Bill Text: NJ A806 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Clarifies definition of "primary care" in Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program to include practice of geriatrics.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [A806 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A806-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman NELSON T. ALBANO
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
Assemblyman MATTHEW W. MILAM
District 1 (Cape May, Atlantic and Cumberland)
Assemblywoman ELEASE EVANS
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman NELLIE POU
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Wagner, Rodriguez and Assemblyman Diegnan
SYNOPSIS
Clarifies definition of "primary care" in Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program to include practice of geriatrics.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program and amending N.J.S.18A:71C-32.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.18A:71C-32 is amended to read as follows:
18A:71C-32. As used in N.J.S.18A:71C-32 through N.J.S.18A:71C-48:
"Eligible student loan expenses" means the cumulative total of the annual student loans covering the cost of attendance at an undergraduate institution of medical, dental, or other primary care professional education. Interest paid or due on student loans that an applicant has taken out for use in paying the costs of undergraduate medical, dental, or other primary care professional education shall be considered eligible for reimbursement under the program. The authority may establish a limit on the total amount of student loans which may be redeemed for participants under the program, provided that the total redemption of student loans does not exceed $120,000 either in State funds or the sum of federal, State, and other non-federal matching funds, pursuant to section 338I of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.s.254q-1), whichever is applicable.
"Health professional shortage area" (HPSA) means an urban or rural area, a population group or a public or non-profit private medical facility or other public facility which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines has a health professional shortage pursuant to section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. s.254e).
"Primary care" means the practice of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, general obstetrics, gynecology, geriatrics, and any other areas of medicine which the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services may define as primary care. Primary care also includes the practice of general dentistry and pedodontics, as well as the professions of nurse-practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, and physician assistant.
"Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program" means a program which provides for the redemption of the eligible student loan expenses of its participants.
"State designated underserved area" means a geographic area in this State which has been ranked by the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services on the basis of health status and economic indicators as reflecting a medical or dental health professional shortage.
"Undergraduate medical, dental, or other professional primary care professional education" means the period of time between entry into medical school, dental school, or other primary care professional training program and the award of the medical (M.D., D.O.) degree, the dental (D.M.D., D.D.S.) degree, or other primary care professional degree respectively.
(cf: N.J.S.18A:71C-32)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends the law governing the "Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program," (N.J.S.18A:71C-32 et seq.) to expand the definition of "primary care" to include geriatrics and, thereby, make geriatric practitioners who meet other established criteria eligible to participate in this program.
The Primary Care Physician and Dentist Loan Redemption Program is administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority and provides student loan redemption, in an amount up to $120,000, to eligible physicians and dentists who serve in State designated underserved areas.
