An Act expanding loan repayment assistance for primary care physicians

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jo Comerford

Expands loan repayment for primary care physicians in settings with publicly insured patients; requires a 4-year contract, existing debt, and no other programs to boost access.

Summary: Senate Bill SD 1224 — An Act expanding loan repayment assistance for primary care physicians

Purpose and intent

SD 1224 proposes to expand access to the Commonwealth’s loan repayment program for primary care physicians. The bill broadens eligibility and sets conditions intended to encourage primary care physicians to practice in settings with large publicly insured patient populations, thereby improving access to primary care services.

Key provisions

Scope of eligible physicians

Primary care clinicians eligible to receive loan repayment include, but are not limited to,: family physicians, internal medicine physicians, pediatricians, and obstetricians/gynecologists.
Eligibility is tied to participation in the loan repayment assistance program established under the Act’s reference to Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2021 (specifically item 1599-2026).

Eligibility requirements (for loan forgiveness)

The physician must work in a practice setting with a significant public payor patient population, as determined by the Department of Public Health.
The physician must have outstanding educational debt.
The physician must not participate in any other loan repayment program.
The physician must enter into a contract with the Commonwealth for a term of at least four years.
For part-time physicians, the amount of loan forgiveness or assistance shall be prorated.

Administration and implementation

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) is tasked with promulgating regulations to implement the provisions of Section 1 within no more than three months after the act’s effective date.

Affected parties

Primary care physicians with outstanding educational debt.

Healthcare practices that serve a significant public payor patient population (as defined by the Department of Public Health).

Potentially, existing loan repayment program participants who may be affected by new eligibility criteria (e.g., requirement not to participate in any other program).

Relationship to existing programs

The bill references and expands the loan repayment assistance program that is already established under item 1599-2026 of Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2021. It adds specific eligibility criteria and contract commitments for primary care physicians.

Timeline and implementation details

Regulations to implement the act’s provisions must be issued by EOHHS within three months after the act’s effective date.

The bill does not specify new funding levels within the text provided; funding implications would likely be addressed in the annual budget or subsequent appropriations.

Status and context

The document presented is a proposed bill in the Massachusetts General Court.

Filed date (based on the provided text): January 15, 2025.

The summary reflects the bill’s stated provisions without any assumed amendments or fiscal details not present in the text.