HB 1773 Summary

• Creates the Board of Medical Scholarship Awards within the Department of Higher Education to establish scholarships and loans for medical students at accredited Missouri medical schools, with recipients required to practice in designated underserved areas.

• Board composition includes two Missouri State Medical Association representatives, one osteopathic physician representative, deans and admissions chairs from Missouri medical schools, one state senator, and one state representative.

• Provides loans equal to 20% of the state medical school student body covering tuition, fees, and living expenses, with repayment through clinical practice in underserved communities for 1 to 1.5 years per loan year depending on community size.

• Awards merit scholarships equal to 5% of student body at up to $5,000 annually or $20,000 over four years to high-achieving students with no repayment obligation.

• Establishes penalties for loan default or contract breach ranging from 20% to 200% of principal amount depending on when default occurs, with loan forgiveness available upon death or permanent disability; failure to repay can result in medical license revocation.