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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 1087
AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN THE STATE.
SUMMARY
This bill requires, rather than allows, the Department of Public
Health (DPH) to establish a program providing three-year grants to
community-based primary care providers, within available
appropriations, to expand access to care for the uninsured (currently,
the program is not funded). DPH must do so by January 1, 2022.
Among other things, this program may provide loan repayment to
eligible primary care clinicians and registered nurses (RNs). The bill
expands the types of eligible clinicians to include mental health care
providers, among others.
The bill also requires DPH, by January 1, 2022, to establish a five-
year pilot program to recruit and retain mental health providers at
federally qualified health centers (FQHCs, see BACKGROUND),
including psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric advanced
practice registered nurses (APRNs).
Additionally, the bill requires the Office of Higher Education
(OHE), within available appropriations, to administer a loan
reimbursement grant program for psychiatrists, psychologists, and
psychiatric APRNs who are employed at an FQHC for at least two
years. Under the program, eligible participants may receive student
loan reimbursement grants of up to $25,000 a year for up to two years.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021, except the pilot program takes
effect upon passage.
§ 1 — PRIMARY CARE DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAM
Under this program, DPH may award three-year grants to
community-based providers of primary care services to expand access 2021SB-01087-R000568-BA.DOCX
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to care for the uninsured. Among other things, the grants may fund
salary subsidies or loan repayment for primary care clinicians and RNs
who meet program requirements. The bill requires the commissioner
to establish the program, rather than allowing her to as under current
law, but retains the current condition that the program operate within
available appropriations.
The bill adds alcohol and drug counselors, pharmacists, and mental
health care providers to the list of primary care clinicians eligible for
the program subsidies or loan repayment. The bill also specifies that
RNs are classified as primary care clinicians under the program, but as
noted above, they are already eligible for the program under current
law.
Under existing law, the following providers are also classified as
primary care clinicians and thus eligible for the program when funded:
family practice and internal medicine physicians, general practice
osteopaths, obstetricians, gynecologists, pediatricians, dentists,
certified nurse midwives, APRNs, physician assistants, and dental
hygienists.
By law, individuals receiving salary subsidies or loan repayment
under the program must (1) provide services to the uninsured on a
sliding-scale basis, provide free care if necessary, accept Medicare
assignment, and participate in Medicaid or (2) provide nursing
services in school-based health centers and expanded school health
sites.
§ 2 — FQHC PILOT PROGRAM
The bill requires DPH, by January 1, 2022, to establish a five-year
pilot program to recruit and retain mental health care providers at
FQHCs. This includes, at a minimum, psychiatrists, psychologists, and
APRNs board-certified as psychiatric mental health providers by the
American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Under the bill, the DPH commissioner must (1) prescribe how
FQHCs may apply to participate, (2) establish the selection criteria, 2021SB-01087-R000568-BA.DOCX
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and (3) explore funding the program through public -private
partnerships, grant programs, federal funds, and state funds. The
program’s selection criteria must prioritize the placement of mental
health care providers in parts of the state where (1) there is the greatest
need for them, (2) there are economically distressed municipalities,
and (3) residents lack access to this care near their homes.
Starting by January 1, 2023, and until 2027, the bill requires the
commissioner to annually report on the program to the Public Health
Committee. The reports must evaluate the program’s operation and
effectiveness.
§ 3 — MENTAL HEALTH CARE P ROVIDER STUDENT LOAN
REIMBURSEMENT PROGRA M
Beginning in FY 21 and each fiscal year thereafter, the bill requires
OHE to administer a mental health care provider student loan
reimbursement grant program, within available appropriations.
The program is for psychiatrists, psychologists, and board-certified
psychiatric APRNs as specified above. To qualify, they must be
employed as mental health care providers by an in-state FQHC for at
least two years.
Eligible individuals may receive grants for up to $25,000 per year,
for up to two years, for reimbursement of federal or state educational
loans. They may only be reimbursed for loan payments they made
while employed by an FQHC. The OHE executive director prescribes
when and how to apply to the program.
Under the bill, any unexpended funds appropriated for the program
do not lapse at the end of the fiscal year and are available for
expenditure in the next fiscal year. The bill allows OHE to accept gifts,
grants, and donations from any source, public or private, for the
program.
BACKGROUND
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Under federal law, FQHCs generally are community -based 2021SB-01087-R000568-BA.DOCX
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nonprofit or public organizations that qualify for or receive grants
under Section 330 of the Public Health Services Act. To receive federal
funding, they must provide required primary health care services to
medically underserved populations or certain other populations (42
U.S.C. §§ 1396d(l)(2)(B) and -254b).
Related Bills
sSB 1 (File 481, § 35), favorably reported by the Public Health
Committee, makes a $500,000 General Fund appropriation to DPH in
FY 22 to provide three-year grants to community-based health care
providers in primary care settings.
sHB 6235 (File 336), favorably reported by the Higher Education
and Employment Advancement Committee, establishes a program to
offer eligible psychiatrists the option of segregating a portion of their
state income tax payments into a special fund used for making a down
payment to purchase their first home.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 33 Nay 0 (03/31/2021)