Bill
SD 996
Creates MA's primary care workforce loan repayment program for community health centers to recruit/retain a diverse, culturally competent workforce, administered by EOHHS.
Overview
- Bill number: Senate Docket No. 996
- Title: An Act relative to the primary care workforce development and loan repayment grant program at community health centers
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Status: House concurred
- Primary sponsor: Liz Miranda
- Related action: Similar matter previously filed as Senate No. 781 (2023-2024)
Purpose and intent
- Establish a dedicated program to enhance recruitment and retention of a broad primary care workforce at Massachusetts community health centers.
- Specifically aims to support physicians, other clinicians, bachelor’s-level mental health and primary care professionals (including community health workers, recovery coaches, and family partners), and other non-clinician staff.
- Priority emphasis on building a culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse workforce.
Key provisions
- Creation of the program: “Primary Care Workforce Development and Loan Forgiveness Grant Program at Community Health Centers” within Chapter 6A. Section 16GG to be inserted.
- Administration: To be administered by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS); the office may contract with an external organization to administer the program.
- Purpose activities: Ensure continuation of state-level loan repayment for clinicians at community health centers, including programs previously established under Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2021 (reserve 1599-2026).
- Priorities:
- Prioritize recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce (cultural, ethnic, linguistic diversity emphasized).
- Emphasize clinicians and bachelor’s-level mental health/primary care professionals.
- Eligibility for loan repayment:
- Must work at a community health center.
- Must have outstanding educational debt.
- Must not participate in any other loan repayment program.
- Must enter into a contract with the Commonwealth for a minimum of 4 years.
- Loan assistance is prorated for part-time employees.
- Compliance and enforcement:
- The Executive Office will promulgate regulations governing administration and enforcement.
- Regulations to include penalties and repayment procedures if participants fail to comply with program requirements.
- Funding source:
- Financed through expenditures from the Behavioral Health and Community-Based Primary Care Reserve (as established in section 2A of Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2021).
Impact and implementation considerations
- Target beneficiaries: Clinicians and non-clinician staff at community health centers with educational debt and a commitment to stay at least four years.
- Administrative footprint: EOHHS (with potential external administrator) to oversee grants and ensure program integrity.
- Long-term effect: Improved recruitment, retention, and diversity of the primary care workforce at community health centers, potentially enhancing access to culturally competent care.
Legislative actions and timeline
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
- 2025-02-27: House concurred
Notes
- The bill references continuation of existing state loan repayment programs and budgetary provisions (“reserve 1599-2026”) and builds on prior related legislation from the 2021-2022 period.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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