ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2587	By:	Joyner of the House

			   and

		Shortey and Garrison of the Senate

An Act relating to public health and safety; amending 63 O.S. 2011, Section 1-2712, which relates to the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program; increasing number of dentists eligible for education loan repayment assistance; requiring certain dentists to provide certain dental services; permitting Program to award additional nonfaculty dentists if no appropriate faculty applicants exist; requiring dentist participating in Program to execute contract pursuant to certain contract terms and rules promulgated by the State Department of Health; and providing an effective date.  

SUBJECT:  Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     63 O.S. 2011, Section 1-2712, is amended to read as follows:

Section 1-2712.  A.  1.  The State Department of Health shall administer the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program.  

2.  The Program, depending upon available funding, shall provide educational loan repayment assistance for up to five a total of twenty-five full-time equivalent Oklahoma licensed dentists per year, including new and continuing contract renewable participants.

3.  Each award shall be for a contracted period and shall be distributed to the participant by drafts made payable to the participant and the appropriate loan agency in equal monthly disbursements, not to exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) per year for a maximum five-year period.  Prior to any disbursement, the Department shall certify and properly review monthly reports submitted by the participating dentist detailing performance of activities in accordance with the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act.

4.  At the conclusion of the two-year period minimum service obligation, the Department shall review the performance in the Program of the participating dentist and determine whether an award may be granted for an additional three (3) period not to exceed a total participation in the Program of five (5) years pursuant to rules promulgated by the Department.

B.  Four dentists each year Any dentist entering the Program each year as a nonfaculty participant shall agree to provide dental care and services in a designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA) of the state and agree to provide dental care and services to Medicaid recipients as authorized by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.  The Department shall be responsible for ensuring that at least thirty percent (30%) of the patients treated by the dentist will be Medicaid recipients.

C.  One A dentist each year entering the program Program as a faculty participant shall agree to teach at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry.  In the event there are no appropriate faculty applicants, the Program may award additional nonfaculty dentists.

D.  A dentist shall be eligible to participate in the loan repayment program Program if the dentist:

1.  Is a new dental school graduate.  Preference will be given to graduates of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry;

2.  Is licensed to practice dentistry in Oklahoma; and

3.  Has demonstrated financial need.

E.  The dentist shall execute a contract with the Department to provide dental services in a designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Area and agree that thirty percent (30%) of his or her patients will be Medicaid recipients pursuant to the terms of the contract and in accordance with rules promulgated by the Department. 

F.  If the dentist does not fulfill the service obligation, the Department may collect from the participant the entire amount of loan payments made under the Program plus interest.

G.  The Department shall present a report on the operation of the Program to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate within one (1) month of the beginning of each regular session of the Legislature, including but not limited to the progress made in accomplishing the goal of the Program.

SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2012.

Passed the House of Representatives the 20th day of February, 2012.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Passed the Senate the 25th day of April, 2012.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate