AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH PROFESSIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM (Expands the health professional loan repayment program to healthcare providers practicing in primary care health settings.)

S3062

2026 -- S 3062
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LC005336
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH PROFESSIONAL LOAN
REPAYMENT PROGRAM

Introduced By:
Senators Gallo, Murray, Lawson, Ciccone, Tikoian, and LaMountain

Date Introduced:
March 12, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 23-14.1-1, 23-14.1-2, 23-14.1-3, 23-14.1-5, 23-14.1-7 and 23-14.1-
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11 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-14.1 entitled "Health Professional Loan Repayment
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Program" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-14.1-1. Legislative findings.
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The general assembly finds that:
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(1) It is the right of every citizen of the state to have ready access to quality health care;
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and
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(2) Health care facilities serving the poor, including community health centers throughout
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the state, are experiencing increasing difficulty in attracting and retaining physicians and other
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health professionals to administer to the
needy

underserved
populations they serve. Therefore, it is
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the general assembly’s intent to provide incentives, in the form of loan repayment, to physicians,
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dentists, dental hygienists, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, physician assistants and
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any other eligible health care professional under § 338A of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C.
14
§ 254l, who desire to serve the health care needs of medically underserved individuals in Rhode
15
Island
; and
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(3) There currently exists a national and regional shortage of primary care healthcare
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providers
.
Primary care healthcare is provided by physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician
18
assistants and the overall number of medical professionals entering the field of primary care

1
healthcare is declining. It is increasingly difficult for primary care practices to hire nurses, medical
2
assistants, behavioral health clinicians and other key staff, which is leading to even higher burnout
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among primary care providers. Therefore, it is the intent of the general assembly to provide
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incentives, in the form of loan repayment, to physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants
5
who desire to provide primary care health services in Rhode Island.
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23-14.1-2. Definitions.
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For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings
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unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
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(1) “Board” means the health professional loan repayment board.
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(2) “Community health center” means a healthcare facility as defined and licensed under
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chapter 17 of this title.
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(3) “Department” means the Rhode Island department of health.
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(4) “Director” means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.
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(5) “Eligible health professional” means a physician, dentist, dental hygienist, nurse
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practitioner, certified nurse midwife, physician assistant, or any other eligible healthcare
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professional under § 338A of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. § 254l, licensed in the state
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who has entered into a contract with the board to serve medically underserved populations.
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(6) “Loan repayment” means an amount of money to be repaid to satisfy loan obligations
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incurred to obtain a degree or certification in an eligible health profession as defined in subdivision
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(5).
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(7) “Primary care” means healthcare services that cover a range of prevention, wellness,
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and treatment for common illnesses and injuries. Primary care includes patients making an initial
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approach to a healthcare professional for treatment as well as long-term relationships established
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between a patient and a healthcare professional and may include family medicine or medical care,
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general internal medicine or medical care, and general medical practice.
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23-14.1-3. Health professional loan repayment program established.
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(a)
There is established within the department, to be administered by the director, the health
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professional loan repayment program whose purpose shall be to support
:
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(1) The

the
recruitment and retention of high-quality health professionals working with
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underserved populations in identified health professional shortage areas
(HPSAs)
by providing loan
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repayment to eligible health professionals to defray the cost of their professional education
; or
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(2) The recruitment and retention of high-quality physicians, nurse practitioners and
33
physician assistants committed to working in primary care health settings in the state for at least
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two (2) years providing loan repayment to eligible health professionals to defray the cost of their

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professional education
.
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23-14.1-5. Duties of the board.
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The board shall:
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(1) Determine which areas of the state shall be eligible to participate in the loan repayment
5
program each year, based on health professional shortage area designations;
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(2) Determine which areas of the state shall be eligible to participate in the loan repayment
7
program each year, based on primary care provider shortages;
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(2)
(3)
Receive and consider all applications for loan repayment made by eligible health
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professionals;
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(3)
(4)
Conduct a careful and full investigation of the ability, character, financial needs, and
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qualifications of each applicant;
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(4)
(5)
Consider the intent of the applicant to practice in a health professional shortage area
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or commitment to providing primary care healthcare services,
and to adhere to all the requirements
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for participation in the loan repayment program;
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(5)
(6)
Submit to the director a list of those individuals eligible for loan repayment
from
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each program
and amount of loan repayment to be granted;
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(6)
(7)
Promulgate rules and regulations to ensure an effective implementation and
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administration of the
program

