| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hawaii health corps program was established in 2012 with a focus on encouraging certain health care providers to serve in counties that are experiencing shortages of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, with a priority given to a rural area county. The legislature further finds that since that time, while the need for these providers in these areas remains, there is an increased need for a wider range of health care providers, as well as a pressing need for practitioners in mental health. The legislature further finds that on September 9, 2023, the State launched the healthcare education loan repayment program (HELP), a separate program that is alleviating the educational debt of four hundred ninety-two medical and healthcare professionals. Because of the expanded scope and purpose of HELP, the purpose of this Act is to clarify the name of the Hawaii health corps program and rename it to the Hawaii rural health care provider loan program to better reflect the purpose of the program. SECTION 2. Section 309H-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "loan repayment" or "repayment of loan" to read as follows: ""Loan repayment" or "repayment of loan" means the payment of up to twenty per cent of a Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan program participant's health care training costs including but not limited to tuition not exceeding $35,000 per year for a maximum of five years of repayment." SECTION 3. Section 309H-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§309H-2 Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan program established. The Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan program is established to encourage physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to serve in counties having a shortage of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, with priority given to a rural area county. The Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan program shall be administered by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene. In administering the program, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall: (1) Adopt rules and develop guidelines to administer the program; (2) Identify and designate areas of the counties where there is a shortage of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners; (3) Establish criteria for the selection by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to participate in the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program; (4) Define and determine compliance with the service commitments of the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program; (5) Collect and manage reimbursements from participants who do not meet their service commitments under the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program; (6) Publicize the program, particularly to maximize participation by individuals who live in areas of a county where there is a shortage of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners; (7) Solicit and accept grants and donations from public and private sources for the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program, including maximizing the use of federal matching funds; and (8) Establish criteria and procedures for calling Hawaii [health corps] rural health care loan program participants into service during an emergency or disaster." SECTION 4. Section 309H-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows: 1. By amending its title and subsection (a) to read: "[[]§309H-3[]] Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program. (a) There is created [within the Hawaii health corps program,] the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program to be administered by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene in partnership with a lending financial institution whose operations are principally conducted in Hawaii. The Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program shall provide loan repayments to eligible physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who make the service commitment under subsection (b). The University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall make loan repayments directly to the financial institution under subsection (b) to offset the loan repayment for which the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program recipient would otherwise be liable. Loan repayments shall commence upon the commencement of loan repayments by the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program recipient to the lending financial institution. The University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall prioritize loan repayments in accordance with the greatest specialty shortages for the particular county." 2. By amending subsection (c) to read: "(c) Eligible participants in the Hawaii rural health care provider loan [[]repayment[]] program shall be determined by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene on a competitive basis and in accordance with subsection (b)." 3. By amending subsection (e) to read: "(e) In accordance with chapter 103D, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene may enter into written contracts with collection agencies to collect delinquent reimbursements of loan repayments. All payments collected, exclusive of a collection agency's commissions, shall revert and be credited to the Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan fund. A collection agency that enters into a written contract with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine or the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene to collect delinquent reimbursements of loan repayments pursuant to this section may collect a commission from the debtor in accordance with the terms of, and up to the amounts authorized in, the written contract." SECTION 5. Section 309H-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§309H-4 Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan first responder service obligation. If an emergency or disaster proclaimed under chapter 127A occurs, physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners participating in the Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan program may be ordered into service by the governor as first responders to serve in areas of the State and in a capacity determined by the director of health. " SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hawaii health corps program was established in 2012 with a focus on encouraging certain healthcare providers to serve in counties that are experiencing shortages of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, with a priority given to a rural area county. The legislature further finds that since that time, while the need for these providers in these areas remains, there is an increased need for a wider range of health care providers by professions, as well as a pressing need for practitioners in mental health. The legislature further finds that on September 9, 2023, the State launched the Hawaii healthcare education loan repayment program (HELP), which is alleviating the educational debt of 492 medical and healthcare professionals. Because of the expanded scope and purpose of HELP, the purpose of this Act is to clarify the name of the Hawaii health corps program and rename it to the Hawaii rural healthcare provider loan program to better reflect the purpose of the program. SECTION 2. Section 309H-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "loan repayment" or "repayment of loan" to read as follows: ""Loan repayment" or "repayment of loan" means the payment of up to twenty per cent of a Hawaii [health corps] rural healthcare provider loan program participant's health care training costs including but not limited to tuition not exceeding $35,000 per year for a maximum of five years of repayment." SECTION 3. Section 309H-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§309H-2 Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan program established. The Hawaii [health corps] rural healthcare provider loan program is established to encourage physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to serve in counties having a shortage of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, with priority given to a rural area county. The Hawaii [health corps] rural healthcare provider loan program shall be administered by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene. In administering the program, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall: (1) Adopt rules and develop guidelines to administer the program; (2) Identify and designate areas of the counties where there is a shortage of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners; (3) Establish criteria for the selection by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to participate in the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program; (4) Define and determine compliance with the service commitments of the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program; (5) Collect and manage reimbursements from participants who do not meet their service commitments under the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program; (6) Publicize the program, particularly to maximize participation by individuals who live in areas of a county where there is a shortage of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners; (7) Solicit and accept grants and donations from public and private sources for the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program, including maximizing the use of federal matching funds; and (8) Establish criteria and procedures for calling Hawaii [health corps] rural healthcare loan program participants into service during an emergency or disaster." SECTION 4. Section 309H-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "[[]§309H-3[]] Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program. (a) There is created [within the Hawaii health corps program,] the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program to be administered by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene in partnership with a lending financial institution whose operations are principally conducted in Hawaii. The Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program shall provide loan repayments to eligible physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who make the service commitment under subsection (b). The University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall make loan repayments directly to the financial institution under subsection (b) to offset the loan repayment for which the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program recipient would otherwise be liable. Loan repayments shall commence upon the commencement of loan repayments by the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program recipient to the lending financial institution. The University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall prioritize loan repayments in accordance with the greatest specialty shortages for the particular county. (b) The Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program shall provide loan repayments on behalf of licensed physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who agree to serve for five consecutive years as a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner in a county having a shortage of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, with priority given to a rural area of that particular county; provided that eligible physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners, as applicable, shall have graduated from a duly accredited medical school or nursing school within the United States; provided further that preference shall be given to graduates of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine or the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene, as applicable. (c) Eligible participants in the Hawaii rural health care provider loan [[]repayment[]] program shall be determined by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene on a competitive basis and in accordance with subsection (b). (d) If a Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program participant fails to satisfy the recipient's service commitment under subsection (b), the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program participant shall be liable for the repayment of the outstanding balance of the loan to the lending financial institution under subsection (b). In addition, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene may seek reimbursement for any loan repayment made by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine or the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene on behalf of the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program participant. (e) In accordance with chapter 103D, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene may enter into written contracts with collection agencies to collect delinquent reimbursements of loan repayments. All payments collected, exclusive of a collection agency's commissions, shall revert and be credited to the Hawaii [health corps] rural healthcare provider loan fund. A collection agency that enters into a written contract with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine or the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene to collect delinquent reimbursements of loan repayments pursuant to this section may collect a commission from the debtor in accordance with the terms of, and up to the amounts authorized in, the written contract." SECTION 5. Section 309H-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§309H-4 Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan first responder service obligation. If an emergency or disaster proclaimed under chapter 127A occurs, physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners participating in the Hawaii [health corps] rural healthcare provider loan program may be ordered into service by the governor as first responders to serve in areas of the State and in a capacity determined by the director of health. " SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ BY REQUEST |
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