OH SB151

Establishes the Ohio Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program under the Director of Health, modeled on the national health services corps loan repayment program, to provide grants for educational loan repayment to eligible health care professionals.

Expands eligible applicants beyond physicians and dentists to include physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists, dental hygienists, marriage and family therapists, professional clinical counselors, licensed independent social workers, and psychologists.

Requires participants to be U.S. citizens, eligible to participate in Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP, working at designated health service sites in health shortage areas, and free from conflicting federal or state service obligations.

Creates the Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Fund to receive gifts, grants, application fees, and appropriated amounts to support loan repayment grants with varying amounts based on service length and full-time or part-time status.

Authorizes the Director of Health to adopt administrative rules establishing grant amounts, service obligations, application requirements, and monetary penalties for participants who fail to complete service obligations without good cause.