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H 2205

An Act expanding loan repayment assistance for primary care physicians

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Natalie Blais and 3 co-sponsors

Expands Massachusetts loan-forgiveness to primary care physicians in high public-payor settings, offering pro-rated debt relief for a 4-year service commitment.

Accompanied a new draft, see H4666
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Bill Summary · H 2205

Summary: H.2205 – An Act expanding loan repayment assistance for primary care physicians (2025-2026)

What the bill does (purpose and intent)

  • Expands the Commonwealth’s loan repayment assistance program to explicitly include primary care physicians (PCPs) such as family physicians, internal medicine physicians, pediatricians, and obstetricians/gynecologists.
  • Aims to improve recruitment and retention of PCPs in settings with a significant public payor patient population, addressing physician shortages and access to care in Massachusetts.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Eligibility and participation
    • 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.
    • Eligible PCPs include, at minimum, the listed specialties (family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology) and potentially others that fit the definition of primary care.
    • Eligibility criteria for loan forgiveness:
    • Work in a practice setting with a significant public payor patient population (as determined by the Department of Public Health).
    • Have outstanding educational debt.
    • Not participate in any other loan repayment program.
    • Enter into a contract with the Commonwealth for a term of no less than 4 years.
    • The amount of loan forgiveness/assistance per individual shall be pro-rated for those working part-time.
  • Section 2: Administrative implementation
    • The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) must promulgate regulations to implement Section 1 no later than 3 months after the act’s effective date.

Affected parties

  • Primary care physicians practicing in Massachusetts, particularly those serving populations with substantial public payor involvement.
  • Medical practices and clinics employing PCPs who meet the eligibility criteria.
  • Massachusetts Department of Public Health (as the determiner of “significant public payor population”).
  • Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) for regulatory implementation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced February 27, 2025; accompanied by a new draft (H4666) as of November 2025.
  • Legislative actions:
    • February 27, 2025: Referred to the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery; Senate concurred on the same date.
    • July 18, 2025: Hearing scheduled for July 28, 2025 (A-2).
  • Related notes: HD 3491 (the House docket number) is considered to replace or be superseded by the bill in the version referenced.

Sponsor and sponsors’ details

  • Primary sponsor: Mindy Domb (Amherst)
  • Co-sponsors: Natalie M. Blais, Greg Schwartz, Steven George Xiarhos

Practical impact and considerations

  • The bill formalizes a broader loan forgiveness pathway specifically for PCPs in high public-payor settings, potentially improving access to care in underserved or publicly financed populations.
  • The 4-year contract requirement ties loan forgiveness to service commitment, with partial year credit for part-time work.
  • Regulations within 3 months of the act’s effective date will shape final implementation details (funding caps, eligible loan types, and geographic or practice-size considerations are not specified in the text provided).

Note: The analysis reflects the bill text excerpt and stated legislative actions up to the provided dates.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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