HB5039 Summary

• Changes the "Family Practice Residency Act" to the "Family Practice and Behavioral Health Promotion Act" to include behavioral health care programs alongside family practice residency programs.

• Expands the definition of "Designated Shortage Area" to include health professional shortage areas and mental health professional shortage areas as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• Authorizes the Department of Public Health to allocate funds to behavioral health care programs, award scholarships to eligible behavioral health care professionals, and include them in the educational loan repayment program for service in shortage areas.

• Increases the Advisory Committee membership from 9 to 13 members, adding 4 representatives from behavioral health care programs alongside the existing family practice physicians and public representatives.

• Prohibits diversion or reduction of family practice residency program funding below fiscal year 2015 levels to support behavioral health care programs, ensuring existing programs are protected.