship program created in section 135.177, and the mental health workforce loan repayment program created in section 135.178.
    Sec. 2.  Section 135.175, subsection 5, Code Supplement 2009, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  f.  The mental health workforce loan repayment program account.   The mental health workforce loan repayment program account shall be under the control of the department and the moneys in the account shall be used for the purposes of the mental health workforce loan repayment program as specified in section 135.178. Moneys in the account shall consist of moneys appropriated or allocated for deposit in or received by the fund or the account and specifically dedicated to the mental health workforce loan repayment program or account for the purposes of such account.
    Sec. 3.  Section 135.175, subsection 6, paragraph a, Code Supplement 2009, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Moneys in the fund and the accounts in the fund shall only be appropriated in a manner consistent with the principles specified and the strategic plan developed pursuant to sections 135.163 and 135.164 to support the medical residency training state matching grants program, the health care professional incentive payment program, the nurse educator incentive payment and nursing faculty fellowship programs, the safety net recruitment and retention initiatives program, for national health care workforce shortage initiatives, for the physician assistant mental health fellowship program, for the mental health workforce loan repayment program, and to provide funding for state health care workforce shortage programs as provided in this section.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  135.178  Mental health workforce loan repayment program —— repeal.
   1.  The department, in cooperation with the college student aid commission, shall establish a mental health workforce loan repayment program in accordance with this section. Funding for the program may be provided through the health care workforce shortage fund or the mental health workforce loan repayment program account created in section 135.175. The purpose of the program is to increase the number of physicians, physician assistants, and advanced registered nurse practitioners providing mental health services in mental health professional shortage areas as defined in section 135.80. Under the program, loan repayment may be made to a recipient for educational expenses incurred while completing an accredited health education program directly related to obtaining credentials necessary to provide mental health services in accordance with the individual’s profession.
   2.  The department, in cooperation with the college student aid commission, shall adopt rules relating to the establishment and administration of the mental health workforce loan repayment program. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection shall provide, at a minimum, for all of the following:
   a.  Determination of eligibility requirements and qualifications of an applicant to receive loan repayment under the program, including but not limited to years of obligated service, clinical practice requirements, and residency requirements. One year of obligated service shall be provided by the applicant in exchange for each year of loan repayment, unless federal requirements otherwise require. Loan repayment under the program shall not be approved for a health provider whose license or certification is restricted by a medical regulatory authority of any jurisdiction of the United States, other nations, or territories.
   b.  Identification of mental health professional shortage areas as defined in section 135.80 in the state and prioritization of such areas according to need.
   c.  Determination of the amount and duration of the loan repayment an applicant may receive, giving consideration to the availability of funds under the program, and the applicant’s outstanding educational loans and professional credentials.
   d.  Determination of the conditions of loan repayment applicable to an applicant.
   e.  Enforcement of the state’s rights under a loan repayment program contract, including the commencement of any court action.
   f.  Cancellation of a loan repayment program contract for reasonable cause.
   3.  The department may enter into an agreement under chapter 28E with the college student aid commission for the administration of this program.
   4.  This section is repealed June 30, 2014.
    Sec. 5.  IMPLEMENTATION.  This Act shall be implemented only to the extent funding is available.
EXPLANATION
   This bill creates a mental health workforce loan repayment program as part of the health care workforce support initiative, and also creates an account for the program within the health care workforce shortage fund.
   The bill directs the department of public health (DPH), in cooperation with the college student aid commission, to establish the program. Funding for the program may be provided through the health care workforce shortage fund or the mental health workforce loan repayment program account. The purpose of the program is to increase the number of physicians, physician assistants, and advanced registered nurse practitioners providing mental health services in federally designated mental health workforce shortage areas. Under the program, loan repayment may be made to a recipient for educational expenses incurred while completing an accredited health education program directly related to obtaining credentials necessary to provide mental health services.
   DPH is directed, in cooperation with the college student aid commission, to adopt rules relating to the establishment and administration of the program, including eligibility requirements and qualifications of an applicant to receive loan repayment, including but not limited to years of obligated service, clinical practice requirements, and residency requirements; identification of federally designated mental health shortage areas of the state and prioritization of such areas according to need; determination of the amount and duration of the loan repayment an applicant may receive; determination of the conditions of loan repayment applicable to an applicant; enforcement of the state’s rights under a loan repayment program contract; and cancellation of a loan repayment program contract for reasonable cause. DPH may enter into an agreement under Code chapter 28E with the college student aid commission for the administration of this program. Implementation of the program is contingent on the extent of available funding, and the program is repealed June 30, 2014.