What's happening
This bill requires more funds and malpractice rate relief for physicians practicing in physician shortage areas of small New York counties.
Why it matters
Improves doctor recruitment and retention in rural/small counties. By dedicating funds and offering malpractice insurance rate relief specifically to doctors in physician shortage areas, this bill aims to make it more attractive for physicians to practice in underserved, less-populated counties—helping address critical gaps in healthcare access.
Targets resources to areas with greatest need. Mandating that at least 25% of physician loan repayment and forgiveness funds go to doctors in shortage areas of small counties ensures that state incentives are not just spread evenly, but are strategically focused where shortages are most severe.
Reduces financial barriers for rural physicians. Medical malpractice insurance is often more costly and harder to afford for small-practice and rural doctors; providing rate relief can help reduce one of the major financial hurdles that deter physicians from working in these areas.
Promotes long-term healthcare stability. By incentivizing both new and existing physicians to remain in or move to shortage areas, the bill seeks to create a more stable, sustainable healthcare infrastructure in small, often overlooked New York counties.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help Doctors in Shortage Areas
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
10 Co-sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in higher education
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4817
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 3, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PALMESANO, BLANKENBUSH, CASTORINA, GARBARINO, GIGLIO, MONTESANO, RAIA, WALTER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, FINCH, FRIEND, HAWLEY, LAWRENCE, LOPEZ, McLAUGHLIN, B. MILLER, MORINELLO, OAKS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to funds used in the physician loan repayment program and the regents physician loan forgiveness program for physicians practicing in designated physician shortage areas
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 677 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. Medical malpractice rate relief program. a. Physicians practicing in designated physician shortage areas in counties with a population of less than one hundred sixty thousand, according to the decennial census of two thousand, shall be awarded medical malpractice rate relief in an amount to be determined by the commissioner of health.
b. The commissioner of health shall promulgate rules and regulations regarding program guidelines and the eligibility requirements for physicians.
§ 2. Subdivision 4 of section 677-a of the education law is renumbered subdivision 5 and a new subdivision 4 is added to read as follows:
4. Physicians practicing in designated physician shortage areas. a. A minimum of twenty-five percent of all funds used in this program shall be dedicated to physicians practicing in designated physician shortage areas in counties with a population of less than one hundred sixty thousand, according to the decennial census of two thousand.
b. Any undistributed amounts remaining from paragraph a of this subdivision shall be available for distribution by the president for the physician loan repayment program pursuant to subdivisions one, two and three of this section.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07857-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.