REFERENCE TITLE: appropriations; primary care loan repayment

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fourth Legislature First Regular Session 2019

HB 2218

Introduced by Representatives Blanc: Andrade, Bolding, Butler, Chávez, Espinoza, Gabaldón, Hernandez A, Hernandez D, Lieberman, Meza, Peten, Powers Hannley, Rodriguez, Sierra, Terán

 

AN ACT

 

appropriating monies to the department of health SERVICES.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Appropriations; department of health services; primary care provider loan repayment program; rural private primary care provider loan repayment program; intent

A.  In addition to any other appropriations made in fiscal year 2019-2020, the sum of $500,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019-2020 to the department of health services to pay off portions of education loans taken out by physicians, dentists, pharmacists, advance practice providers and behavioral health providers participating in the primary care provider loan repayment program established by section 36-2172, Arizona Revised Statutes.

B.  In addition to any other appropriations made in fiscal year 2019-2020, the sum of $500,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2019-2020 to the department of health services to pay off portions of education loans taken out by physicians, dentists, pharmacists, advance practice providers and behavioral health providers participating in the rural private primary care provider loan repayment program established pursuant to section 36-2174, Arizona Revised Statutes.

C.  It is the intent of the legislature, in appropriating additional monies pursuant to this section, that the department of health services consider providing additional education loan repayment assistance to behavioral health providers.  The legislature recognizes the importance of the services that behavioral health providers provide to their patients and acknowledges that more must be done to incentivize behavioral health providers to enter and remain in the profession.  The legislature further acknowledges that providing access to mental and behavioral health treatment services is only one of many strategies needed to address the opioid epidemic in this state.