SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1224        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Joanne M. Comerford

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act expanding loan repayment assistance for primary care physicians.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1224        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act expanding loan repayment assistance for primary care physicians.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, primary care physicians shall be eligible for the loan repayment assistance program established in item 1599-2026 of chapter 102 of the Acts of 2021, provided that primary care physicians shall include, but not be limited to, family physicians, internal medicine physicians, pediatricians, obstetricians and gynecologists; and provided further, that to be eligible for loan forgiveness, primary care physicians shall:

(a) work in a practice setting with a significant public payor patient population as determined by the department of public health;

(b) have outstanding educational debt;

(c) not participate in any other loan repayment program; and

(d) be required to enter into a contract with the commonwealth for not less than 4 years; provided further, that the amounts of assistance per individual shall be pro-rated for individuals working on a part-time basis.

SECTION 2. The executive office of health and human services shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of section 1 of this act no later than 3 months after the effective date of this act.