Posted: | October 18, 2021 02:20 PM |
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From: | Senator Scott E. Hutchinson |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Medical Officer or Health Officer Incentive Program Revision |
In the near future I will be introducing legislation that would allow more health professionals to participate in the Medical Officer Health Incentive Program. In 2014 Act 78 created the Medical Officer or Health Officer Incentive Program, providing a tuition reimbursement invective to those who qualified through their time in the armed service. This program began to provide a solution for what the National Guard saw as a lack of health care providers in the Guard. Even though the program was successful in luring health care providers into Guard service, some health professionals, like dentists and physician assistants, were inadvertently left out of the program. My legislation would provide for a broader definition of health professional in order to capture those left out of the original program. It would also create reimbursement tiers based off of the participant’s education level, so that physicians and physician assistants would get a higher reimbursement to help pay down their high tuition debt. Act 78 was a resounding success, bringing numerous health professionals into the Guard to fill a crucial need. This legislation will only strengthen the program and allow for even more health professionals to take advantage of this opportunity. Please join me in sponsoring this much-needed legislation. If you have any questions regarding this legislation please contact Nathan Akers in my office at 787-9684 or nakers@pasen.gov. |
Introduced as SB927