WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 7503

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE MEDICAL PRIMARY CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jennifer Boylan and 9 co-sponsors

HB 7503 creates a scholarship program to fund medical students, NPs, and PAs in Rhode Island, with service in state primary care and loan forgiveness after completion.

04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 7503

Summary of HB 7503 (Rhode Island, 2026) – AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY — THE MEDICAL PRIMARY CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Main purpose and intent

  • Establish a Medical Primary Care Scholarship Program to address Rhode Island’s shortage of primary care providers.
  • The program aims to recruit, train, retain, and ensure a steady supply of physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs) who will practice primary care in Rhode Island.
  • Funding and governance are designed to leverage existing loan-repayment infrastructure and align with the RIDOH Office of Primary Care and Rural Health.

Key provisions and changes

Establishment and administration

  • Creates Chapter 23-1.12: The Medical Primary Care Scholarship Program.
  • Administered by the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) in consultation with the Commissioner of Postsecondary Education.
  • Authorized to leverage the state’s loan repayment infrastructure; may appoint a nonprofit to administer program services.

Definitions

  • Primary care: Includes family medicine, general internal medicine, and related platforms that provide prevention, wellness, and treatment, including long-term patient-provider relationships.

Eligibility

  • Medical school scholarships:
    • Applicants must complete the program’s application, be graduating or graduated from an accredited college/university, have excellent academic standing, be accepted to a U.S. medical school, and comply with program requirements.
  • NP/PA scholarships:
    • Applicants must complete the program’s application, meet admission requirements for NP/PA programs in the U.S., have excellent academic standing, be accepted into an NP or PA program, and comply with program requirements.

Scholarships and awards

  • Awards potentially available when funds are available:
    • Up to 5 new medical school scholarships per academic year.
    • Up to 5 new NP scholarships per academic year.
    • Up to 5 new PA scholarships per academic year.
  • Duration of awards:
    • Medical school scholarships: up to 4 years.
    • NP and PA scholarships: up to 2 years.
  • Maximum annual award amounts:
    • Medical school scholarship: up to $70,000 per academic year.
    • NP/PA scholarships: up to $47,000 per academic year.
  • All scholarship recipients must sign:
    • A contract to work in Rhode Island providing primary care services after completing education/licensing.
    • A promissory note for the funds received.

Obligations and service commitment

  • Contracts require:
    • Full-time attendance to the designated program and maintaining good academic standing.
    • Completion of the program and licensing, followed by a work commitment in Rhode Island:
    • Two years of full-time or part-time work (part-time pro-rated) providing primary care for each scholarship year received.
  • Loan/forgiveness structure:
    • For every two-year period of post-graduation service in Rhode Island, the equivalent amount of the scholarship for that year is forgiven.
    • After 8 years (or prorated equivalent) of full-time or pro-rated part-time service, all scholarship funds may be forgiven and the promissory note cancelled.

Repayment and enforcement

  • If a recipient fails to comply with program rules, regulations, or contract terms, funds must be repaid with interest.
  • Partial fulfillment may require pro-rated repayment.
  • The Attorney General can pursue recovery of funds; recovered amounts go to a restricted account to support the program.

Funding and appropriations

  • Initial appropriation (FY 2026-2027): $1,000,000 total
    • $500,000 transferred from the Wavemaker Fellowships Program (Chapter 64.26 of Title 42) and $500,000 from other available treasury funds.
    • Funding may be used to support administration and to provide scholarships (initially to four medical school scholars and to two NP/PA scholars per year, per the explanation).
    • May support one full-time administrator.
  • Ongoing funding: The General Assembly must annually appropriate funds as needed to support the program.

Oversight, audits, and reporting

  • Annual financial reporting to the Auditor General and Director of Administration.
  • The Auditor General and Director of Administration may audit program records.
  • Annual status and progress reports to the General Assembly and Governor starting December 31, 2027, and each December 31 thereafter.

Effective date

  • Enactment takes effect July 1, 2026.

Who would be affected

Beneficiaries

  • Rhode Island students pursuing:
    • Medical degrees (MD/DO) with a primary care focus.
    • Nurse practitioner (NP) training.
    • Physician assistant (PA) training.
  • Recipients who fulfill service obligations would work in Rhode Island primary care settings to repay or have loans forgiven.

Public and healthcare system impact

  • Increased pipeline of primary care providers in Rhode Island.
  • Potential long-term reductions in access barriers, burnout, and staffing shortages in primary care practices.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced February 4, 2026; referred to House Finance.
  • Committee recommended holding for further study on April 30, 2026.
  • Takes effect July 1, 2026.
  • Initial funding for FY 2026-2027: $1,000,000; ongoing appropriations to be determined annually.

Bottom line

HB 7503 proposes a targeted financing and repayment-based scholarship program to boost Rhode Island’s primary care workforce by supporting medical students, NPs, and PAs who commit to practicing primary care in the state. It combines scholarships with service obligations and loan-forgiveness, supported by an initial $1 million annual fund and ongoing annual appropriations.

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

Sign in to ask a question.