HB 2218 Summary

• Appropriates $500,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019-2020 to the Department of Health Services for the primary care provider loan repayment program to assist physicians, dentists, pharmacists, advanced practice providers, and behavioral health providers.

• Appropriates an additional $500,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019-2020 to the Department of Health Services for the rural private primary care provider loan repayment program serving the same categories of healthcare providers.

• Directs the Department of Health Services to consider providing additional education loan repayment assistance specifically to behavioral health providers as part of the overall program implementation.

• Expresses legislative intent to recognize the importance of behavioral health provider services and emphasizes the need to incentivize more providers to enter and remain in the behavioral health profession.