HB 1396 Summary

• The North Dakota Health Council administers student loan repayment programs for health care professionals serving areas with defined health care needs.

• Participating entities must be located at least 20 miles outside cities with populations over 40,000 and in statistically underserved areas, and must provide matching funds equal to the loan repayment amount.

• Annual loan repayment amounts vary by profession: physicians ($20,000), clinical psychologists ($12,000), advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants ($4,000), and behavioral health professionals ($4,000).

• Matching fund requirements range from 10-50% of the loan repayment amount, but are waived if a health care professional opens a new solo practice in a city with fewer than 15,000 residents.

• Loan repayment payments are made annually directly to lenders and terminate upon the earlier of full loan repayment or five years of program participation.