Existing law establishes various programs relating to the development of the health professions workforce, including the California Medical and Dental Student Loan Repayment Program of 2002, the California Physician Corps Program, and the Steven M. Thompson Medical School Scholarship Program, which provide financial incentives, including repayment of educational loans, to specified individuals. Existing law conditions eligibility of certain health professionals in those programs on, among other things, provision of services to a medically underserved population, as defined.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to increase the number of health care professionals in underserved communities.