GA HB1077

Creates a grant program administered by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce to distribute funds to eligible institutions (hospitals, schools, or consortia) for increasing training positions in clinical behavioral health programs, including psychiatry residencies and clinical training for psychologists, social workers, professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists.

Establishes the Behavioral Health Provider Student Loan Repayment Program offering up to $10,000/year for providers serving at least 25% Medicaid patients or $25,000/year for those serving at least 50% Medicaid patients, with bonus payments of $20,000 at the third consecutive year and $50,000 at the sixth consecutive year.

Caps total loan repayment assistance at $220,000 per participant over a maximum of six years, with repayment not to exceed the provider's total outstanding student loan debt at the time of application.

Requires the board, through the Department of Community Health, to seek new or increased federal medical assistance matching funds to supplement state appropriations for the training grant program, and prohibits grant funds from displacing existing federal, state, local, or private funding.

Mandates that at least 50% of approved loan repayment applications go to providers who did not meet the Medicaid patient thresholds during the previous three calendar years, incentivizing new Medicaid participation among behavioral health providers.