programs
;
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(7)
(8)
Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the board shall approve and
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submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president
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of the senate, and the secretary of state, of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shall
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provide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including meeting
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minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, applications considered and their disposition, rules
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or regulations promulgated, studies conducted, polices and plans developed, approved, or modified,
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and programs administered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all funds received and
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expended including the source of the funds, a listing of any staff supported by these funds, and a
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summary of any clerical, administrative, or technical support received; a summary of performance
28
during the previous fiscal year including accomplishments, shortcomings, and remedies; a synopsis
29
of hearings, complaints, suspensions, or other legal matters related to the committee; a summary of
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any training courses held pursuant to this chapter; a briefing on anticipated activities in the
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upcoming fiscal year, and findings and recommendations for improvements. The report shall be
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posted electronically on the websites of the general assembly and the secretary of state pursuant to
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the provisions of § 42-20-8.2. The director of the department of administration shall be responsible
34
for the enforcement of the provisions of this subsection; and

LC005336 - Page 3 of 6
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(8)
(9)
Conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified members within six (6)
2
months of their qualification or designation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the
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board, be approved by the board, and be conducted by the chair of the board. The board may
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approve the use of any board and/or staff members and/or individuals to assist with training. The
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training course shall include instruction in the following areas: the provisions of chapter 46 of title
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42, chapter 14 of title 36, chapter 2 of title 38; and the board’s rules and regulations.
The director
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of the department of administration shall, within ninety (90) days of June 16, 2006, prepare and
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disseminate training materials relating to the provisions of chapter 46 of title 42, chapter 14 of title
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36, and chapter 2 of title 38.
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23-14.1-7. Conditions of loan repayment.
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(a) Loan repayments under the provisions of this chapter shall be based upon the condition
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that the recipient apply for a license to practice medicine, dentistry, dental hygiene, nurse
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midwifery, as a registered nurse practitioner, or as a health care professional under § 338A of the
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Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. § 254l, or be registered as a physician assistant in Rhode
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Island at the earliest practicable opportunity.
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(b) A recipient must agree to accept all patients regardless of their ability to pay for services
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received. A recipient must agree to accept all forms of insurance as payment in full, including Titles
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XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1395 et seq.
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(c) A recipient
working with underserved populations in identified health professional
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shortage areas
shall be required to practice full-time in a health professional shortage area for a
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minimum of two (2) years in order to be eligible to participate in the program.
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(d) A recipient working in Rhode Island providing primary care healthcare services shall
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be required to practice for two (2) years of full-time or part-time work, defined as twenty-four (24)
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hours per week. The part-time work commitment would be prorated to the number of years required
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to fulfill the work obligation for providing primary care health services in Rhode Island.
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23-14.1-11. Appropriation.
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(a)
The general assembly shall annually appropriate
one hundred thousand dollars
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($100,000)

five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) deposited into a restricted receipt account to
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implement the loan repayment program established in § 23-14.1-3
for the purpose of repayment of
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health education loans as outlined in this
bill

chapter
.
Those

One hundred thousand dollars
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($100,000) in
funds shall be taken from the department of health appropriation for the governor’s
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children’s health initiative, (RIte Track program). Funds in this account shall be used only for the
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purpose of repayment of health education loans as outlined in this chapter. The state controller is
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authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of that

LC005336 - Page 4 of 6
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sum, or so much of it as may be required from time to time, upon the receipt to him or her of duly
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authenticated vouchers. Implementation of this program is contingent upon the appropriation of the
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required resources.
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(b) For fiscal year 2027-2028, and each fiscal year thereafter, the general assembly shall
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annually appropriate a sum as it may deem necessary, but not less than five hundred thousand
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dollars ($500,000), to carry out the purposes of this chapter, and the state controller is hereby
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authorized and directed to draw the controller’s orders upon the general treasurer for the payment
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of the sum(s) or so much thereof as may be required from time to time to be deposited in a restricted
9
receipt account upon receipt by the general treasurer of properly authenticated vouchers submitted
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by the director.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH PROFESSIONAL LOAN
REPAYMENT PROGRAM
***
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This act would expand the health professional loan repayment program to healthcare
2
providers practicing in primary care health settings.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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