HB4645 - Equity and Representation in Health Care Act

• Establishes two programs through the Department of Public Health: a Loan Repayment Program for health care professionals working at eligible medical facilities and a Scholarship Program for individuals pursuing health care careers.

• Loan repayment awards cover qualifying educational loans for eligible health professionals (physicians, nurses, dentists, therapists, behavioral health providers, and others) who commit to serving at Federally Qualified Health Centers, FQHC Look-Alikes, or county hospital systems in medically underserved areas.

• Scholarship funds cover training costs for medical assistants, dental assistants, and other health profession programs offered by Illinois-based institutions, including enrollment fees, lab fees, background checks, drug screenings, and professional equipment.

• Prioritizes applicants from underrepresented racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability groups in health care; first-generation college students; military veterans; and those working in rural facilities.

• Requires annual reporting to the General Assembly on program impact and imposes penalties of at least 1.5 times annual awards plus 7% interest for recipients who fail to fulfill service obligations.